I have always wanted the black triangle Beatles "Abbey Road" CD, but it is a bit out of my price range. Are the later Japanese pressings of this CD as good? Or are they differently mastered? I don't have the 2009 remaster as I don't collect digipaks! Any thoughts on the other versions of this CD would be welcome... Thanks!
The only versions of this CD I know of are the black triangle, the '87 remaster and the 2009 remaster. Someone might be able to chime in on others if there are any out there. I had a copy of the '87 at one time, though I don't remember how it sounded. I currently have the 2009 remaster and enjoy it very much. The digipacks can be annoying, but I like to put the CDs in jewel cases and keep the digipacks on my shelf.
Thanks for that. I have seen on ebay a later Japanese pressing for around £30, I was wondering if this would use the same master as the black triangle, but guess it could be the 1987 master?
According to Discogs, there was a 1998 reissue of this on CD in Japan. I'm not sure what mastering it is, but I would assume it uses the '87 remaster. Like I said, someone might be able to give some insight into this, I'd be interested to know too.
And it sounds much better than the other versions. I don't own it, but was able to download it in FLAC format, and it sounds liver and more organic. The cymbals and hi-hats are real now. I hear more separation between the instruments too.
Sorry to resurrect, but didn't want to start a new thread as there are hundreds already! I became intrigued about this 'Black Triangle' version of Abbey Road and managed to 'find' a FLAC image of it, and burned it last night (the cue sheet had the necessary 'Pre-emphasis' flags etc as I'd read about on here!) I have the '87 CD and vinyl 2012 remaster, but not the 2009 or original UK to compare. I listened to the BT very late at very low volume. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! All the usual descriptions you care to throw out are there, 'air', 'space', 'warmth' 'dynamics'. I'd only planned to listen to a couple of tracks but ended up listening to the whole album! Heard things I'd never heard before, the piano on 'Oh Darling!', ride cymbals on 'I Want You (she's so Heavy)' and tambourines on 'She Came in Through the Bathroom Window' (I think!) stood out a mile on first listen, not to mention the thick but defined bass guitar! Can't wait to get home and listen to it at normal volume and compare the versions I have. Outstanding. Wish they'd done these flat transfers on them all! If I have a big win at the bookies I'll defo try and find an original...
I had a similar experience. I own the '87 and the '09 but my go to is the BT flac. A BT just sold here, and I wish I had gotten to it first.
The 2009 remaster is excellent and can be had for a bargain, while the BT may sound less digital and closer to the vinyl issues to some albeit at a very high price in the used market.
Quite astounding isn't it when you realize exactly that every analog sourced artist could sound like this as long as the original recording is good. Then again, this board might not even exist if we had no complaints. Another we were screwed by the record industry. At least we have some good sounding early and boutique label albums.
I just recently sold my Japanese pressings of "Abbey Road" & "Let It Be" CDs along with my 2009 mono box set, and can honestly say they sounded better than my 2009 stereo set that I previously sold. Luckily I put these versions in my iTunes before I sold them. I almost considered getting the whole catalogues from Japan, but I'm just not that much of an audiophile.
If you're listening in FLAC, are you decoding the pre-emphasis? Once decoded, it sounds very similar to the 1987 CD.
The black triangle is a unique mastering. It commands a premium on the collectors market not for the mastering, but because it was the first official CD release and was withdrawn, so every Beatles collector wants one in their collection. Many vinyl versions sound very similar, including EMI pressings from the 70's.
Meh...the 2009 remaster sounds bloated to these ears. And sounds nothing at all like the original release.
I haven't heard the Black Triangle. There's something about the '87 that doesn't sound quite right, but I much prefer it to the '09.
The MFSL record is the best. For the Beatles I go with Dr. Roberts MFSL Vinyl pack and PBTHAL's MFSL Sgt. Pepper Uhq rip. There is no other way to get the Beatles in good quality on a digital format. At least not in stereo (excluding the flat transfers of the original stereo mixes that were included in the Mono Beatles CD box)
I downloaded the flac after reading the accolades here. I converted the flac to wav. I did nothing regarding the pre-emphasis. However, I accomplished the decoding, this is the best sound CD of the three (and it isn't even close) IMHO. I find the '87 a bit muddy.
This: "I did nothing regarding the pre-emphasis" Doesn't jive with this: "However, I accomplished the decoding" What do you mean, you "accomplished the decoding"? Without the pre-emphasis decoded, the Odeon CD will sound overly bright, and the '87 CD will sound muddy in comparison. But it isn't supposed to sound like that. When played back properly, the Odeon CD sounds very similar to the '87 CD.
I downloaded the flac, converted to wav w Trader's Little Helper. I have it playing on the old Victrola right now, and it is warm and clear. Unlike my '87 which I keep entirely for sentimental reasons, and my '09. I like the '09 but it is a little too bright. This download is very pleasant.
If you only converted to WAV, you're not hearing the intended sound. You're hearing something with significant high end boost.
Perhaps the wrong thread for this discussion, but how does one "decode with the pre-emphasis". I honestly do not hear the high end boost that you are referring. And I find the '09 has more high end boost (and that I CAN hear).
Maybe that's why some people like it. CD wise, I was always fine with the 87. I do think I have a rip of the BT and a rip of the 2009, but I never did a head to head comparison. RE: the pre-emphasis. How do you accomplish the correct de-emphasis? Thanks.
Pre-emphasis? - I'm still confused! » I don't have clips handy at the moment. But the EQ should be extremely close to the 1987 CD. The 1987 CD should *not* sound muddy in comparison. That was in fact the case when CD-Rs started circulating on this forum 15+ years ago. Initial copies didn't have the PE flags set, so people were impressed with how much more high end there was. But that wasn't the intended sound. Either setting the PE flags correctly while burning, or applying a de-emphasis curve through software.
Thanks, lukpac. I also found this from Hydrogen Audio's wiki: Pre-emphasis - Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase » Based on this, I'm assuming very few of the CDs I own even have this issue.
