KISS - SHM-CD Remaster vs. "Regular" Remastered CD

Hello, everyone!

Once again, just hoping to get a general consensus on what you fine folks hear.

Curious to know if anyone listened to a KISS Japanese SHM-CD remaster of any album, compared it to the "regular" remaster, and if there was any discernible difference(s) in sound quality between the two.

As always, thanks!

 

Some folks find the SHM material to be a little smoother sounding, but that is controversial, juts like pressing differences. I would look at older masterings for Kiss, myself. Do a search for opinions on early Japanese, West German, and US pressings.

 

Hey! Unrelated but I took your advice on the VVI CD and it sounds great.

As for KISS, I did a bit of research on the different releases, how the regular remasters trump the originals and most of the German pressings (I found the backwards ZZ trivia interesting), and I do know many people have great love for the SHM CDs, but nothing in terms of the comparison I'm curious about. I'll look some more, though!

 

I have the SHM Mini LP's and all of the excellent 1997 Remasters and both are magnificent in sound, yet I don't hear a world of difference in the SHM copies. The real upgrade came with the 1997 Remasters themselves and the wonderful packaging that tied them all together with Robert Conte's essays and the colorful discs, etc.

The Japan Mini LP's are great for the duplication they provide for those who want the classic-vinyl goodies and authentic presentation.

 

I own the KISS remasters and think they are decent. I have contemplated checking out an original CD mastering but am afraid if I do I will be driven to re-buy the whole catalog with originals! I have done this for many bands and don't want to go down that road again. I usually always prefer original versions to remasters. Do you find the standard US original KISS CDs significantly better on average than the remasters?

 

I find the US original CD of Love Gun to be the best version, even over the first Japanese pressing. The Japanese is too harsh when turned up. For the rest, I like the first Japanese pressings. Some of the second Japanese pressings are the same masterings and go for a cheaper price. If I was you, I would find an original Love Gun CD and compare to your remaster. You should be able to find one cheap. You can worry about the others later.

 

I almost bought a US original CD of 'Ace Frehley' the other day because the remaster was sounding a bit bright when I played it. Have you heard that one?

 

I've got Destroyer on SHM and I don't think much of it. Very flat and definitely lacks any bottom end...

 

Prefer the 2007 remasters.

 

Oh yeah. Best one, for me. I still have mine from the '80s.

 

Wait. There are two remasters, from 1997 and 2007?

 

On CD here was my preference, favorite first:

WG yellow rays original (warmest)
WG original
US original
Japan P33
1997 Japan remaster
1997 US remaster

I liked the dynamic range of the originals better and they had less compression but everyone has their preference with the Kiss originals vs remasters.

Everything is past tense since I bought the high res downloads and all the CD's are just sitting around now.

 

I had the SHM of Ace's solo remaster to compare to the standard US and Japan remasters. The SHM had better detail with a darker tone.

 

My mistake, I meant the 1997. Sorry!

 

I have all the 1997 remasters. They sound awesome.

I had the original US cd of "Double Platinum" and it was a good sounding disc, but the remasters from 1997 are excellent.

 

I agree. I always felt that while decent, the original CD's sounded a bit "muddy" relative to the more fresh and balanced sound of the Remasters (at least to my ears). Not to mention the packaging is much more thoughtful and the "Kiss Remasters" wording near the spines makes every CD "part of a whole", so to speak.

 

I recently got some of the old 1987 marinos for fun and to see how they sounded. Overall they are pretty goI'd, but quality control issues are evident. TheRe are spots of obvious tape flutter, songs fade earlier rhan on the albums, and there is the occasional outburst of pure digital garbage noise that is very irritating. Not awful, but room for improvement.
My opinion is that the 1997 cds set the standard, but the 2014 remasters are muscular 3-D upgrades. I don't have any high res versions but got the Mastered for ITunes 2014's, and they sound great to me.

 

That said I'd love to hear the Japanese or West German Originals but I'm not willing to buy them again.

 

I have both of the Kiss Solo CDs versions the original silver discs, with black lettering o the front of the cds, the remasters that were released in 1997. I really like the Kiss Solo Remasters CDs, & other Kiss Ramasters CDs better then the original Kiss CDs. The original Kiss has to many issues with pin holes on on the CDs, & that is just so despressing. I like the audio on the Kiss Remasters Solo CDs, & the Kiss Remasters CDs. I wish every Kiss CD ever made was also made as of Remasters CD that would create more sales for Kiss

 

Isn't it odd that whatever entity owns the rights to the KISS catalog has not done a proper reissue program? 2 discs sets w/live tracks and/or early mixes. They did release a (very lame) deluxe Love Gun a few years back, but it should have been SO much better. It seems like an easy cash grab to me.

 

I think Gene is more worried about bringing his vault to your house for $50,000.

 

Oh that lazy Love Gun "Deluxe" set still bothers me. I was surprised they didn't do something like that for the 40th anniversary in 2014 along side the vinyl re-issues. You see what other bands have done with their catalogue and then you see what KISS have done with theirs and its laughable especially given how they talk themselves up. This screams out to be a Tommy Thayer project since he would probably give it the time and love it would deserve.

 

I like the Japan 1st pressings P33C series for all of the albums available except for Love Gun as @Holy Diver mentioned. Thanks, I may have to check out that USA 1st pressing. For the solo albums I really like the W. German Yellow swirl CD's.