This week’s poll pits the 1986 original mastering against the 2017 remaster. Which version do you prefer and why? (Note that we’re just talking about the songs contained on MOP itself, and not any extra features contained on the 2017 bonus discs).
will be interesting to see thoughts/opinions on this. Have sound engineers learned from the mistakes of the late 90's - early 20-teens?
I would like to see how the 2017 measures vs. my favourite version of this album ( 25DP 5234 ). I currently own the 25DP cds for the 4 first albums and I do no have any need to seek out for other versions. I purchased those based on other members recommendations and they sound awesome to me. I have never heard the 1986 cd (I assume you mention Elektra 60439-2). I wonder if this will be the same mastering as the 25DP.
For what it’s worth, after having owned the original album (cassette version ) when it first came out, and then re-acquiring it on cd some 30++ years later after my old copies were lost, I was pleasantly surprised that: 1) The original mastering was still readily available And 2) That Metallica (of all bands) appear not to have succumbed to the loudness wars. The 2017 remaster is exceptionally well done, imho. I was half expecting to walk into a brickwalled mess! Lol... thankfully, that didn’t happen.
Yes, it's the '86 Elektra is the same as the 25DP. Actually, for MoP, the Music For Nations, Vertigo, Japan, US are all the same mastering for the early CD issues.
It was remastered in '95 and was quite loud. Also, the first two album recent remasters are bricked. Thankfully they improved for MoP. It's still not to my taste, but it's much better than the first two album remasters.
I still have the original mastering on disc, so that’s my go to version, and if something tops that, so much the better!
@rnranimal Were you referring to the 2017 remaster of Ride The Lightening being brickwalled in your previous post?
Bought the new remaster at Walmart for $5.00. Sounds better than the original. The original isn't bad, but a little thin sounding.
Thanks for the clarification. I’d read conflicting reports on RTL... I believe elsewhere it was being praised in relation to previous remasters in the 90’s and the 2011 version. I ordered it anyway a week ago and will have to judge for myself when it arrives.
The 2017 was remastered by Howie Weinberg and Gentry Studer at Howie Weinberg Mastering , Los Angeles CA.
I picked up the new remaster mainly for the bonus features such as the demos and live concert... cool to hear.
I might actually buy this remaster if it’s not brick walled. I wonder if the Ride The Lightning remaster is also not brick walled.
MoP is the best of the three with DR of mostly 9s and a couple 10s. Ride is the worst with mostly 7s and a couple 8s. KEA is mostly 7s and 8s with one 9 and one 10.
I don't have the 2017, but if it boosts the low midrange and bass frequencies and still sounds great cranked, I might buy it.
I actually enjoy the 2017 more than the 86. It's hard to pinpoint but it sounds heavier and thicker without being loud. I think the new remaster of kill em all is really well done but the ride the lightning seems way louder and more shrill sounding. I had to keep adjusting the volume and got ear fatigue. I am really looking forward to the remaster of and justice for all.
Listening to the 2017 remaster and it sounds pretty good except there's an awful, distracting click on the title track on Lars' snare drum at certain points. The part like at 1:00, with the "missing 32nd note" (I don't know how else to describe it) the snare drum has a weird click on the CD version, but YT sort of dulls it because of the compression that goes into uploading to YT (probably for the better)
