Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon - Best sounding CD (updated)

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by AnyColourYouLike, Oct 21, 2011.

  1. levimax

    levimax Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    The OP said redbook only but since people are talking SACD I hope I am Ok mentioning this (since it is a Mastering thread) that I have the MFSL version which is OK but the alleged "Alan Parsons mastered unreleased DVD-A" version is much better (both the quad and stereo down mix). Many times the differences people talk about between versions are very subtle but in this case it is not. The "Parsons DVD-A" sounds much different and to me much better and much more fun. If you are truly looking for the "grail" version of Dark Side of the Moon this version is worth tracking down and listening to.
     
    eyeCalypso likes this.
  2. bhazen

    bhazen I Am The Walrus

    Location:
    Deepest suburbia
    I find myself listening to the 20th Anniversary and the Shine On box CDs the most these days. Whoever did those, did a good job.
     
    Sax-son likes this.
  3. Farthingscat

    Farthingscat Forum Resident

    Location:
    Norfolk
    Where can you get the parson's mix from?
     
  4. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    If you're talking about the Quad Mix, it's on the Blu-ray and DVD from the Immersion Box.
     
  5. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    So question, I have the "Holy Grail" UK Harvest Blackface - CP35-3017 31A9 non-TO. My CD does not have that "mid-range rumble" on the song "Money." All of the EAC numbers match up with it being that Sony mastering. Am I missing something here? I have heard an actual Grail mastering and this one sounds just a tad different.
     
    Dave likes this.
  6. ricks

    ricks Senior Member

    Location:
    127.0.0.1:443
    My apologies but for humans going by a past acoustical memory of weeks, months or years is simply not valid. Acoustic memory is extremely short at absolute best lasting only a scant few minutes. This is fact, you can consult with any EN&T MD or certified audiologist to confirm. Additionally you have differences in gear/hardware to account for, unless you listened on the exact same system.

    Do a side by side compare of the 2 discs [on fully warm gear], you will almost certainly find they are the same. If that is not possible then rest assured you have the same mastering and sound as the "Sony/CBS", regardless of what those here with huge $$$ and ego based agendas will post - please be aware they may try to discourage you from doing your own legwork/investigations and will likely have many venomous words and comments to spew! Which is normal for those who feel facts will cost them money and or loose face.....

    And now for some thread crap..... IMHO DSOTM is the most overrated Rock album of all-time. Told you that was thread crap :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2016
    Man at C&A and mpayan like this.
  7. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Are you just parroting old info. or is this applicable to you? Acoustic memory can be longer or shorter for some people and to paint everyone with a broad paint brush like this is just wrong. Just because you don't hear it doesn't mean everyone can't.
     
  8. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    I'm not intending to start a flame war. I just think I may not have the actual "Holy Grail" one, even though the EAC numbers match up with what has been posted here previously.
     
    Dave likes this.
  9. Sax-son

    Sax-son Forum Resident

    Location:
    Three Rivers, CA
    I have that one also. Remaster supervised by James Guthrie and mastered by Doug Sax of The Mastering Lab. I really like it.
     
    bhazen likes this.
  10. PH416156

    PH416156 Alea Iacta Est

    Location:
    Europe
    Does your CD player correctly decode pre emphasis?
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2016
    Yost and ricks like this.
  11. ricks

    ricks Senior Member

    Location:
    127.0.0.1:443
    Again my friend you must compare directly compare the discs on gear that is fully warm. Otherwise you will never ever know.

    Excellent point and 100% valid. In addition on DSOTM the pre-emph flag is in the "wrong" place (in subcode not in the Table Of Contents aka TOC) and unless the transport adheres 100% with Redbook spec's it will not be decoded resulting in crappy sound. Example OPPO's will not decode pre-emph if in the subcode. Probably many other brands that do not as well. In addition as most are aware computer based readers are unable to decode it regardless of where the flag lies.

    BTW folks the Black Triangle Abbey Road also falls into the same boat as DSOTM as pre-emph goes. However WYWH 35DP which has it in the TOC does not. IMHO with modern gear pre-emph can be an major issue for those that have very old discs. Luckily for DSOTM and WYWH at least there are many great sounding choices without the pre-emphasis.


    For a quick pre-emph primer; Pre-emphasis - Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase »
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2016
  12. Mbe

    Mbe Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
  13. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    I'm ripping this with EAC.
     
  14. The 1992. All I have is that and the 2011 in the Experience Edition. I do want to get a 1983 Capitol. For many years my yellow spine Cassette did fine for me and I would set up tape decks and stereo systems using it. I've had the 1992 for close to 20 years and for a lot of years I would play Dark side once a year and put it back away. the 1992 suits that purpose just fine, it is very enjoyable
     
  15. ricks

    ricks Senior Member

    Location:
    127.0.0.1:443
    You need a lucky combo of hardware and older EAC version for the PRE to be detected and placed into a cue sheet. Odds are tiny....

    So you should manually insert the "PRE" flag into the .cue file. That will place the flag into the TOC. Still you must have a transport that will decode pre-emph , but now that the flag in the TOC , Oppo's for example will read it. The difference with with the pre being decoded or not is the difference between great and crappy sound.

    If you do not have a transport or gear that is able to decode pre-emphasis the CP35 NON TO based mastering is a complete waste of money. So go for another version.

    Since I have no $ agenda, to get a proper .cue file:
    Read this thread; Help! Can somebody walk me through making a pre-emphasis disc copy with EAC?! »

    If you need additional help, copy the text from your .cue file to a new post and I will be glad to make the changes for you.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2016
    c-eling likes this.
  16. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Can't you rip it with the older versions of EAC that detect pre-emphasis and then use foobar2000's filter to de-emphasize it?
     
  17. c-eling

    c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

    Rip with foobar using the filter, if you search I did a step by step for another member a month or so ago
    The old beta of EAC is good for detecting the pre flag in the sub, it does not add the proper EQ
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2016
    ricks likes this.
  18. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Does it work if you rip first with EAC then run it through foobar with the filter?
     
  19. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    NOW it seems to be working properly, I can hear that "mid range rumble" on 'Money.' I'm curious why it works upon ripping in foobar2000 but it doesn't sound/work the same way if you rip with EAC or dBpoweramp and then run it through foobar's de-emphasis filter. It is because EAC and dBpoweramp aren't detecting the flag properly?
     
    ricks likes this.
  20. ricks

    ricks Senior Member

    Location:
    127.0.0.1:443
    EAC and DBPoweramp will only detect PRE if the hardware allows. I have some readers that show the PRE with EAC and DBpower and some that don't. So the only way to be certain is after ripping the PRE flag must manually be inserted into the .cue before burning the CD-R or you must manually turn on a filter.

    As for for foobar, etc all filters do this differently as well as all software playback varies to begin with. As a result you will never be comparing apples to apples. The pre-emph is clearly why you stated your DSOTM sounds different than the "Sony/CBS" Black Triangle you heard elsewhere. Those here with the $$$ based agendas of course will insist it's the CD pressing when in reality it's the fact you are not decoding the pre-emph in the same exact manner your friend did - any chance you will post a definitive retraction to your post and mention it was computer based playback and pre-emph as being the issue.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2016
    c-eling likes this.
  21. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Sure I will admit that it is computer-based playback and pre-emphasis being the issue. Once I did as you suggested and ripped it with foobar2000 and the de-emphasis filter turned on, I am getting that "mid range rumble" that has been talked about here. When I hear a properly de-emphasized one previously, I definitely heard it.

    Would be nice to get an Audio Fidelity remaster of this one.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2016
    c-eling and ricks like this.
  22. Mbe

    Mbe Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Just got hold of the 1992 re-master and really like it, perhaps it is the first CD version heard
    that does not suffer (imo) from an overly brash harshness with the highs of “Us and Them”.

    One thing I noticed though is a slight glitch (Cymbals R/L) at approx 2.57 minutes into “Money” anyone else noticed this.

    Only played twice so far though, so more listens to come but at a cost of £3.97 + postage I’m really pleased.
     
    L5730 and CrazyCatz like this.
  23. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    I like the 2011 just fine. Maybe I'll have to sell of my UK Harvest 31A9 copy.

    Any chance we'll see Audio Fidelity do a remaster of this one? I feel like the MFSL wasn't a good audiophile remaster of this album.
     
  24. CrazyCatz

    CrazyCatz Great shot kid. Don't get cocky!

    Well I've only just picked up tha DSOTM and is a cardboard gatefold 2011 remaster, which I quite like tha Sound of, but tbh its been so long since I've heard this on Vinyl or Tape it's kinda hard to say ..will have to pick it up again..just a different version..hmm?

    atb
     
    Time Is On My Side likes this.
  25. Time Is On My Side

    Time Is On My Side Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Grab the 2011 180g vinyl LP while you're at it. I got that one along with the CD and it sounds great to me.
     
    CrazyCatz likes this.

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