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

Waters played bass on the DSOTM version whereas Gilmour played all the instruments on the 1981 version excluding sax.

 

I have some different sets of speakers, and I prefer different parts of the same CD version on the different speakers. I have one set that is a bit quicker and more accurate in the midrange, the other has better bass and soundstage.
I think this factors into peoples preferences. Just a theory.

 

How does the MFSL CD compare to the 2011 Remaster CD?

Per the poll, the 2011 is obviously the best sounding one, but is there a reason why? One would think the MFSL would be the best sounding.

 

The MFSL is worth every penny, my go to version. IMO

 

Yes, but what specifically makes it better than the rest? I have the 2011 Immersion Set that has the CD's, DVD-A and BD-A.

Is the MFSL still better?

 

The MFSL is definitely a touch too bright for me. The guitar solo on Money can be painful with the volume seriously turned up. The blackface non-TO is basically the MFSL but more neutral sounding. I seriously wonder if the MFSL was EQd.

My guess as to the abundance of votes for the 2011 is that most voters have not heard the other versions.

 

I find the clarity to be unbeatable, very smooth and easy on ears. Overall I haven't heard a bad version of this album.

 

Ehh I guess I'll just stick by my 2011 Floyd CDs.

I forget which one my dad has, but it's the Capitol Silver face. Is that a 1992/3 Sax remaster? Anyway, I couldn't detect a huge difference in it from my 2011 disc.

 

How would you describe the differences between the original Black Triangle, MFSL and 2011 CD's?

Is the MFSL one worth the price it commands? Would I gain anything from it if I already have the 2011?

 

I concur, on a HiEnd system you hear clarity, not too bright to my ears, just perfect.

 

I recently picked up the MFSL at a good price, and did a shoot-out between that & the Harvest black face non-TO. I'd have trouble telling the difference in a blind test, but my first impression was I preferred some tracks on one & some on the other. Definitely both better than the 2011, but even that one's not terrible.

Will second the recommendation for the SACD, but if you have the DVD-A from the Immersion box it may be redundant.

 

It isn't since the DVD in the box set is not a DVD-A, and I love them if there isn't an SACD available. But the Blu Ray is there for higher sound quality. It is a huge difference because DVD-A is lossless. The DVD in the box set is not.

Since I only listen to Dark Side in surround, I won't vote.

 

My mistake; I was thinking of the Blu-Ray.

 

Below is a comparison of the histograms from the Harvest black face non-TO CD (matrix CP35-3017 21A2 CDP 7-46001 2) vs. the 2011 Experience remaster. These are both of the song "Money" as a representative example.

Harvest black face ("Money")


2011 Experience ("Money")


The 2011 clearly exhibits overall higher volume, some reduction in dynamic range, and modest peak trimming. Nevertheless, it sounds quite good (but I'm sticking with the Harvest as my preferred version).

 

I just realized that the graphics in my above post should have been described as waveforms, not histograms. Don't know what I was thinking.

 

I voted for the 1992 remaster. I also have 2011 remaster, "94" europe remaster and SACD. I find the 2011 remaster has slightly withdrawn mids.

 

The 1992 remaster is really quite good. If this was the only version a person had they would be doing fine.

 

Is the 1992 remaster the same as the original USA Capitol release with the silver face?

 

The best version is the 5/c version made 30 years ago.

 

As a Floyd fan who doesn't have every album in multiple pressings (yes, such people do exist), would it be fair to say that there isn't a version of DSOTM on CD that should be avoided?.

 

Every version of this I've ever heard sounds good including my old and faithful cassette tape played through a 1983 Emerson "Boom Box".

 

No. It's the Doug Sax remaster. Very well done I might add.

 

The 2003 SACD redbook layer - it really is just too bright. Those chimes at the beginning of Time may leave one requiring a trip to a dentist.
However, if you have an SACD player, apparently very different story - I don't so can't express personal experience of that layer.

As I said in my round-up of the versions I had heard, the 1992/3 Doug Sax remaster that was readily available at least here in UK prior to 2003 sounds pretty decent as far as the overall sound goes. I'm talking about disc in either the original prism artwork or the solid white prism front cover and multi-rays back cover artwork, both have the etched CD relief map and prism design. This one would be dirt cheap 2nd hand.
I do kinda like parts of the MoFi however. Money just boogies!