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

Does the 20th Anniversary cd have the same mastering as what this poll calls "1992 Remaster"?

 

^ I think so yeah.

From: http://www.pinkfloydarchives.com/Articles/DSOTMCDM.htm
"9) Mastering Number 9 – EMI 20th anniversary mastering – EMI revision level 2

Track Peak Levels: 67.9 / 69.1 / 76.9 / 75 / 96.8 / 69.6 / 89.3 / 75.7 / 82.5

In 1993, on the twentieth anniversary of the original release of Dark Side of the Moon, a new mastering of the album was done for CD release by Doug Sax. This new mastering was first issued in a special black box with five cards inside. The new remastered CDs also were given a new look, with a prism etched into the CD label."

The Shine On boxset version is the one that is different and came out around the same time if I remember correctly.

 

I have no idea what the Harvest "Blackface" is so I went with 'Other'. I have the UK 80s CD. Sounds good to me. Mind you, I like the sound of the recent remaster especially as the sound effects are not buried as much in the mix.

 

For a new remaster the 2011 sounds very good. But I'm surprised it's winning the best sounding is it that good?

 

The US and UK shine on Box sets DSOTM have different masterings. Only US has the Doug Sax mastering.

 

It is good, but I haven't compared it yet to the non-TO Japanese black-triangle disc, which I like very much.

 

What makes that black-triangle so good? Who mastered it and what year did it come out?

 

2011 is good, but 1992 is better IMO. Remember that the doug sax mastering was never released in europe, that might influence the voting.

 

I'm confused Doug Sax did the 1992? I thought he did the 1994?

 

Yeah, Sax did the '92. I don't know about a '94.

 

What is the difference between the 1992 Doug Sax and the 1994? Can someone set me straight.

 

The 92 is from the Shine on Box Set, and the 94 is the general release. It's one mastering.

 

It's the only one that comes fairly close to the original UK vinyl...Which is the absolute best.

 

Thank You that is what I thought but was not sure. Can you help on this what is the difference to the Doug Sax 94 remaster and the black triangle Japanese? Is it the same remaster?

 

Who mastered it?

 

Those are different masterings.

 

I should add (or subtract) that the Black Triangle CD (or non TO Black Face Harvest) has a very vinyl like sound in general, but to be blunt it doesn't hold a candle to the UK A3 // B3 vinyl pressing. In fact I like all the early vinyl pressings (even the MFSL) better than these CD's (Which are both the same)...But, like I said, it's the only one that holds up very well to the earlier vinyls. (Except the A3 // B3 ) If I were trapped on a desert island and only had access to this CD, I would be very happy.

Sorry I don't know who did the mastering on the CD or vinyl.

If anyone want's to hear a brighter (similar) presentation of the Black Triangle/Black Face Harvest, look no further than the later Silver Face Harvest... I'm 99% sure this should have been released with pre-emphasis flags. (IE, the CD player should have been instructed to de-emphasis this CD). This CD was WAY off the chart too bright. So I ripped it and added the flags. When I played it back with the flags inserted, it sounded much better...But still not as good as the 'blacks', of course.

 

I have not heard them all, but from what I have heard, I like the Sax and the MFSL.

 

BTW, to avoid any confusion, my MFSL comment above was pertaining to the vinyl, not the CD.

 

Do you know if Doug Sax did the mastering for all discs in the Shine on box?

 

I like the black triangle best, but every version brings something different to the table. You can't go wrong with any pressing. It's an extremely well-recorded and produced album and has always been treated with delicate hands in mastering. Floyd fans are lucky.

 

Doug Sax did the shine on remasters, but I seem to remember a thread on here where it may have been determined that he redid some of them for general release.

But see here: http://pinkfloydarchives.com/DUSCDPF.htm for the mastering done on all of the Pink Floyd CDs:

 

Black triangle all the way!

 

US box is all Sax. European version is a mixed bag.

 

I recall our host saying somewhere on this forum that MFSL did not play with EQ on their early releases.

Any speculations that the MFSL DSOTM has smiley-face EQ are just that, speculations. Maybe that's how the master tape is.