Pink Floyd The Wall, my shoot-out

Hi guys,

I know a few of you have been after me for my thoughts on masterings of The Wall and now I've had the chance to compare 3 different pressings of these early CD pressings. Here's my impressions in order of preference and they are not exactly the same mastering although close between two at least.

1. Japan CBS/Sony 48DP 5007-8
This is the best mastering I've heard so far even slightly better than the Canadian pressing. Very very relaxed and natural sounding with perfect definition.

2. Canada Columbia C2K-36183
Other than a little bit of an over-extended bass frequencies and slight, and I do mean very slight, top end hash this one is very very good still and will disappoint no one.

3. UK black-faced Harvest CDS 7 46036 8
Doesn't measure up to the previous two even when the volume is brought up to match the others. Sounds veiled and almost like it's a vinyl-drop with flabby bass and recessed treble frequencies (rolled off?). Presence is also lacking compared to the other two.

YMMV

 

Glad to see the Harvest not measuring up. That's what I thought at the time but then after some people claiming they liked it I started wondering.

The MFSL gold CD set is way out ahead of the others for me except for the packaging. I placed the MFSL discs in the Harvest double case and traded in the Harvest CDs which were inside the MFSL cases. I still have the booklets for both.

 

Dave,

Thanks for the review. Where would the U.S. C2K-36183 stack up relative to the JPN, CAN, and UK CDs you listed? Does U.S. sound the same as the CAN issue? Thanks.

Alan

 

Dave, I have a Japan for US pressing of the C2K, and it sounds just a *tad* softer to me than the later, US pressed C2K. The TT of disc #2 is also different by 1 second, iirc.

In fact, it sounds so good I am not going to bother hunting down the 48DP. If I find one, great, but my C2K is a winner.

And the regular US C2K is superb as well! Those can still be had for about 25 bucks and yet people pay 100 for the MFSL?

 

I picked up a copy of the 48DP on Ebay and ran it through EAC. The levels on every track, with 2 exceptions, matched the C2K-36183 that Dave ran through EAC. I've read here that some of the start/stop times for a few tracks are not the same on different pressings which may account for the different peak values on those 2 tracks. I understand that matching peak levels does not always mean that the music will sound the same. Just thought I'd post the info for anyone who is interested.

 

I started hunting for a C2K disc when Dave mentioned how much he liked it. I was stunned at how amazing it was. Made the Mo-Fi sound hollow and smiley faced in comparison.

BTW, I saw several for under $20.

 

If you're patient, you can get it for a great price on eBay. I paid $14.60 and had a Paypal coupon that took another $3.45 off shipping, so it was delivered for a total of $11.15.

mcow1 pointed me in the right direction by simply suggesting to look at the pics for The Wall auctions. It paid off. Thanks again, mcow1!

 

When you say UK black faced; is this actually made in the UK, or is it a Japanese/German disc?

I'd like to hear of a shotout with the Dutch/UK silver Harvest thrown in there.

 

Paypal coupon? I guess that was some time back?

 

Dave,

does any of the discs you compared have the digital click at the beginning of Comfortably Numb?

Roland

 

Alan, I can guess, but I've not heard it. My guess is it's the same as the Canadian mastering.

 

It sounds like it could be the same as the 48DP Jeff from your description.

 

Japan, I actually made a boo boo in saying UK in my original post. Thanks for asking the right question otherwise I might not have checked again.

 

My mileage varys; I prefer the Harvest Japan Blackface to the C2K, and there's no click at the beginning of CN.

I don't find the bass "flabby", I think it's sounds better than the C2K.

 

So you haven't compared these to a UK silver-faced Harvest? That's the one I prefer.

 

No, I need to hear that one and the Japan 1st pressing still. Maybe the UK is a completely different mastering.

When you hit track 9 on the UK CD where exactly does it take you? Does it take you to the music ie: drums start of Young Lust or to the begining where the girl enters the room and starts speaking like on the Japan Harvest?

 

Some level-matched comparison clips would be very welcome!

How do the (various?) Doug Sax remasters fall into that shoot-out?

 

I once compared the Sony 20th "1979-1999" Wall CD to the C2K.

No comparison. Digital, and a bit crispy. The C2K all the way.

 

My thoughts exactly-We need a silver faced Harvest to really put this one to bed finally

 

From memory-its the girl speaking-I don't think its possible to go directly to Young Lust

 

Perhaps the Harvest pressings are all the same and the Columbia and CBS/Sony's are the same. Wouldn't surprise me if it was this way.

 

It starts with the dial tone which really should be the end of the previous track, and then there's the bit with the girl.

 

Maybe that could be fixed on the first post.

So dose the 48DP have the click on Comfortably Numb?

 

Very quiet, but yes it's there.

 

AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!