Question About The Who - "Who's Next" CD

Hello all, I have two copies I believe to be the Hoffman mastering, MCABD 37217 DIDX 152 Cinram mfg. and MCAD 37217 DIDY 1530 Made in USA CRC stamping.
Are they both the Hoffman mastering, and are these differentiated by the overall volume level? Any and all insight appreciated.

 

The Cinram is Canadian so presumably contains the mastering theorized to have been made from a tape backup of Our Host’s mastering (see other threads or possibly earlier in this one for details). The CRC contains a level adjusted version of Our Host’s original mastering if I recall correctly. All this info is readily available with a moderate amount of digging.

 

I'm guessing you are correct about the Canadian. If I recall correctly, the made in Japan (Denon not JVC; MCAD-37217 1A4 6X dot matrix) is our host's mastering. Also, the original US DADC for US (DIDX-152 21A2 matrix or similar). I see where it says the CRC is level adjusted, but I don't know if it applies to ones with the DIDX matrix above.

 

Here's lukpac's informative post from the best sounding Who's Next CD thread. I see I already answered in this thread the question about Steve's mastering with examples and pics!

 

The German Polydor is the best official release of Who's Next on CD.
It's better than the Hoffman one, both of which I've since got over the past however many months it's been.
Someone once wrote there is no good Baba O'Riley on CD - well there is, on the German Polydor CD from 1983.

 

Doesn't that mastering have fade ups and is treble boosted?

 

Really, have you heard the Japan 1st pressing on Polydor catalog #P33P 25009? I usually love Steve's work but this one annihilated the Canadian original, Japan for USA and USA SH mastered releases. A relaxed presentation with imaging that crushed the MCA release(s) I've heard.

I've heard a few SHM discs and they have yet to better originals I already have on CD. Not one!

 

Yes, and the mastering is the same as this:

 

Too bad they don't sound the same otherwise I would have stuck with the W. German pressing that I had first. Don't get me wrong here Luke. If the MCA that Steve did had the presentation of the Japan P33P it would be no contest.

 

They do in most situations.

 

I have heard that version, and I still stand by my original statement. Classic Records all the way on this title.

 

Unfortunately not with this album from my limited experience. The P33P may have "boosted treble" as Ted mentions, like the W. German 813 651-2, but it doesn't cause listening fatigue like the W. Germany did. The W. Germany falls apart sonically when cranked up.

The P33P bettered the following CD pressings here. W. German Polydor 813 651-2, USA MCA Ultimate Masterdisc Gold CD MCAD-11312, USA MCA/Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UltraDisc II UDCD 754, Japan for USA MCAD-37217, Japan for USA Club CD MCAD-37217, USA MCA MCAD-37217 [a couple and not the multitudes of these USA releases with the same catalog number], Canada MCA MCABD-37217 [three of these]. I guess it's ye olde YMMV.

 

The discs are digitally identical. You may find there are differences on your system, but there will never be differences when the discs are ripped, and many other systems do not exhibit such problems.

Also, there are at least 2 different German pressings, so when making statements about pressing differences, one cannot simply refer to a release by catalog number.

 

Yeah, it's a real PITA that my system can hear differences between different CD and SACD pressings.

I was speaking of the 1st confirmed 1983 CD matrix #813 651-2 01 solid aluminum center pressing. The later releases are just re-released pressings of the same mastering.

 

That's a perfect description for the Japanese CD you like.

 

So I've heard. I don't the why's, just the it is here.