Simon & Garfunkel Remasters In 24/192 -- Bookends (Stereo) Sounds Great

Just downloaded the "just-made-available" Simon & Garfunkel 24/192 remaster from HDTracks (using the 15% off coupon code) and they did a beautiful job on it. The first track's ("Old Friends") guitar attacks are quite impressive as is the guitar on at the beginning of "Mrs Robinson". In comparison to the stereo original Columbia press LP (which I probably don't have a "first stamper" of), there's a lot more detail on the new download. I can hear stuff in "dense" tracks such as "Save the Life Of My Child" that I couldn't hear on the LP. Whoever did this remaster did a fine job and the 24/192 is really a perceptible difference over the "Complete Albums Collection" CD's from earlier this year. Is it worth $22? I don't know if I'm going to buy the rest of them, but the download sure was thrilling (almost like hearing the mono "Bookends" for the first time) in terms of detail.

 

I bought the new 12 CD set this weekend and I felt the same way about the sound on it. Even though it's not in High Def it sounded terrific! I was especially impressed with the sound of Bookends on that as well!

 

Does anyone use the digital format to release hard-to-find stuff like the mono mix of Bookends?

 

No, the mono mix of Bookends has never been released officially on either physical media or download (although "Fakin' It" has been released on one of the myriads of greatest hits reissues -- and it's the song with the most dramatic differences from the stereo version).

 

Just grabbed Bridge, DR-10, will do some listening later, in the middle of doing some needle drops right now

 

Urgh. DR-10. What's the use of 24 bits if the dynamic range is compressed to 12 bits worth? I do not understand why labels decrease the dynamic range for formats that are clearly meant for audiophiles.

The new hi-res Live At Leeds has a DR of 12.

What's wrong with this picture?

 

It came out on LP (a physical media).

 

So are these the original versions or the remixes?

 

I agree Gardo, but I think some of the old masters on cd were around ten also for these releases
I'm using this album as a trial to see If I purchase anymore of them, I already have the old Columbia box plus a few Austrian red stripes and a mono lp, this was probably more of a curiosity purchase than anything
@Stefan, if these are from the 2014 box it should be originals

 

How does one tell if something's DR-10 or DR-12? Is there a program that shows you a graph of dynamic range?

 

I've come to believe that EQ choices can affect DR scores almost as much as dynamic compression.

 

There is a plugin you can use for foobar2000, the tool is helpful but not an all tell for sq, your own ears are usually the best when detecting brain bleeds

 

I've got the four albums that are on gold disc, I wonder how these will compare.

 

When was there a remix of Bookends?

 

There wasn't. He was referring to the first three albums.

 

The thread title says Bookends. There's already a thread about the new remasters.

 

Yeah, but since the first three albums were remixed, it makes sense that he'd be asking about those.

 

Or let the poster speak for himself/herself.

 

Suit yourself.

Cool avatar, by the way.

 

Ok. The new remasters thread you mentioned refers to the redbook box set. We have no way of knowing if these HDTracks versions are from the same mastering sessions as the box. Since this thread is the only one I could find about the HDTracks S&G, I thought it best to ask here rather than create a separate thread.

 

Nothing. It sounds great.

 

HDTracks is showing Cloudy @ 2:18 , my old Austria @ 2:15, the Columbia box 2:25 if that helps

 

Thanks. I was hoping these would be the original mixes.

 

These are released at the same time as the box and there's a question that the mastering is different?

 

For twenty bucks or so a pop it's good to be sure, who knows with these labels