As the thread title says, what are the best sounding CDs of the band Heart’s albums? Edit: fixed title. I accidentally forgot to write the rest of it!!!!
Other than the DCC and the MFSL (definitive versions) they're all original 80s reissues and sound very good. Little Queen and Dog & Butterfly are Japan for Europe pressings. I don't know if there were different masterings for any of these titles. I got off the bus with Bad Animals. Dreamboat Annie - DCC GZS-1058 Little Queen - CBS CDPRT 82075 Dog & Butterfly - CBS CDPRT 83080 Bebe Le Strange - Epic EK 36371 Private Audition - Epic EK 38049 Passionworks - Epic EK 38800 Heart - MFSL UDCD 597 Bad Animals - CAP CDP 7 46676 2
This just may be the most agreed upon thread in SH Forums history. I believe these Japan CD's carry the same mastering as the Japan for Europe CBS discs. For the S/T album both the Black Triangle and MFSL have very similar characteristics. Dreamboat Annie DCC GZS-1058 Magazine SACD Audio Fidelity AFZ-171 Little Queen Japan Epic/Sony 25·8P-5052 Dog & Butterfly Japan Epic/Sony 25·8P-5051 Bebe Le Strange Japan Epic/Sony 25·8P-5053 Heart Black Triangle Japan Toshiba/EMI CP32-5078 Heart MFSL UDCD 597 Bad Animals Japan Toshiba/EMI CP32-5399 Brigade Japan Special Edition Capitol/EMI TOCP-6130
Interesting. I didn't know the Japan-for-Europe masterings were the same as Japan-for-Japan. I have really liked the Black Triangle pressing of the S/T album. Sounds less bright to me than the standard US release. However on the DR website a submitter said the Black Triangle clips. Is that correct? If true that's odd as I prefer the BT. Also I have listened to both the US and Japan Brigade and they both sound a tad bright to me. Is there only one mastering for Brigade?
@George P - original for "Heart"? My recollection of this album was that it only sounded good through my best friend's boom box; she used to play it all the time. Just heard it from Apple Music on a bass heavy system-no bass! Is the MFSL better @Crawlin From The Wreckage @Dave ?
I wouldn't say better, but similar at least to the Japan CP32-5078 in that this recording is done digitally and has been bright sounding from the beginning with no way to undo it. Steve H. clued me into this.
Poo. I don't think the digital has so much to do with it, though. My feeling listening to this recording over many years is that their studio had a funny response, and thus the mix is a kind of inverse/negative of that. Hey, maybe unbeknownst to all the mix was supervised by Lars Ulrich, preparing himself for And Justice For All... This album makes me wonder how hard it would be to record my own EQ'd version and upload it to Apple Music, if that is still possible
Let us all know if you do try your own eq. remix. I only know what Steve told me and I've heard first hand. No way to undo it without a sacrifice of something else.
The Heart S/T is what it is. And as far as I'm concerned the best representation of what it is, is heard on the MFSL.
It is important to note the 1985 Black Triangle contains the original mixes of Never and Nothing At All the MFSL does not. The Black Triangle as I recall is the sole CD issue to contain those original mixes. Those who do not want the remixes need to avoid the MFSL. That said as the remixes became the de facto standard in 1986 it may not matter to most .
The Nimbus CD also contains the original mixes for these songs. Other than that one and the BT, I'm assuming you're right about the other CDs only having the remixes. I think the original version of Never is available on some compilations though.
On account of this thread I pulled MFSL UDCD 597 from the shelf and took it for a test spin. Well, now. There is definitely bass on here and it's one hell of a lot more bass than I recalled from the last time I played the album. Especially for an 80s production, very smooth midrange and vocals. This recording instantly climbed up my faves list by leaps and bounds. If you have a copy of the MoFi, why don't you let us know what you think about it after a fresh listen. You just may be surprised as I was.
Ugh. I already have the Black Triangle. Sounds good. Must....not....seek...out...another.....pressing.....
For me, if you go hi res digital, the HD Tracks version of “Heart” is the best sounding. It has the remixes but it’s not as bright as the original USA or Switzerland or West German CDs that I have that feature the remix. I also have the Black Triangle, MOFI and a few UK Nimbus CDs. The Audio Fidelity version of the hits cd is awesome.
Curiosity got the better of me. I decided to compare the HDtracks (24-192) of the S/T against the Black Triangle. On my system I couldn't tell a big difference between the two. The HDtracks is maybe a tad less forward on the top-end registers but the Black Triangle still sounds really good. Honestly I am not sure I have a preference between the two. Both sound good IMO. As always YMMV. I agree with PTgraphics the Audio Fidelity of the Greatest Hits sounds amazing. Definitely worth seeking out.
Yea nothing from S/T album and beyond. Only songs from 1975 through 1983. There is a new song though. Adding - I never heard the DCC of Dreamboat. I do have the Hi Res version of that album and it sounds great, IMO.
Probably a CD version of Bad Animals. I don't actually have that, but rather the cassette version, its music videos on a video album, and some singles on a greatest hits CD, and if they sound good there and the CD version is listed as having one of Heart's highest DR scores... I don't think songs from the other Heart albums I have - including a few CDs - sound as good.
