The Band "Music From Big Pink" & "Stage Fright" MFSL hybrid SACD & DCC Gold dilemma

I prefer the following:

Music from the Big Pink: original MFSL CD
S/T: AF Gold CD
Stage Fright: both the MFSL SACD & DCC Gold CD are worth getting (I would choose the DCC if I could only have one)
Cahoots: Pastmasters CD
Northern Lights: MFSL SACD

 

The redbook over the SACD? Why's that? Just curious.

 

I enjoy/prefer the MFSL's including Rock of Ages. I haven't compared Cahoots or Northern Lights to any other version but the others I have including the DCC and AF.

 

It sounds more natural to me. I feel the original MFSL mastering is better than the SACD mastering.

 

Perhaps he was thinking of the "redbook" layer on the Hybrid SACD vs the SACD layer........and not the "original" rebook CD of Big Pink (gold CD only) from the 80's/90's. Just guessing.

 

Re: The Band/The Band. On digital media, there is the AF Gold CD and then everyone else. By far the best digital version. The only other great sounding would be a Lime Green Capitol UK or US with RL mastering on both sides.

 

No I prefer the original MFSL Gold CD over the new MFSL SACD (both layers).

 

Have you heard the Japan CP32 Metralla talks about? I have and the sonic similarities are remarkable. Nearly indistinguishable from one another.

 

Haven't but will when I can find a copy to audition.

 

In one of his above posts, our host says it is possible that he MAY be wrong about the mixes he used for DCC Stage Fright (personally, I would never bet against his research). But IF Stage Fright is an extremely rare instance of our host being wrong about the mixes he used for the DCC, then he sure picked a doozy to be wrong about (to the great benefit of all), because I consider BOTH versions of Stage Fright (DCC and MFSL hybrid) to be essential listening for this album.

That said, if your OCD level compels that you absolutely MUST know which of them has the "original" mixes on the original LP issue (and it may, OCD being almost a prerequisite for membership in these forums), then just go ahead and compare both with the original LP issue (as I have and did, thus proving MY own OCD credentials in this regard). Trust me, the mixes on the DCC and MFSL hybrid are THAT different. Just don't compare them with each other (apples and oranges), and thank your lucky stars that you have both.

 

I do. I need such glaring, obvious differences. I don' t hear " subtle." Never have, never will.
.

 

I sounds good, but not great. The Japanese SHM-SACD is the best digital version of the original mix! Every MFSL SACD of The Band falls behind the SHM-SACDs!!!

 

I have a couple of The Band on both MoFi SACD and SHM-SACD. It’s an easy game for me; the jpn SACDs sounds more like an analog tape being played in front of me, instead of a electronic replication of it.

 

Agreed, the Japanese SHM-SACDs have a far more organic soundstage and presentation.

 

Right, the biggest difference between the MFSL and the SHM-SACDs... MFSL always add their "House-Sound-Eq" on their SACDs and LPs. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work.

 

I agree with this too. I was surprised how much I prefer the gold CD of Music for Big Pink. The SACD isn't bad, but I get the feeling Britton decided to go with a different approach, and the gold CD sounded "woodier" (as it's been described elsewhere) and organic. I'm not sure if it's a bump in the upper-mids or top end, or it's just the sound of the gear, but the SACD isn't as pleasant as the CD.