ABBA - CD Album Box Set - 27 May 2022 Release

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Analyzed: ABBA / The Visitors
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
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DR11 -0.10 dB -13.75 dB 5:46 01-The Visitors
DR11 -0.10 dB -13.04 dB 3:47 02-Head Over Heels
DR11 -0.10 dB -13.54 dB 3:18 03-When All Is Said And Done
DR11 -0.10 dB -12.75 dB 4:40 04-Soldiers
DR9 -0.10 dB -12.09 dB 5:21 05-I Let The Music Speak
DR11 -0.10 dB -13.05 dB 3:57 06-One Of Us
DR10 -0.10 dB -12.51 dB 3:37 07-Two For The Price Of One
DR9 -0.10 dB -12.08 dB 3:52 08-Slipping Through My Fingers
DR13 -1.89 dB -20.86 dB 3:35 09-Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
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Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR11

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 735 kbps
Codec: FLAC
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How do they compare to the original CDs?

 

It seems this set is a step up from the 2009 boxset?

 

The real question is if these sound better than the old Polydors. I’m cautiously optimistic.

 

Same here. I love the EQ/dynamics of the oldies, warts and all.

 

What box set are you talking about here? Is there a new one? I haven't heard about it!

 

Yeah, I got hold of those last year and was blown away by the sound of them! I got rid of my remastered versions.

 

I swore no more Abba re-releases, but then....a better remastering!

 

This one ! Details here.............

ABBA / Album Box Set – SuperDeluxeEdition

 

Just bought mine from Amazon, hope it arrives quick.

 

I am not a DR numbers tell the story type of listener, but those are not impressive DR numbers.

 

I think they are if you consider their past remasters and their kind of music...a 2022 remaster with an average of 10 for radio friendly pop music, that has never been audiophile grade, is quite good IMHO.

 

Which one is and how?

Same - which one is wrong and it what way?

Thanks.

 

What about the DR values of Voyage here? Has it been remastered too?

 

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Analyzed: ABBA / Voyage
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
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DR6 -0.56 dB -10.28 dB 5:09 01-I Still Have Faith In You
DR8 -0.50 dB -9.56 dB 2:50 02-When You Danced With Me
DR12 -0.85 dB -16.24 dB 3:08 03-Little Things
DR8 -0.34 dB -11.03 dB 3:56 04-Don't Shut Me Down
DR6 -0.41 dB -8.00 dB 3:32 05-Just A Notion
DR9 -0.63 dB -12.57 dB 4:02 06-I Can Be That Woman
DR7 -0.36 dB -9.93 dB 4:05 07-Keep An Eye On Dan
DR8 -0.66 dB -11.96 dB 3:57 08-Bumblebee
DR6 -0.27 dB -7.80 dB 2:57 09-No Doubt About It
DR8 -0.68 dB -10.72 dB 3:32 10-Ode To Freedom
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Number of tracks: 10
Official DR value: DR8

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 774 kbps
Codec: FLAC
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I don't remember the values of the original cd, are they the same?! (guess so)

 

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Analyzed: ABBA / ABBA Tracks
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
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DR9 -0.10 dB -10.39 dB 4:49 01-Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
DR9 -0.10 dB -12.50 dB 4:13 02-Fernando
DR10 -0.10 dB -11.67 dB 3:33 03-Summer Night City
DR9 -0.10 dB -12.20 dB 3:46 04-Under Attack
DR9 -0.10 dB -10.50 dB 5:50 05-The Day Before You Came
DR9 -0.10 dB -10.37 dB 3:46 06-Lovelight
DR8 -0.10 dB -10.15 dB 4:24 07-Happy Hawaii
DR8 -0.10 dB -9.96 dB 3:44 08-Elaine
DR9 -0.10 dB -11.54 dB 4:26 09-Should I Laugh Or Cry
DR10 -0.10 dB -12.76 dB 4:26 10-Put On Your White Sombrero
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Number of tracks: 10
Official DR value: DR9

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 953 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

 

Bonus CD looks and sounds fine after a very quick check.

I will listen to the entire box in the next days / weeks and report further details.

Main issues until now:

THE ALBUM: "Eagle" was probably sourced from a lossy file (!!!) and sounds a bit weird, compared to the rest of the album.

SUPER TROUPER: No original transition between "Lay All Your Love On Me" and "The Way Old Friends Do". Clean ending / clean intro instead.

THE VISITORS: I have to check with headphones. No idea if this is the real master without dropouts and stuff going on.

Rest seems to be okay. I really like the mastering. Too sad that they f***ed up "The Album" again and used the wrong version of the last two "Super Trouper" tracks...

 

Have to say I've always thought that track sounded odd.

 

That’s also my opinion! This track always had too much compression

 

Yes, Eagle never sounded "right"

 

So they went back to the multitracks and didn't just remaster the finished/edited album master

 

No multitracks !!! You are talking about the stereo mixes !!!

 

'Lay All Your Love On Me' and 'The Way Old Friends Do' were released separately in USA/Japan. It's not a recent mistake or something.

 

Sure, it is a BIG mistake to release an original 1980 album with different transitions etc.