Bingo. I prefer the Diaments myself, but anyone who believes any of the Zep CDs are "audiophile" quality is smoking something.
Not considering whether there was or wasn't channel switching on earlier Zep CDs, as I stated earlier, I found that some of the masterings of songs on the earlier CDs were more satisfying, and some on the 10 CD box set were more fulfilling. It's been a long time since I had the gear to do this comparison, though.... One disappointment on the big-boxed-set for me was the fade out of Stairway to Heaven vs. the original, just ending the way it did...and the earlier fade out on some of the songs.
Interesting. Is yours a U.S. pressings? What info is in the dead wax? I don't know which 8216 pressing ledsox has. On a side note. A friend of mine is just getting into Led Zeppelin and has become a big fan. 57 years old and he had never heard these before, although, he did recognize the name of the band. I have taken over IV~Presence and, I think, he likes "Presence" most. Others to follow. The next time I see him I will take over the original CD and SHM-CD versions of "In Through The Out Door". I'll leave them with him and let him decide which one he prefers. I'll just tell him the EQ is different and he will have to adjust the volume to his comfort level.
All media is more revealing on better systems - sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes it is not. It’s up to the listener to decide what his “Holy Grail” disc is - not you, nor this forum. When you see someone who disagrees with you on what the “Holy Grail” disc actually is, your posts imply that it’s their system to blame when the reality may well be that it’s just their preference vs. yours. And that’s why your posts are insulting to some. As for me, I just have a nice chuckle.
Yup. I know who's tastes are similar to mine and I take their recommendations -- I don't always agree, though. For those who's tastes differ, I buy the opposite of what they recommend (and I expect the same in kind) .
I'd just like to say Happy Birthday Jimmy! 66 today. Also, the Royal Albert Hall performance from the DVD was 40 years ago today. Just turn it up.
It is true that music lovers might enjoy a different EQ, but there is also some objectivity. I guess I could claim that MFSL Crime of the Century had poor SQ just "because". And that I only listen to CDs on my stock car stereo and it's good enough for me. So....if that were the case, wouldn't I be blissfully ignorant?? And what use would this naive view be to a new forum member!? I stand by the sentiment that a "grail" level recording will become better, while lesser recordings begin to show their warts.....
An example: the 'Experience Hendrix' reissues are the only Hendrix cds that use the master tapes,yet the consensus is that they are far more processed sounding than the Polydor and Reprise cds that preceded them. The trick is to 1) use the master tapes and 2) do not apply a lot of signal processing to the digital files after transfer. Unfortunately, a lot of recording engineers can't leave well enough alone. Barry's LZ cds were treated with a very light touch. If the dis does not get shrill when you turn it up loud, odds are it's a well mastered disc. The better MFSL discs have these characteristics, ALL the DCC discs do and a lot of early 1982-88 cds do as well. The real problem began when there were tools to filter the sound in the digital domain. People love their toys, me included. If you buy a bunch of plug ins or DSP boxes you will be tempted to use them. I have only 5 LZ cds, 'Physical Graffiti', and the 1st boxed set (1990) and they're the Page/Marino remasters. I'm not impressed. Still playing vinyl on all titles until I trip over the older cds.
A digression here: You don't have to spend a fortune to get good vinyl playback. A vintage TT with a heavy base and a decent cartridge would set you back (perhaps) $200. The pain that some won't bear is that you have to buy vinyl that isn't beat up and clean it before playing it. I have a Pioneer PL-500 that's missing a foot, it has an Oyster cartridge on it in my store for folks to audition records on. This thing is ugly and sounds GREAT. I might have $80 invested in this thing, counting the cart. The bubble cover is cracked and without that foot it has to sit on a firm table or concrete to "not freak out" as the foot reaches into the body and suspension. No, it doesn't sound like my Music Hall with the Grado Reference on it but it doesn't have to.
I thought I read on here that the orginal P.G had the cough at I belive it was "in my time of dying" where as the later issued cds didn't have this.
This continues to come up and each time it is corrected. There is an exception to that statement. The non RE-1 Reprise of Are You Experienced is not from a poorer source. It did use the master tapes. http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=683589&postcount=23 Steve H: "The original CD of the first album in the USA was mastered from the British stereo master. I didn't like the mastering (too much top) but it was from the first gen tape." Just wanted to pass this along, Chip!
I'm pretty sure the remaster has the cough. Some of the original cds do and some do not. And some of the vinyl lps have the cough and some do not. . .
Wow, Soonerfan's very first post is the resurrection of this debate again, and it generated the typical reaction! A couple of newbie notes: 1. When it comes to standard studio CD releases, there is a strong slant in this forum that original is better. In many cases this is justified, but some members of this forum treat it as holy scripture. 2. The Mastering Engineer of most the original Zep CDs is a member of this forum. George Marino is not (or if he is, he doesn't use his real name!). I'm glad to read that you will let your own ears be the judge, as that is what REALLY matters. In any case, both versions are readily available, so why not get both? Four distinct advantages to the "Complete Studio Recordings" are tracks 9-12 on "Coda".
The original non-RE-1 Physical Graffiti omitted the cough and Robert Plant's comment following it from the very end of "In My Time Of Dying". This was corrected with the RE-1 version and any of the remasters. I have never considered the Led Zeppelin catalogue even close to hi-fi. The worst offenders are, IMHO, Presence and In Through The Out Door - both very muddy recordings. The best are Led Zeppelin 1 and some of the tracks on Houses Of The Holy (The Rain Song and No Quarter). Of the Live albums, I prefer "How The West Was Won".
Thanks. I found this post by ledsox. ledsox, what is the deadwax info for side two? I wonder if one of these LPs is reversed on side.
Hi Bryan and welcome aboard. Having compared a lot of Zeppelin CD's through my set up, it's listed in my profile if you're interested, I like the Barry Diament masterings the best. To me they sound the most realistic and closest to the original Vinyl LP's. You should be able to enjoy these whether you have a high end or mid budget system. You can really turn these up loud without a shrillness in the sound or an overly booming bass. On a side note I found the 1st pressings from Japan to sound the best for me. I've compared them to the Canadian, the USA and the W. Germany original CD pressings along with the early 90's George Marino remasters before arriving at my preference. Good luck and let us know how your comparison goes.
Picked up the 80s Barry Diament LZ I, II, III and Presence. Almost snagged Physical Graffiti on a trip to Newcastle recently, but it looked rather grubby. The bass floor on II is way deep and seriously impressive, moreso given my current system is what could be described as bass-lean.
On my system, the first five 80's CDs sound better than the '94 remasters. That includes the SHM discs, which took the remasters and just applied some limiting to make them louder.
