Indeed. Mine just showed up too. First impressions (sorry) are that it's of a similar quality to Rhino's Fleetwood Mac 1969-72 and Faces vinyl boxes.
I was going to compare it to the recent Aretha boxset which I am also very happy with. Btw, I just flipped side 1 of Curtis to side 2 and Move on Up is currently playing...sounds awesome!!
The Impressions albums on Curtom (the ones with Curtis) are all really fantastic, and really my favorite out of all the Impressions material.
I am also wondering about this because I have the original Curtom cd and I think it sounds great. The Curtom cd sounds like a flat transfer where the Charly cd sounds like it was mastered from vinyl or a lower generation tape source.
My point is that nothing sounds like the original Curtom LP. The strings are too low in the later masterings. I am hoping that finally, finally, this box gets it correct.
strings are still low. If anything I think they're lower in this mix than other masterings. It's a drier mix too than I've heard before, particularly on 'if there's a hell below'
Ok. So I'm listening to the CD box set through Genelecs via an apogee converter, and comparing it to the lossless rips I did of the 2005 rhino remasters. It's a significant difference. So far I've listened to Roots and Back To The World, and the box set sounds far more 3-dimensional than the 2005 rhino editions. Bass is extended and reverb tails are definitely discernible. The previous editions sound like there's a towel over the speakers in comparison. Totally flat. Drums still sound pretty lo-fi though. The kick and snare are still tiny, but that's what these records have always sounded like. I will say that there's no tape noise, which is slightly alarming - but hey no complaints. It's a big improvement, without a doubt. The irritating de-essing filter I heard on Curtis' vocals on the previous editions is gone. Hard to speculate on the sources - they may be the same as the previous edition, but processed with improved mastering tools developed in the last 14 years.
Just bought the set for $22 including shipping on Amazon from a 3rd party seller. Was on the fence about getting it since all I am really looking for is an upgraded Sweet Exorcist, but at that price it was too good to pass up. I have all the original Curtom cd's for first 3 albums and I think they sound really good. I have the 2fer with Sweet Exorcist and Got to Find a Way which also sounds good to me, but I have never had anything else to compare it to. Looking forward to sitting down and comparing all the versions once I get the new box set.
Finally - new transfers for Back To The World and Sweet Exorcist First impressions are good from listening on Apple Music - low noise/distortion and real sounding acoustic spatial cues! Tufo's arrangements never sounded better (on CD, at least). An upgraded Got To Find A Way must be coming... Also, the MoFi Superfly is a religious experience.
Sorry if this is somewhat off-topic or has been answered in other threads already, but what would you Curtis aficionados recommend as the best "reasonably priced" vinyl version of Superfly (other than the MoFi 45rpm that was just released)?
There's a hybrid SACD too - a little cheaper. That's what I have - only listened to the CD layer so far but it's so creamy I can't stop once I start playing it. At some point I'll listen to the DSD layer... Otherwise the old Rhino Deluxe 25th Anniversary Edition is the next best one I have although people say good things about the original Curtom CD. The Rhino is a bit compressed and has the tape flutter heard on all versions I've heard prior to the MoFi. On the up side, with the 2CD Rhino you also get a bunch of extras well worth hearing. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Rhino 2CD) Sounds like the same mastering is on other later CDs too but not the Sequel CD. Victor in Japan released a 1 disc 25th Anniversary Edition - this has the best cover reproduction since you can fold it to just have Curtis on the front cover: Curtis Mayfield - Superfly (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Victor)
