Dio Holy Diver - just found my definitive CD version

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Nightbreed, Oct 4, 2017.

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  1. Nightbreed

    Nightbreed We're only immortal for a limited time. Thread Starter

    Location:
    Riverside, CA
    For years I've tried to find an excellent sounding CD version of Holy Diver and have been convinced one doesn't exist...until this week. And no, I'm not talking about a new, brick-walled remastered disaster. The answer has been there all along, well since 1986 anyway. It's the 1986 Nippon 32PD-128 Japanese pressing. AFAIK it's a unique mastering...it sounds more like the original vinyl than any other CD I've heard. And I've heard a lot....I own 8 different CDs ranging from 1984 - 2012 (granted, some share the same mastering).

    Whereas all other CD versions either sound too thin (yes, even the 2012 Audio Fidelity) or overly compressed (newer remasters) the 1986 Nippon is a little warmer and has richer (fuller) bass. It's a touch louder with an overall DR value of 12 (as opposed to Warner's 14 or Mercury's 13), but by no means too loud or compressed. The only down-side is it's on the expensive side, so it depends on how big of a Dio fan you are.

    I can now delete the needle-drops I've been hanging on to. Hope this helps someone that's been looking for this. \m/
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2017
  2. mikedifr0923

    mikedifr0923 Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Jersey
    The gold cd sounds good for me.....but i don't mind checking out others
     
    Nightbreed likes this.
  3. WhoDaresWins

    WhoDaresWins Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    I'm happy with my original CND cd.
     
    Nightbreed likes this.
  4. Nightbreed

    Nightbreed We're only immortal for a limited time. Thread Starter

    Location:
    Riverside, CA
    The other CDs are not bad, I rocked them for years. They're certainly not terrible like some early copies of other albums. This Japanese one sounds even better (to me anyway) so I thought I'd mention it. I looked at the archived Holy Diver thread and the consensus was something along the lines of "there are no good CD versions, they all sound thin, the vinyl is the way to go". They are correct that the vinyl rocks, but the other original pressings aren't as bad as they claim...plus, no one mentioned the Nippon.

    If you're happy with either the Gold CD or CND, then those are certainly worthy as well. \m/
     
  5. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    Do you know how the 32PD-128 compares to the second and third Japanese pressings?
     
    RedRoseSpeedway likes this.
  6. Audiophile65

    Audiophile65 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Lexington, KY
    Hi!
    Could you please please please please please please tell me where you got this? Or even better, can you provide me with UPC numbers, numbers along the spine of the CD, any markings that can help me to find this particular version of Ronnie James Dio's Holy Diver?
     
  7. Audiophile65

    Audiophile65 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Lexington, KY
    OK, just found it in Discogs

    [​IMG]

    And you're right, they are very expensive! The least expensive in Discogs is $150 mint condition, and then on up, up, up from there.
     
  8. Olias of Sunhill

    Olias of Sunhill Forum Resident

    Location:
    Jim Creek, CO, USA
    The Discogs entry for this version lists a lot of these details... perhaps the OP could confirm that this is his version, since Discogs is not infallible.
     
  9. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    That is the one the OP was talking about. I'd like to know if it's a unique mastering, or if it's the same as subsequent Japanese pressings.
     
    SOONERFAN likes this.
  10. kevin5brown

    kevin5brown Analog or bust.

    weratu and SOONERFAN like this.
  11. SOONERFAN

    SOONERFAN Forum Resident

    Location:
    Norman, Oklahoma
    Any thoughts on how this one apparently came out better than the AF disc? Perhaps age of the tapes.
     
  12. REMASTERANTER

    REMASTERANTER Ahhhhhh...

    Location:
    Victoria
    Any opinions on the 2005 one?
     
  13. BryanA-HTX

    BryanA-HTX Crazy Doctor

    Location:
    Houston, TX
    I just got Holy Diver the original WB CD and discovered that "Gypsy" is cut off at the beginning, the first few milliseconds are at the end of "Holy Diver". A bit annoying but not a dealbreaker as it's an album I play front to back anyway. Couldn't find any info on this anywhere including on here. Do all original WB CDs of this album do that?
     
  14. I never heard that first Japanese pressing.

    I have a later Japanese pressing, but I think that one just features the same mastering as the WG Mercury CD, if I recall correctly. This is the version I have:

    [​IMG]

    I also find the AF Gold CD a bit on the thin side, would love to have more solid bottom end. Sounds like that 1st Japanese pressing could be a winner.

    With regards to EQ, I think the Deluxe Edition is not too bad, at least more bottom end (perhaps a bit smiley faced). And it has at least decent dynamics left, DR11.
     
    hi_watt likes this.
  15. There seem to be at least two different Warner Bros. US CD masterings out there, possibly with different indexing also.
     
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  16. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    That's the one I have. Best version for me so far. There is the US WB and then a Canadian WB with a slightly different mastering. I like the Stay Gold the best.
     
  17. Have you heard the 32PD?
     
  18. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I have not. Maybe someone can post some clips. :)
     
  19. BryanA-HTX

    BryanA-HTX Crazy Doctor

    Location:
    Houston, TX
    I passed up on the Last in Line deluxe edition somewhat recently for I can't remember what it was, but holy crap I didn't expect them to go for like $100 per album online, and the price I saw it for definitely wasn't that. :confused:
     
  20. Anthrax

    Anthrax Forum Resident

    Location:
    Europe
    Fatter sounding than the old CD, but unnecessarily compressed.
     
  21. My gray area downloaded flac sounds good enough for me $150.00 is just rediculous
     
  22. hutchguv

    hutchguv Rock/Metal/Prog/Pop

    Location:
    England
    Just noticed this thread....

    I have that 32pd-128...

    I just checked my Dio playlist on my server to see what Holy Diver was my preferred mastering. It was the Audio Fidelity.

    Now I am not one to automatically subscribe that if ‘our host’ does a mastering it is the best. I judge with my own ears.

    I do remember taking a lot of time comparing the masterings of Holy Diver a few years back when the AF came out, as it is a real favourite album of mine.

    For a time I think I did go with the 32PD, but eventually, and only on my system I found the Audio Fidelity to be clearer and cleaner. My system does have some pretty decent bass response so perhaps that’s why I’ve gone for the AF.

    Reading this thread, however, has inspired me to revisit the masterings.

    Thank you to the original thread starter for such an interesting post.
     
    BDC, pmaraujo, Alex00 and 1 other person like this.
  23. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    Has anyone directly compared the Japanese 1st pressing 32PD-128 with the second PPD-3070?
     
  24. pmaraujo

    pmaraujo Active Member

    Location:
    SP, Brazil
    hello folks!
    my 32PD-128 has different matrix as the one listed at Discogs.

    the one listed at Discogs; Matrix: 811 021 2 - S1C22

    Mine; Matrix: 811 021 2 - A2C12
     
    Blue Gecko likes this.
  25. Blue Gecko

    Blue Gecko Peace

    Location:
    Wisconsin
    FWIW... same glass master just (A2C12) likely pressed in 1987 vs. 1985-1986. Disc IDs and DRs should be identical.
     
    pmaraujo likes this.
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