Pink Floyd: Remasters 1994 versus 2011

I suggest everyone watching that thread. It's all there.

 

I think you got the old European mastering. Both albums were remastered by Doug Sax in 1994. The European CDs from 1994 have the same mastering as yours, which is considered to be inferior, whilst the American CDs from 1994 have the Sax mastering. In my opinion, the Sax mastering of DSOTM is great (better than the 2011, second only to the famous Black Triangle). Speaking of WYWH, the Sax is not convincing to me, I bought an early American pressing (pretty cheap), which has a smoother and more balanced sound to my ears.

 

So is there an "early American mastering" different to the "early UK mastering" that I have and better sounding? This seems a bit odd to me. Pink FLoyd is a British band with their tapes held in the UK. The albums were re-mastered here from the original tapes. How come a US mastering is a) different and b) better sounding?

If the Sax remaster of WYWH is inferior to an "early US pressing" then how does it stack up to the "early UK pressing"? Yours confused to the point where my instincts tell me to hold fire and stick with what I've already got.

 

No problem, your choice. If you want to know more, perform a search in the archive and you'll find a lot of information about Pink Floyd CD releases (and mastering). Good luck.

 

Bump - so I own the 2011 remaster - is the 1994 worth picking up for £3? Different enough to warrant the effort?

 

I like the 1994's far better than the 2011's; but apparently, based on the poll, I don't know what I am talking about.

 

^^^ I wonder if the results of the poll would be the same today. I can think of at least 2 cases where people here have gone gung ho over new remasters, to later change their minds back to tried and true.

I like earlier CDs for most of their stuff anyway.

 

2011.

 

2021's

 

I have DSOTM and WYWH in the '80s CDP7, 1994 & 2011 remasters. I Love the CDP7s AND the 1994s, but I find the 2011s strangely uninvolving, particularly WYWH. The only copy I have of 'The Wall' (on CD, anyway) is from the 1994 remasters and that does me absolutely fine. Just not blown away by the 2011s, really.

 

2011 is good. But I carefully compare Meddle 2011 with the MSFL and the latter is better for me.

 

I have the EMI Swindon "Shine On" box and never seen (or should I say heard) the need to try any other masters so couldn't vote.

 

Same as Meddle, Atom Heart Mother msfl is better than 2011 for me.
AHM 2011 is darkish, less dynamic and there is a slight difference in the stereo (2011 is a bit off center to the right).

 

2011 remasters for me.

 

I've got the WYWH 1980s CBS edition, the 1992 Shine On box set edition, the Mastersound gold edition, the Japanese 2001 (I think)
mini LP edition, the AS hybrid SACD, and because of the choice by someone earlier in this thread, just recieved the 2011 redbook CD
remaster, and do agree that the latter 2011 redbook is really quite good. Both of the stereo layers on the SACD contain a lot of tape
hiss / noise while the 5.1 sounds best due to it obviously coming freshly from the (24 track?) multi tracks, but this 2011 has a clarity
that's not avail in the other editions, really nice sounding minus the somewhat brighter earlier editions. Not a bad $10 purchase from
Amazon.com a few days ago with 2 day delivery..

 

I suspect if the Sax remasters were the "newest" the poll results would be reversed.

 

What about the Kevin Gray DSOTM?

 

Pink Floyd really is the band with the most consistent remasters. Can't really go wrong with any of them, as far as I know.

 

I don't think there are absolutes in PF masterings; different systems + different ears = different preferences.

 

That's the feeling I get. You struggle to find many threads or polls on these where there isn't a fair spread of opinion.

 

Totally Agree !!

 

Don't get me wrong (especially if anyone is thinking of trying any of the 2011s), but compared to (particularly) the CDP7s, they just don't 'reel me in' for want of a better expression. If someone only has the 2011s, I'm sure they'd be happy with them, but I find the sound of the CDP7s almost tactile. Sorry about the third-rate 'criticspeak', but it's the best way I can think of to put it.

 

I only have the 94's so I picked those.

 

The Packaging is terrible on the 2011's as well !!

 

Thanks. Killer avatar!