Well, before it really turns into irrelevance... What's the general opinion on the best sounding cd's since the 2011 remasters?
IMO the 2011 remasters are all I need. In particular I think Meddle and Animals have the best improvement in sound.
I'm pretty happy with these... Meddle: Toshiba-EMI, CP32-5032, Made in Japan Dark Side of the Moon: Toshiba-EMI, Black Triangle, CP35-3017, 1A1 Non-TO/Non-CDP, Made in Japan Wish You Were Here: CBS/Sony, 35DP 4, Made in Japan
I see the US Harvest BF CDP 7 of DSOTM go for reasonable prices. Am I correct in that it has the same mastering as the non-TO?
Well, if it helps I might add this information: Back in Holland we used to have a mixture of original UK and US cd's (EMI & Columbia) and some remasters (the 1994 ones) and preferred the original discs over the remasters for a warmer presentation.
I you put in the effort, you can find them in the bins for $10 or less. I have found the Japan for US 35DP-4 twice. That said, again and again, the Japan for ? Harvest black face does not suck and even the common five track US for US issue is a fine sounding CD for a fiver. I enjoy my Japan for ? Harvest black face of Dark Side, it has the same mastering as the grail black triangle. Another disc found with some bin diving. These are the only Floyd titles I have bothered to compare on.
I have never come across the 35DP WYWH in the bins and believe me I put in the effort. If a little persistance paid, I doubt if anyone would pay 150 plus bucks for one.
Well, ain't that a surprise... Reading through several threads I've learned that several European 'remasters' of the early caralogue aren't remasters at all! That changes my perspective quite a bit.
One good thing to realize here is that whenever you decide to 'upgrade' your PF catalogue to fancy masterings, Black Triangles and WG's and the like: That same mastering might be on your good old UK or US disc. And for the newcomers: They can be had for around 10 bucks or even less on Ebay and Discogs. All of that and 'More' you'll learn on Vernon's excellent Pink Floyd Archives site.
Great thread with very knowledgeable input. Not sure I can clarify any definitive versions as this is highly subjective and system dependent. Here are my findings: Dsotm- orig mofi cd-very warm tonal balance with at times overly exaggerated mid-bass on my system. Some prefer this. Again, personal preference. I also have SACD + 30th Lp. + Orig US lp. I'll let others tackle those. I listen to the SACD the most. Animals-japanese import cd. Only cd version I own but nice balanced sound with exceptional clarity. Don't have it in front of me but it's from early 2000s I believe. Also have domestic lp. I prefer this version. WUWH- Mastersound CD-somewhat polarising release but it beats my orig us Lp fwiw. The Wall- orig mofi cd + orig us vinyl release. Virtual dead heat on my system. I tend to play the lp. Easier to digest with 4 sides.
These are my favorite: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn - Doug Sax remaster, 2nd choice the current 2011 remaster A Saucerful of Secrets - Japanese 2nd or 3rd pressing, Doug Sax remaster or the 2011 remaster More - 2011 remaster Ummagumma - 2011 remaster Atom Heart Mother - Japanese 1st pressing Meddle - MFSL UDCD 518 Obscured by Clouds - Japanese CP32-5275 (1st or 2nd pressing) The Dark Side of the Moon - Doug Sax remaster (20th anniversary, etc.) Wish You Were Here - Doug Sax Mastersound CD Animals - Japanese 1st pressing and 2011 remaster The Wall - Blackface CDs (CDP 7 46036 8) The Final Cut - Japanese 1st pressing (pre-emphasis)
Piper at the Gates of Dawn is one of my favorite Pink Floyd Albums, a masterpiece with psychedelic beauty. I love the original 1987 UK cd // CDP 7 46384 2 . Barcode 0 77774 63842 5 The 1994 cd remastered by Doug Sax is also an excellent option. For me the 2011 remastered sounds too clear , clean and a bit cold.
Are you sure about that? When I directly compared the ’94 Sax/Guthrie to the ’11 Guthrie, they were for all intents and purposes identical. The same is true for Saucerful, the only difference being that the levels of “Jugband Blues” have been raised.
The 2011 cd has different peck levels than the 1994 cd , I think that the EQ is also different 2011 cd : 87.0 / 82.2 / 82.2 / 87.0 / 87.0 / 87.0 / 87.0 / 87.0 / 86.8 / 87.0 / 87.0 1994 Doug Sax : 100 / 91.3 / 100 / 93.3 / 96.9 / 92.4 / 100 / 87.5 / 85.1 / 80.5 / 100
i think the 2011s are great for pretty much all of the albums. i think the only alternatives i like better are the sacd for wish you were here and the mfsl udcd for the wall.
This. I was just listening to my 1987 EMI/UK copy, and it's a bit loud. I haven't checked the DR but it feels a bit compressed. I too am curious what the preferred CD mastering is....
The 1994 Sax masterings of "Piper" and "Saucerful" are about as close to perfect as you could ask for. Exemplary even. Perhaps I am mis-remembering in regards to the 2011's, but I don't remember them being all that much different, so I was neither disappointed or impressed, except in the sense that Guthrie was wise to leave well enough alone. And I'm not sure if the 1994 Sax masterings were ever released in Europe. Supposedly they re-cycled the crappy 1987 masterings until the very end, despite upgrading the artwork to show the Sax mastering credit.
