Sony Mastersound: The good, the bad and the ugly

Most of my time is spent in Madison. "Home" is Racine, but at this point I probably won't be spending much time there at all. If all goes well come May I'll be a graduate of the fine institution that is the University of Wisconsin...

Union Terrace is lovely, at least if the weather is decent!

 

Anyone ever compare the Sony MasterSound "Child Is Father To The Man" by Blood Sweat & Tears to the MFSL CD version?

 

Go for the latest Sony release... better than the Mofi!

 

I think I remeber Heart Little Queen bein on the slate for a Mastersound CD release years ago. Obviously that didn't happen.

I'd like to see Steve go after this title. The heck with Sony.

 

KLM,

The MFSL is vastlely superior to the Mastersound but I don't know about the new remaster though, but I doubt it though.

 

Dave,

With all due respect, do you think MoFi or DCC could do no wrong? I believe there are cases, IMHO, although not many where the MoFi or DCC are not as good as the standard issue.

Santana - Abraxas
Steve Miller Band - Fly Like and Eagle
Cars - Self Titled
Pink Floyd - The Wall, WYWH, DSOTM...In My 'Humble' Opinion

Please don't flame me!

 

This is indeed a HUGE variable, and perhaps one that is not mentioned enough, IMO.

 

I'm gun-shy with regards to MoFi--I won't buy one without a good recommendation. What is your criticism of the MoFi Abraxas?

 

I have the 1999 Bob Norberg remastered Steve Miller - Fly Like An Eagle CD in the mini-lp case and the DCC Gold CD of the same title and the DCC blows it away. Also Steve Miller - Book of Dreams on DCC Gold is one of my more mind blowing CD's. And no one I've played to for has left disappointed.

The Cars S/T has been remastered so many times (Rhino Deluxe Edition, DCC Gold, WB HDCD) that I'm not sure what the standard issue is anymore. I don't have the DCC Gold of this title but I do have the HDCD and I'd have to admit its one of the better HDCD's I own. I haven't heard the Rhino but with my experience with them I don't think I want to. I do own the Cars Greatest Hits on DCC Gold and when I compare Good Times Roll I think the HDCD is a little cleaner but the DCC has a little more bass. I'm not a big enough Cars fan to go after their S/T on DCC gold. This title is a much closer call (IMHO). The important thing is, I think the HDCD is a flat transfer and the treble doesn't hurt my ears.

 

GammaSpace,

I can agree with you on two points.

Steve Miller DCC could have been mellowed a bit on the top end and Santana: Abraxis UD1 could have been a flatter transfer (but still really good (IMHO). I might have to check out the remasters though to give you a fair response.

The Cars though, nothing I've heard even touches, never mind compares with the DCC's including the HDCD's.

Pink Floyd, I've heard the remasters and unless your system isn't as revealing in the top end as mine is, are you deaf (sorry, just kidding, poof you've been flamed )? They don't come close to the MFSL's, way too much compression, plus the MFSL's sound staging is by far superior

WYWH is a really good flat transfer probably one of the Mastersound's best.

 

Dave wrote:

The Ugly:

Frank Sinatra: The Voice (trust me, get Steve's versions)

I ask:

Steve Hoffman did a remaster of Frank Sinatra's "The Voice"? This album was a compilation done by Columbia in the mid-50's of a bunch of 78 RPM vintage Sinatra material. I didn't know that Steve Hoffman ever had a crack at this stuff. I do know that there's a Classic Records LP reissue of "The Voice", but I wasn't aware of any other versions.....

 

When it comes to vinyl, I have no idea. The Mastersound version (on gold cd) is very compressed and doesn't sound good at all.

As far as I know Steve didn't do "The Voice" but the 1/2 doz. or albums that he did do are steller.