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Posts: 3208
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
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Thanks. [D'oh...posted in the wrong thread...corrected]
Bit of a coincidence there, because besides the RM, I've also been updating some Eno CDs recently too. The MTH ones are on my front-burner now, I do not have any at all on CD except a rather old Brain Capers (easily my MTH fave). All the mentioned artists I have been listening to on LP only (except BC) until very recently, my original LPs bought when they were new/current...still sound decent to me after a lot of use.
Anyway, my questions were having to do with what is a good CD release. Not an expensive one, but a decent one. Could be another format, I do BD/DVD-A/SACD/DVD music too, but I like CD for this older stuff as it sounds OK enough and is more portable for me.
Have you ever tried making a version selection using the Dynamic Range database? IME this is a very poor single criteria to choose a release, and I'm pretty sure nobody does that (I hope!). Otherwise they will end up with some very poor-sounding and probably quite old CD releases; so the compromise between *perhaps* (usually) a lower DR but greatly increased clarity is what I prefer. No compromise even more preferred...
Almost certainly I will not like any "mainstream" remaster done after 2006, there are notable exceptions, and before 2002 is preferred if reasonably available (did the Loudness Wars start then?, by '06 they were fully in effect). And nothing CD from Rhino, they consistently do all the stuff that hurts my ears, I mean that literally, they don't get any more chances from me.
Fussy enough? Not really IMO compared to some, I was just telling you that stuff so you or somebody else could guide me. I'm sure you know where I'm coming from...decent sound with uneffed mixing.
Eno: What do you think of the Eno CDs that say they were "DSD mastered"? In general, you can mention specific ones if you want. I have several of those. My HCTWJ is the 2004 remaster from the E.U., non-DSDM. Actually, I think all the CDs I'm going to mention are from the UK or E.U. (Germany usually it seems, some Austria, those ones *look* gorgeous, glow like proof coins...).
RM: what do you think of the remasters that are identified as being in HDCD? I mean how they sound as a regular CD, but I can play HDCD too. But most times I'll probably be playing them as FLAC rips, unless the HDCD is really good. I have already got some of these, just got them yesterday in fact...what I meant when I said I should have asked you first... I haven't played them yet.
MTH: I only have the U.S.A. Brain Capers, no other info on the package, it is probably from the late '80s. The ones I was planning to get (or now, what you suggest) are identified by Sony/BMG Legacy from E.U., probably 2004 remasters, possibly 2006 (yikes!). Thoughts?
Van Morrison: throw in a left. Are there actually any good CDs of his earlier albums that don't suck? Probably...guess I haven't heard them, there are lots of expensive ones, but that's no gauge IME. This is another artist on my front-burner that maybe somebody wants to comment on. The 2013 versions that I've heard are not for me, not even sure they're as good as the originals, which aren't that good either.
So, what can I help on? Probably not a lot, though I can help on what's lousy...which is not a real help if looking to actually buy "something". I am pretty into reggae though, that is a real tough bunch to wade through because there are lots of re-issues and compilations of dubious provenance and more dubious quality. Was no different with the LPs back in the day though.
OK, enough of my blathering. Anybody can comment of course, but obviously someone with the roxymott moniker I'm going to collar.
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