Disappointed with new John Lennon Hi-Res 96/24bit 'Imagine'

Posted by: The Meerkat on 05 November 2014

I have just downloaded the new remastered, Hi-Res 96/24bit album, 'Imagine' by John Lennon. I am so disappointed with it. I was was hoping that it would blow my old CD version (2000) out of the water. I thought the new version would be louder, and much more detailed, but it sounded quite flat. I compaired it to the old CD, and to my amazement, the old CD sounded better!  How can this be possible?

 

Also, I played both tracks (Imagine) to my son, but didn't tell him what version he was listening to. Unknowingly, he picked the old CD version as sounding better.

 

It's times like this, that I can understand how the non Hi-Res believers feel.

Posted on: 05 November 2014 by Steve J

I listened to the 16/44 version streamed via Qobuz last night and was also disappointed. It was bright and flat. Interestingly I thought the tape hiss was more prominent than on my vinyl version.

Posted on: 05 November 2014 by joerand

In my experience, the remastering projects overseen by Yoko Ono sound the best, and that's the case with the 2000 CD. The clarity suffers on Lennon's albums produced by Phil Spector, and ironically, Lennon was a bass hound.

Posted on: 06 November 2014 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Steve J:

I listened to the 16/44 version streamed via Qobuz last night and was also disappointed. It was bright and flat. Interestingly I thought the tape hiss was more prominent than on my vinyl version.

Steve...Was that the 2014, or 2010 remasters? The CDs were re released in 2010, along with the Lennon 'Signature' CD box set. Was wondering what they sounded like?

 

Last night I was suffering from downloaditis, I downloaded McCarney's 'Venus & Mars' and 'The Speed of Sound'. Again, not impressed! I guess the old CDs did sound a tad bright, but the vocals appeared clearer.

 

The only Hi-Res download that has impressed me, has been 'Hotel California'. It blew my old CD clean out of the water!

Posted on: 06 November 2014 by Steve J

It was the new 2014 version.