How do I know which editions of al***s to buy?

ou could waste a lot of time and a lot of money finding "superior sound quality".

Why not just listen to the music?

No, it's a serious request. A lot of people on these pages make quite a fuss about "this version" or "that version". I'm sure there are significant differences, but without a lot of annoying research, how do we know? Fortunately, there is a set of correlations that makes selection of the best version easy. The following all point to superior sound quality and bragging rights:

1) Foreign language on the cover
2) Obscure/boutique dealers (often mail order)
3) Must be "rare" - why would companies make many copies of good recordings/masterings/pressings?
4) Must NOT claim to be "Digitally Remastered from Original Tapes" as the new engineers always stuff it up. Additional bragging rights are often gained by slaggging-off the new engineers.
5) Old versions are generally better than re-issues as the 1s and 0s on the digital tapes/HDs get "tired" as they sit in the archives


Seriously, I personally don't worry about this stuff (tin ears). I do concur however that "loudness wars" are destroying the sound of much modern music, but that's not really the question - although it may be possible to find less compressed versions, especially in the future if there is enough publicity/backlash. I like to think that Metallica, for example are aware of the criticism of the quality of their new album and may be "powerful enough" to do something about it.

My advice would be to do the research to find the dealer/distributors that care about this stuff and do stock good quality versions. The forum members who have done this research should be able to help.

I say follow your ears also, but I also like to hear other people's opinions about what sounds good. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I dont.

Some of the sites I go to are

dccblowout dot com
acousticsounds dot com
stevehoffman dot tv
enjoythemusic dot com
audioasylum dot com

Happy hunting!

If I was you if you decide to go down that track then notify your Bank Manager as you will be shelling out a lot of cash.

If you seriously are thinking about doing it join the Steve Hoffman forum. There are a few Hoffman members on here.

However I don't agree with everything they say so my advice to you is use your own ears.

As far as I am aware there is not a holy bible to what is a better sounding release. Though I believe someone is trying to get one going.

Why not post a list of your favourite discs and I am sure some of the members would throw their ideas forward as to what is the best mastering.

quote:

Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
You could waste a lot of time and a lot of money finding "superior sound quality".

This is a hi-fi forum Nigel. Isn't sound quality what hi-fi is all about? Surely it starts with the CD itself.

quote:

4) Must NOT claim to be "Digitally Remastered from Original Tapes" as the new engineers always stuff it up. Additional bragging rights are often gained by slaggging-off the new engineers.

Yes, when it comes to CD it's most probably the earliest ones with the phrase: "This CD has been transferred from an original analogue recording and some defects, bla, bla" some where on it that are the best sounding ones. This is simply because at that time they did just that, transfered the recording to digital with a minimum of messing around that is so popular today (particulary the dreaded "Loudness war" very heavy compression applied at the mastering). You got to hear the sound of the master tape.

quote:

This is a hi-fi forum Nigel. Isn't sound quality what hi-fi is all about? Surely it starts with the CD itself

A hobby inside the hobby.

JohanR

quote:

Originally posted by Ewan Aye:

quote:

Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
You could waste a lot of time and a lot of money finding "superior sound quality".

This is a hi-fi forum Nigel. Isn't sound quality what hi-fi is all about? Surely it starts with the CD itself.

This is the music room. Anyway, if it starts anywhere it is with the composer/performer...

My understanding is that your question was not whether or not it is "correct" or worthwhile to try to find good quality CDs, but simply how to do it.

"Let your ears be the guide" seems good advice, except that is is very difficult to audition CDs in environments that actually let you hear the difference. Until you develop experience with various labels and producers/engineers, you are left with relying on reputation (a most false and idle imposition). Take the advice of those you respect or who have a track-record of good recommendations. Forum members are often experienced and generally do care about this stuff; and their advice is often worth listening to.

Ask about recommendations for specific albums or good quality dealers - you should get a reasoned response. Philosophical debate about whether it matters, or about whether it should be discussed in this-or-that forum is perhaps less helpful. [My first reply was tongue-in-cheek (hopefully obviously?).]

The recommendations about other forums and web-sites seems promising (but as I said, I would have no actual clue).

Good luck in your search for nice sounds and great music.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

I am definitely on a limited budget, and would much rather buy lots of different CDs than several versions of the same album. Also I entirely trust my ears, so I know I could find the best edition simply by listening.

However... my source of CDs is entirely eBay, Amazon (used & new) and the like. This means all I know about the album before purchase is the catalogue number. Without the luxury of listening in advance, that is where recommendations from others would come in handy.

If there are, say, 10 versions of a CD album, and 3 sound great and 7 sound ropy, I'd be more than happy with any of the 3 good ones. I'm not concerned about listening to all 3 good ones until I found the best. I just want to avoid real stinkers!

For me the biggest issue is dynamics and the ongoing "loudness war". If I can be steered away from compressed recordings before purchase, that will save me a lot of wasted time, effort and money.

To clarify slightly, I'm not interested in spending big bucks on rare Japanese imports with 98 bit digital remastering, 74 carat gold CD with mother of pearl case, and 400 page limited edition book on the recording What I do want is to know whether to get the original 1998 version of a CD, or the 2008 remastered version. I know the older CDs are generally better, but then again I have heard very good things of the Led Zep Mothership album of last year.

So, I guess I will just have to offer up specific requests and hope someone can help.

If anyone can recommend a decent online second hand CD seller, that understands sound quality, I'd love to know.

Neil -

Those sites I listed above are all sources of the info you are looking for. The Steve Hoffman forum is a good place to go to get opinions about differing releases of a certain recording and what not, just take it all with a heavy dose of your own listening preferences! Specifically regarding Zep, there are lots of opinions, some even that Page's remastering work was inferior to the original digital transfers. Google (or search on this forum) for Barry Diament and you will find some interesting stuff. As for online s/h cds, IMHO, there is no substitute for the bricks and mortar. I do buy stuff online, but I like to support the little shops that are still around, ala "High Fidelity." Come to SF and I'll give a list of 10 places to go, listen and get a boatload of opinion/attitude