Rolling Stones CD/SACD hybrid remasters

Posted by: Ron Toolsie on 09 September 2002

Well I just got hold of some of these much-touted re-releases, lavishly (according to them) remastered and packaged in cardboard sleeves without jewel boxes. So far I have listened to only 'Let It Bleed' and compared it to both my US CD release as well as the US LP re-release circa mid-80s.

The newest release has vocals that are punched up and less hiss than the original CD- either this has been gently filtered, or it is mastered from a higher generation master tape rather than a dupe of a dupe of a dupe. But there really doesn't seem to be the great improvements promised by some of the press reports; at least on this particular disk. Inspite of the Prefixed Helikon SL'd etc LP12, the album seemed flat, compressed and uninvolving. I'm sort of tempted to get a $300 Sony SACD player just to try out. I have not as yet listened to the other 2 Stones remastered disks, but I haven't got either of them on previous CD or LP, so would be unable to comment about the success of remastering.

The just-remastered Crime of the Century (Supertramp) however is vastly better than the Mobile Fidelity CD remaster.... highly recommended.

Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo

Posted on: 09 September 2002 by Former member

I've been waiting forever for the Ya-Yas re-master. I'd be interested to hear what that's like.

Posted on: 09 September 2002 by Former member

Dear Ron:

I have now come to the conclusion that recent remasters are just different, not necessarily better and sometimes plain worse. I can live quite comfortably with my early CDs, even those from the late 80s.

One thing I've noticed is that new remasters tend to be 'louder' than their predecessors -- which may give the false impression of 'better' sound. I have the K2 remaster of Bill Evans' Waltz for Debby which sounds a bit fuller and warmer than the 80s version, but certainly not better. The classic Mingus album, New Tijuana Moods, was recently remastered in a 2 CD format full of outtakes, false starts etc and it distinctly sounds worse than the original CD version.

Are we being taken for a ride?

Hockman