Rush remasters (or not!) recommendations...

The original Mercury discs sound fine and much better to my ears than all the 97 remasters, particularly Permanent Waves.  You should be able to find them cheaply.

There is yet another raft of Vinyl remasters launching throughout 2015 with 24/96 versions available from the usual outlets. I have 2112 and it's swings and roundabouts compared to the 24bit remasters which came off the back of the Sector box sets. Ditto Fly By Night. They're all pretty good.

Kings came out recently and it's easily the best version I have heard.

Waves isn't due for a couple of months (ish). We won't know until then. What I can say is that the MFSL Gold CD is a superb effort and while it may not best the 24Bit version most recently released, it doesn't sound any worse. "Worse" is a bit harsh, but then so is the sound of the album. 

As for Grace Under Pressure, well, it's thin and my dog can probably hear more of the content than me, but at least it isn't bricked walled. I don't think it's any worse than Presto. The 24bit that came off the back of Sectors is my go to version. But in any event, there will be another remaster along later this year. It can't hurt to hope.

If I was the praying type, I'd have my hands clenched together more tightly for the concert video which will come out of this year's tour. Please, please, please, don't **** it up like the Clockwork Angels Tour. This could be our last chance.

most of the 24 bit versions are an improvement on the originals imo. The latest round, with the exception of Rush Rush, are the better versions for me Fly by Night and Caress are excellent 

Try this. Very few people I know who are into SQ like the 97 remasters.

Rush - HD tracks then the original WG "Atomic" Mercury 
Fly By Night - HD tracks  then the original WG "Atomic" Mercury (same mastering as the 1st Canadian pressing)
Caress Of Steel - HD tracks then the original WG "Atomic" Mercury 
All The World's A Stage - original WG "Atomic" Mercury 

2112 - Original Canadian Anthem CD 
Farewell To Kings - Original Canadian Anthem CD
Hemispheres - Japanese 25 8P followed by the Audio Fidelity or original West German Atomic
Permanent Waves - original WG "Atomic" Mercury 
Moving Pictures - WG "Atomic" Mercury with "03" matrix or MFSL (Mercury with 03 matrix is better than the MFSL). Make sure you get a 03 matrix as the 02 doesn't sound as good.
Exit Stage Left - Japanese 25 8P
Signals - Japanese 25 8P followed by the MFSL (despite the "alternate" version of The Weapon)
Grace Under Pressure - Canadian Anthem
Power Windows - original WG "Atomic" Mercury

See link below re the Dynamic Range database for Rush.

http://dr.loudness-war.info/al...tist=rush&album=

Remember it is only a guide so let your ears do the listening.

One last thing this is only recommendations from friends or what I have heard myself. I haven't heard all of Rush's releases as I never really took to them even though I have a few in my collection.

The current vinyl remaster series has been excellent. I didn't buy CoS, but Fly any Night and 2112 are stunning. Funnily enough, I was less impressed with A Farewell to Kings, but that was mainly because the vinyl was nit as quiet as the previous records.

Keith

A quick glance at the DR Database suggests that the Hi Res downloads of the 2015 series have the same dynamic range as the vinyl. This series only covers the Mercury stuff though.

Keith

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm still a bit befuddled so when I work out what's what I'll briefly post my selection of release/vendor so if I'm making a poor choice someone can stop me! Most likely I will be getting a hi-res d/l.

Sounds like a plan. And potentially useful for all of us. 

Whereas I'd go with the previously released (Deluxe DVD) 24bit edition. Which just goes to show....

Supposedly and I haven't heard it but the FBN download has a channel imbalance on one track.

I will have to dig out an old posting on another site as I thought I read somewhere that the original master tapes for most of the Rush albums were shot. I wonder if the new remasters have been done from safety's?

There's a thread on the Steve Hoffman forum where they think the download pans to the left in places, but apparently you need to do an A/B comparison to spot it. The vinyl is unaffected and is stunning. I don't have the download.

Keith