Best "dark side of the moon"

buying a few different versions hasn't hurt any of us. my mfsl version and japanese import(not an original)are quieter than my canadian, uk, and us originals(which I avoid playing because their so friggin rare), but certainly not better. the recently discontinued emi vinyl reissue sounds competitive and you don't have to spend 'collector's bucks(yet) to get it.

Here's a report on a 2003 shoot - out of nine different versions of Dark Side, conducted by some Boston area Vinyl Asylum correspondents. The links to photos don't work any more, by the way.

The EQ is differance between the 2 MFSL regukar releases.
The mfsl banner across the top of the album is differant.
First release the letters are upright & the second release is slanted. They do sound differant.

I bought my MFSL copy new in early 1981. It is the 1981 release on Super Vinyl, pressed in Japan. But the Side A and B read MFSL 1-017-A2 and MFSL 1-017-B2, no dash nos. after the A2/B2. So what does H213+++, H215, etc. mean?

btw- this copy has always sounded fantastic to me. I bought the CD in the 80's and it stinks.

MFSL UHQR
Japanese Pro use
Early MFSL Straight letters
Early UK with Blue triangle
Japanese reg.
Later MFSL slant letters
30th anniversary
EMI 100 holland
IMHO

so... what I am hearing is buy the MFSL a lot. It seems polarizing... people either say it's great or awful.

for some reason, it often is problematic to get up out of my seat mid-way through DSOTM to turn the LP over. therefore, i have come to prefer the SACD.

To answer the OP's question, the best that I have heard is my MFSL LP version. No, I haven't heard as many pressings as Bill or others, so I can't say that what I've heard is the best. I have also heard the DVD/SACD versions, and they do not measure up to the MFSL LP version as far as tonality and spacial dimensions go.

Cheers,
John

close to audiofeil's number(11 total), and whats funny is it isn't even one of my favorite records...i've heard it way too many times....its saf to say, the latest emi version is fine, and you won't have to sell your firstborn to buy.

Out of my 4 vinyl copies i like the MFSL version alot but the winner is my UK EMI Harvest copy very clean and sweet and yes
that explains why you've been mad I've been mad for %&*#ing years..... Off to the dark side of the moon

I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us are.

No sweat Marty.

It's very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad.

The 30th anniversary and SACD were done by James Guthrie (Das Boot Studio) on ATC's (same as what Pink Floyd use). The orginal (back in '73?) was done by Alan Parsons (on B&W's?). Rather than spend $500 on a pressing it might be worthwile looking at your gear/room setup. (as Mike points out "as my system matured and improved the relative attraction of different pressings changed. ")

Mr. Lavigne - perhaps the best post ever on AudiogoN!

You're exactly right and everything you've stated applies to the whole game, right down to what speaker wire people prefer.

It's all got to do with what plays best in our individual rooms and what sounds best to those funny looking transducers on either side of our respective pointy heads.

So many things can impact the percieved sound, ESPECIALLY an LP, the cartridge used, the loading used, the pre-amp used, etc. etc.

... maybe that thought will bring balance back to Tvad's mellow ...

If I were Crawl3, I'd start with the 30th anniversay edition before moving into the big-money versions. I'm reasonably happy with it and it blows away the red-book CD version I had prior... not sayin much but, still, worth the $30 I shelled out for it.

I'm up to 19 copies of this album- 14 on vinyl and 5 digital.

First, I disagree with Marty on the US pressings. I have 2 copies with very early stamper codes and they are both excellent although not as nice as the UK. My other favs:

EMI EMS80324 (Japan)
HARVEST 1C06205249Q (German Quad mix)
HARVEST 8556731 (UK Centenary release)
EMI EMLF97002 (Japan)

The first and second release MFSL are quite ordinary as is the 30th anniversary version.

prefer the UHQR. but the VTA must be 'just right'. the regular MoFi is also very good and very VTA sensitive.

as this is not exactly a perfect natural recording, who is to say what is right. it becomes a bit of a taste issue. then maybe whether one's system is full range and can handle big bass without bloat. some rooms cannot contain the bass.

as my system matured and improved the relative attraction of different pressings changed. this happenned with many MoFi's, not just DSOTM.

For a change of pace. This may be blasphemy to some... but Easy Star All Star's (think they're out of Britain).. does the entire DSOTM in dub.

Appropriately called: "Dub Side of The Moon".. hahaha

They also re-do Radiohead's "OK Computer"

Both come in vinyl.

I have several versions on Vinyl up to the 30th aniv pressing and my SACD blows them away as it sounds just as good if not better and has no snap crackle pop. Often Vinyl is best way to go but this time it wasnt so for me.

I am new to vinyl and am just trying to get the best pressing... I want a LP but if the sacd or dvd is better than why spend the money...

I just want the best sounding... least surface noise... LP! is there a debate? or is it cut and dry?

if lp is your desire, look for japanese pressing or cd , i would look for german or holland pressing....or also japanese, 300? are you kidding me?