Duped again

I think some of the criticism stems from the fact that the original pressings of Floyd albums sound quite amazing so the bar was set very high for reissues from the beginning. I think these particular reissues don't sound bad by any means (especially considering how bad reissues tend to sound these days), but not as good as the original pressings, while they were advertised as sounding as good if not better than the originals. Definitely one of the issues is that The Wall was re-mastered at a much lower volume, which makes it sound not as dynamic to me. But the details and clarity are still there and I certainly don't regret the money I spent on it.

It's funny all the complaints about the new Floyd Reissues. I have purchased all three: Dark Side, Wish, and The Wall. All sound phenomenal to my ears, and I consider myself to be very picky. That said, I have not been buying all of their other reissues on CD, SACD, etc., and I no longer own the originals that I bought when I was in high school. I did buy an import copy of Animals in the used bin recently and it sounds awful, and this despite the vinyl looking really clean. The recording just lacks depth and body, so it collects dust in my room. The new reissues on the other hand are in regular rotation for me. Perhaps they are sensitive to the equipment they are played on?

Kbarkamian,
The reissue is a really nice package with the original poster, postcard and sleeve. That alone is worth $30 in my opinion. I think it's a no-brainer if you don't own a great-sounding original pressing. As my luck (or lack thereof) would have it, every copy I've run into was massacred. I think you'll be pleased with the reissue. Once you get a chance to give it a good listen, please share your feedback. I'm curious whether you experience that noise that I was referring to that sounds like mic overload. Thanks.

Thanks! I'll add one to my next vinyl order, unless of couste I see it locally somehow. Oddly enough, a local FYE carries vinyl. Haven't seen it in any other FYE store.

Kbarkamian
Has anyone heard the new Wish You Were Here LP? Thoughts?

I bought the CD; no complaints as its the only copy I own. I'd like it on vinyl, as I don't have one. So it's not like I'm buying yet another copy of the same old album.
Is the vinyl version better than the CD?

I own three copies of the album - two used originals and the latest reissue. The used copies have very high surface noise due to the groove damage even though they look pristine, one of them pretty much too high to even enjoy the music. So when I bought the reissue, the lack of any surface noise was an awesome improvement on the used originals. However, the reissue has an audible noise that almost sounds like distortion that is woven into the sound that I do not hear on the original pressings. It is especially audible on Shine On You Crazy Diamond. I actually thought there was something wrong with my tweeters, which wasn't the case.

So to answer your question, the reissue doesn't match the original pressing, but is probably worth the $30 sticker price. Especially given the fact that mint copies of the original pressing sell for much more than $30.

Re-issues, originals are almost always better with classical as well.

Actusreus - Settle down beavis! I was asking if anyone "else" has heard it. I realize the OP didn't like it, wondering if others may have different opinions. I'm considering buying it as my old copy is worn.

Goatwuss,
Seriously? That's what started this entire thread - the OP "trying" the vinyl reissue of The Wall. C'mon man.

I have the original Wall on LP...sounds quite good

Anyone else try the new wall on LP?

Cousinbillyl is spot on, but I think, there is something more to add.
Not all are done from the Master Tape, it is good for marketing, but no one knows what is really going on. Some reissues are so bad, they can't be done from a Mastertape or the guy who did the job is totally deaf and blind.
Next, the best sounding reissues are those, where the originals are also superior from sound. Never listened to a Reissue which was definitely BETTER than its original. Maybe a bit different, but not better.
The major problem today is, beside lost know how, we don't have the old, strong vinyl anymore. Maybe there are a few exceptions (like always), the majority is sensitive to cooling process....tics...warps...damaged grooves.
No one writes about that from our beloved reviewers, I think, they can't hear it and they get them free anyway. But for 29.99$ ++ it is good for audiophiles, the other ones buy originals at ebay for 10$ (when it is not one of those super expensive originals from Blue Note and others, but Cat Stevens??????), they are silent, no tics, no pops. I made my decision 4 years ago.

Unless I am wrong, the re-issues start with the master tape.
Unless I am wrong, radio stations way back kept their tapes in a cooled room. This was to preserve the sound on the tape.
Unless I am wrong, the tiny metal pieces on the master tape, which hold a certain orientation, which in turn allows the tape head to read these variations, slowly change position over time.
Unless I am wrong, 32 years for a master tape to be sitting in a vault will allow some loss of definition.
If you ask my wife, I am always wrong.
A digital remaster still starts with a master tape, that's 32 years old.

The latest Floyd reissues are all digitally remastered. Such a shame. They are lifeless in comparison to their analog brethren.

Has anyone heard the new Wish You Were Here LP? Thoughts?

I bought the CD; no complaints as its the only copy I own. I'd like it on vinyl, as I don't have one. So it's not like I'm buying yet another copy of the same old album.

Is the vinyl version better than the CD?

Tom Port, is that you?

Jeez-I buy lots of lp reissues. I know the originals might be better, but often the time and/or money involved to get an original pressing is too great. The reissue becomes a nice, affordable alternative to nothing at all...

I do purchase re-issues of certain classic rock and early jazz albums. The classic rock because my originals have become worn or noisy, the jazz because I didnt listen in my early years and have now developed a liking. Also, is it cheaper to buy a great copy of something you know and like, or to buy a copy of something you havent heard and find that you dont care for it. The first will be played many times, the latter, maybe once. I'd rather spend $30 on something I know I will enjoy, than $10 on a guess. But that's just me. God knows I have bought plenty of albums that I only listened to once.

Never "fell" for the Wall reissues, but, I gotta agree with actuserus about Mothership. Beautiful presentation and boxing, even my non audiophile friends were impressed. But, I was very disappointed in the sound. Mostly lifeless. Songs from Led Zep 1 simply can't work when lifeless.

I'm a PF fan and have never bought one of these reissues. I have heard them, which only reinforced my belief that original releases are better.

Isn't the "Holy Grail" or "Absolute Sound" a big part of what drives this passion or hobby? Our love for music and the desire to reach "eargasm" is a major part of it, or at least for me. But back to the thread, Mjm1124, thanks for sharing your opinion. I had thought of buying the new copy but I already have the MFSL LP and CD so I think I will take a pass. Thanks for helping save some money.

Hi Elizabeth. You described it perfectly....searching for the "HOLY GRAIL" is so much of an obsession with all of us music enthusiests and collectors. Does not make any sense really, but why then do we buy $2000 power cords, $70 fuses, and $20,000 CD players?? We are a nutty, obsessed bunch is all I can say, and that's part of the fun. Why else would we spend so much time, energy, not to mention money in pursuit of that PERFECT SOUND....even though we already own $200,000 systems? Because we believe that squeezing another 1/10th of a percentage point of performance is worth the cost of a body part...or our first born. Ha Ha Ha!

By the way, which release of "The Wall" is the best sounding anyhow? I own 3 different ones myself. Be interesting to hear what others think is the superior version.

Elizabeth,
Vinyl does wear out, you know. I think it is not uncommon for audiophiles to own more than one copy of their favorite albums, especially those that are out of print. I try to draw the line at three...I'd rather have one too many than find myself wishing I had bought that extra copy when I could have.

Now to the issue at hand, TDSOTM, WYWH, and The Wall were recently reissued on vinyl with all the bells and whistles that make audiophile fans of Pink Floyd take notice. Mint copies of the originals sell for much more than what these reissues retail for, especially WYWH. So it was a no-brainer for PF fans to go for them, even if they already owned a used (and most likely pretty worn-out) copies of the albums.

I think people do it -- I know I do it -- because we want an even better experience of music we love. Imagine when you do get a superior issue of something you know well and love, it's like you made a major system upgrade for $50.

Money, it's a gas.

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.

Elizabeth, Think upgrade/better and it makes sense. It's what we do.

I am like you and NEED to have at least one copy of everything but some would be satisfied with the best copy of ten records and listen to them everyday.

Different strokes.

I believe this reissue of "The Wall" did involve the original engineer and/or producer so this would not have helped. I also bought it and have listened to it just once, but was underwhelmed as well. My other copies of the record were bought used and are quite noisy so I do like the lower noise, but I agree that it sounds a bit as if life has been sucked out of it. I think it might be due to the fact that it seems to have been recorded at a much lower volume compared to the original. I noticed the same thing with Led Zeppelin "Mothership." Touted as an audiophile release mastered at half-speed, blah, blah, blah, sounds just...well blah, and the box is now gathering dust.