Original CD vs Remaster vs Gold Disc


Those sly record executives have discovered new ways to seperate us from our money....release digital remastered versions of rock/alt CDs that are 15-35 yrs old at full price $14.99. I have had mixed results with these, for instance David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust" analog CD was slightly bright and thin sounding, digital remaster is even brighter, more presence, I prefer analog CD. I have had better luck with HDCD remasters like Joni Mitchell "Court & Spark" superior in every way to analog CD, this is what we want! Has anyone compared Gold Disc (MoFi, DCC,Sony) to original CDs, is it worth the extra money @$20-30 per disc? What is the magnatude of improvement? Anyone else compared digital remasters to original CD?......regards Sam
128x128megasam
Grumpy, just to let you know I got a couple DCC gold discs from Red Trumpet to try out. From the 1960s recordings, I think the Beatles digital remasters have been real improvements, I bought red & Blue collections, sound pretty good of course original tapes were from Abbey Rd studios which helps. I hear Who gold discs are massive improvement from the crap recordings they got in the 60s from Pye studios.....My Generation,Can't Explain,Substitute etc. Next in line has to be Rolling Stones 60s material, the ABKCO remasters I've heard are very dissappointing, definitely need "Hot Rocks" gold disc! Regards.....Sam
If you can find the Mo-FI versions of The Who- Tommy, Who Are You, Quadrophenia, and Who's next, BUY THEM! They are great. The MCA gold of Who's Next is also very good. I have seen the MCA at Best Buy recently. I don't know where you can find the Mo-Fi's at or how much you will have to fork over to get your hands on them since they went bankrupt.I bet they won't be cheap. I'd say if you can find any of them(mo-fi) for under $50 you should grab them if you can.
Oftentimes mixed results are because the components playing the re-Masters aren't up to the task. To really hear the improvements get a Perpetual Technologies P-1A/P-3A combination (24/96 dac/Upsampler/jitter devices) Under $1700. To read more and purchase go to www.audiotweakers.com