Pink Floyd - Meddle shootout

This is 4 samples from 2 different cds.

One of the samples is normalized.

Which do you prefer and why?


http://download.yousendit.com/D8B75F350A9421AB

http://download.yousendit.com/58E2DBD55A88787C

http://download.yousendit.com/F82BC08A1E582E3E

http://download.yousendit.com/4BA67B181A751F6F


Can you guess which is which?

 

I could not hear any difference.

 

Cannot hear any difference.

Maybe Meddle MFSL UD/UD II ?

 

I agree that they sound very much the same, but they are different (more so than MFSL UD/UD II). IMO one of the "Seamus" samples sounds more natural than the other. This is how they look without normalizing.

 

And this is how the normalized (100%) samples looks.

 

It's easier to tell the differences with "Fearless", as I'm listening on headphones, but there is a slight unnatural sharpness in the high end on one of each track, and I prefer the slightly warmer sample...especially after extended listening at a moderate volume. The differences are more subtle than comparisons we usually make here, but they are there. It would be interesting to see other comments on it.

 

It would be interesting to know which samples you find have a slightly warmer sound?

 

The MFSL is a forum favorite. Can someone pick the 2 samples from the MFSL?

 

I can, which tracks?

 

Thank you very much, but what I ment is that the MFSL samples are already included in the first post.

I find it very interesting that it is so hard telling the MFSL samples apart from the others. This tells me that there is at least one very strong competitor to the MFSL which can be bought quite "cheap".

I actually prefer this "regular" edition to the MFSL.

It would be great if more people post what they think.

 

I'm just not willing to attempt to shoot out an album through a crappy computer sound system as opposed to my real system. No real life results can be guaranteed with this method never mind adding normalization into the factor. However, if you're ever planning to come to Vancouver feel free to PM me for a real life get together and I'll glady take up your challenge when real CD albums are being used.

 

I think Fearless (sample#3) is the MFSL. I think sample#4 has a bit more of a bass cloud, perhaps making it sound slightly "warmer". They both sound nice, actually. I haven't really compared the other samples yet. I rarely listen to Seamus.

 

Just for a lark, why not check it out, Dave? I know you use EAC (or did), so just burn the tracks to disc and take it over to your "real" system, no trip to Vancouver needed.

You already know what the MFSL sounds like, so it should be easy for you to pick this one apart. I'd be interested myself, to see what your preferences are.

 

I can't hear much of a difference, at least not enough to make me buy another version other than the last remaster.

 

Ok. Thank you for your view.

 

You can listen to these samples on your real system, e.g. by burning them to CDR.

 

Sorry Andres, not the same as shooting out the real CD's.

 

Even easier for me... what pressing do you want to know about about?

 

It's OK.

The Fearless samples are not normalized.

 

Hmmm ...

"03 Pink Floyd - Fearless": MFSL?

Pink Floyd-Meddle-(03)Fearless: Harvest disc?

Seamus 1: MFSL ?

Seamus 2: Harvest disc?

I've got a UK Swindon Harvest disc, and the MFSL. They are extremely close. I could have easily cheated in identifying which is the MFSL, but thought I take the listening test instead

Interested in finding out what the non-MFSL is...

 

The non MFSL disc is the original EMI Swindon. You got the cds right! When it comes to the samples you got it half right .

 

The second "Seamus" sample was the MFSL CD, right? Was that the one that was also normalized? I think that threw me off also, but again, I think I heard that same sharpness in the high end. I wouldn't have thought to compare "Seamus" though. Usually my comparisons are with tracks like "Echoes", "San Tropez", or "Fearless", but I guess that's too predictable.

The EMI Swindon is the best mastering of this album, hands down. I don't listen to the MFSL UD anymore, unless I'm comparing it to the Swindon.

 

The second "Seamus" is the MFSL CD. This was not normalized. Seamus from the EMI Swindon was normalized from original max peak 43,8% to max peak 100%. I agree about the sharpness (very little) in the high end on the MFSL. The EMI Swindon sounds slightly warmer/softer.

I have also compared the EMi Swindon to my original UK Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. pressed green Harvest label LP. On my system they basically sounds the same. The gain on the EMI Swindon stays very close to the gain on the LP. The Seamus track on the MFSL is far too "load" "ruining" the original flow of the LP. There is no doubt they both are very good sounding cds, but I pick the EMi Swindon because of the ever so slightly warmer sound and that it stays truer to the original "between tracks" volume settings.

 

Thanks for the clarification...I could've checked, but got lazy.

The one just mentioned, for starters.