Dark Side Of The Moon - Holy Grail

Hi everyone,

Look I know this has been discussed and I have searched the forums for an answer but frankly the relevant threads are utter maddness and confusion.

In most people`s general opinion, which CD version has the best sound quality and (if possible) please list your top five. We don`t need to argue over it right now - just post your top 5 and I will try to figure it out for myself.

Once again, my apologies. I really have searched the archives but there is just too much confusing data about DSOTM.

Regards

 

I'd like to find out what the general consensus is on the stereo portion of the SACD. I searched though all of the threads and all I found were discussions about Black Triangles and cracked SACDs

 

Ah, those days where we were so upset over the LA plant for making the DSOTM SACDs that cracked!

 

I believe that most people around here are satisfied with the sound of the SACD. You'll get some that swear by the MFSL, and others that say that the black triangle is the way to go.

This is one of those albums that has done well digitally.

 

The CD/SACD hybrid, followed closely by the 90's Shine On box remaster; the original 80's Harvest (CDP 7 46001 2) is good too, it was made in Japan (wish I still had it); the MoFi is alright, but perhaps a tiny bit bit bright.

Now that I've made these statements, the differences suggested are really, REALLY SMALL...i.e., is the MFSL actually bright? No; just in comparison with, say, the box version.* I could live happily with any one of these as my only DSOTM.

Being a neurotic bastard, I have four versions. All of them ooze Dark Side at you satisfactorily when placed into the maw of your CD deck, and Play is pressed.

Fumi, don't let any of this deter you from a thoroughly satisfying, obsessive search!

The Dark Side Of The Moon is a modern object of emotive pungency.

*Or perhaps the other way around.

 

I've never heard a truly bad sounding version of DSOTM on CD.

 

As usual, Chris M says more in 12 words than I do in about two hundred. (Well, I like to see my prose on-screen.)

 

One of the few titles that has a good remaster. Doug Sax did a great job. Throw darts, whatever, they all sound great.

 

Harvest CDP 7 46001 2
Made In Japan
Matrix: CP35-3017 20A1 or similar

 

TOCP-67914
Made in Japan
Doug Sax remaster. Great.

 

I have the japanese CDP 7 46001 2 and also a pressing with the same number made in UK. and the SACD hybrid of the same title..........The SACD layer sounds ok but the cd layer is bright and harsh............... I like overall more the japanese over the Uk ( I think it's warmer and fuller although the UK edition is good too )

A great record anyway, one the best of all time,

 

How does the 20th Anniversary edition of DSOTM compare to the others?

 

Of those I've heard, I like these best (in order of preference):

1. Japanese black-triangle (non-TO)
2. Japanese blackface (non-TO) (very little difference to me between this and no. 1)
3. MoFi gold
4. SACD (stereo hi-rez layer)

YMMV, of course.

 

Agreed with the above. The Japanese "Non-TO" version is the best to my ears..

 

Agreed.

But I really can't put my finger on why.

For a digital version the Mo-Fi UD-1 suits me fine.

 

I have that one as also. No disc, just the box.

 

Not having the SACD(which I have heard is sonically overrated), my vote goes to the blackface Harvest Japan pressing. It sounds wonderful!


Evan

 

It is a Doug Sax remaster, exactly the same as the other remasters.

 

I have a Holland Harvest as well as Japanese one and they are both quite good, but it's worth getting a cheap SACD player for the SACD layer.

 

Yeesh. I hate that one. I may donate a Harvest to you.

 

What is "TO"? Or "non-TO", for that matter??

 

Very true.

 

It's good but I think he (Doug Sax) beat it on the SACD.