I have the remastered version with bonus tracks. What's the best sounding cd of Who's Next? Thanks, Mike
IMO, Steve's version is the best-sounding on CD. You're certain to get other opinions on this. Good luck using the search engine on this one!
Steve's mastering is considerably better than the current remaster. The remaster sounds cold, thin, and "processed". Steve's mastering has it all over the remaster. Just today, I read favorable comments about the original Japanese P33P issue on the Polydor label. I have not had a chance to give it a serious listen, but maybe others will chime in about that version in relation to Steve's mastering.
Mike (mhw58), you are going to get the feeling quickly here that this topic has been discussed extensively. It has. Granted, "who's next" is not exactly a unique search string that is going to pull up exactly what you are looking for, but by introducing more specific terms, you may be able to find useful threads from the past.
A word of advice. Take a look at the discography on this site. If Steve has a version of an album you want -- just get it. Steve's Who's Next absolutely trounces all other cd versions.
The 2-disc Deluxe Edition sounds fine and you get the extra stuff too. But yea, that SH just sounds so....organic. A must have imo.
The Deluxe Edition is the current remaster and it doesn't sound at all like you describe. I do prefer SH's version as the vocals sound a little more life like and the sound is a tad more open but the Deluxe Edition isn't bad at all. The Deluxe Edition isn't NR'd either. Are you thinking of the 1995 remix/remaster? I don't think there are any Who's Next masterings that are unique to Japan. The only reason to seek out a JPN version is if you want the OBI.
The Steve Hoffman mastered Japan MCA CD sounds great (hard to find)... so does the Polydor Japan first pressing P33P (can be expensive). If you just want the "Hoffman touch" Who's Next and don't want to spend a lot, get the in-print model from Amazon Canada.
The DE doesn't have the dynamic range that the SH mastering has. If you care about such things, Steve's MCA mastering is the one to get. Still, the DE isn't really bad at all, the EQ settings were well done, and the bonus material alone makes it worth having. So like most albums discussed around here, you need both.
43:26? How come my copy of Who's Next reads as being 43:15? It's the orginal MCA Japan for USA pressing...
How does the Hoffman CD compare to the Classic Vinyl? Is there anything else I should buy from Amazon.ca (vs my usual US amazon) while I'm buying The WHO?
The P33P Japan copy is around 43:26 (or :25) and there is another Japan copy with the 43:15 time (I don't know the catalogue number for this). It is somewhere in the archives.
This is what I call a "white bread" thread. Possibly one of the most common threads/questions this forum gets.
I really really really like the Classic Vinyl. However, I'm only comparing it to the Canadian MCA CD, and I'll be the first to admit that my redbook playback isn't ideal.
I have a old record club CD of Who's Next -- MCA, made in USA -- which is Steve's, so it's not limited to just "Japan for US". In addition to having the right running time, it also has -- and I believe I read about this in a thread here somewhere -- no absolute silence between tracks, i.e. the baseline tape hiss is constant throught each (virtual) LP side.
