Pink Floyd - DSOTM - Holy Grail

I have a question, and please forgive me but I'm no expert, just someone seeking an answer. If the MFSL release was the first time that the original master tape was used as the mastering source, and the black triangle used a tape copy of the master tape, why is not the MFSL held in higher regard than the black triangle.
Thanks for any answers

 

I'm no expert, but quite possibly the people at MFSL mastering the CD from the master tape tried to use all of their fancy mastering techniques that they learned in college, and a lot had been "learned" about digital mastering by that time.

When DSOTM was first digitized, there was not as much "known" in regard to mastering for CD since it was in it's infancy, and quite possibly the Japanese tech who mastered DSOTM just did a "flat transfer", and it was just a "truer representation" of the tape, and even though it was a copy, it came out sounding superior.

 

I take it then that the iconic status of the Japanese black triangle was due to comparisons between the different masterings. This is interesting still as MFSL have more of a tendency to get things right than wrong. I would expect the MFSL to be superior to a tape copy from the master tapes.

 

1. Collector mentality.
A special edition release (MFSL) is bought by collectors, so that audience is mostly saturated. Now give me an overlooked 1st release that was once discarded and now hard to find and we have a true collector “find.”
2. Tape hiss = breadth of life (and the more the merrier)
3. Needlessly low volume levels = “crankable”
Increasing low level distortions in both the mastering and playback hardware is “musical”
4. Old is always better
5. Master also used for vinyl masters is like sooooo OMFG!

 

I would be interested where you hear more tape hiss on the black trianlge CD than on the MFSL. Because I don't think there is any audible difference reagrding tape hiss.

 

Also remember that it's often a matter of personal preference. Anything that's not unmastered has been edited by the mastering engineer in some way. In that case it's not unlikely the mastering engineer has made decisions that won't please everyone.

 

Vinyl Diehard: For what its worth, I have the MFSL and 'Anniversery Edition'. The MFSL is perfect... The sound quality is superb and it never sounds dull, that is, unless you don't care for Pink Floyd.

 

MFSL = correct tapes with wonky eq. moves

Black Triangle = inferior tape source with superior sonic presentation on the correct pressing

Choose your poison.

 

I agree. And IMO a similar comparison can be made between the Mastersound WYWH and the 2-track 35DP-4.

FWIW, my favorite CD mastering of DSOTM is the Sax version from 1992. Sounds wonderful to these ears.

 

EQ can be corrected. Inferior tape source cannot.

 

Out of interest, what do you feel are the wonkyh EQ moves? I've never heard the original vinyl, so I'm not sure how the MFSL differs.

 

A little bit off topic, but does anyone know which version has the orchestral Ticket to Ride at the very end? I have the mofi, sacd and the harvest black face, and I don't think I can hear it on any of those versions. Thanks.

 

Have you heard both of them my friend? I have both, and have heard both.

Let me just tell you the MFSL "Dark side of the moon" is a VERY "quiet" disc. You have to really crank it up compared to other CD's. I know "loud" discs are frowned upon on this forum, but this is the opposite end of the spectrum.

The Black Triangle DSOTM is "just right".

(By the way, I have just about every single mastering of this on CD, and although the "TO" version of DSOTM is talked about disparagingly on this form, I like this version a LOT!)

 

I think "inferior" is a very strong word to be used in regard to the BT tape source.

 

May be, may be not. But unless you are using state of the art pro equipment to do it, you have likely negated the value of the superior tape source Given the love of the black triangle, I doubt it's tape source is all that inferior anyway.

BTW, I have no dog in this fight never having heard the black triangle or the Mofi

 

I agree, but do not tell "atonnk" about it

 

Ah yes, the dreaded "Silence Wars"

 

It sounds to me like there's too much 10 - 15K and
too much 50 - 25Hz. Added or just there it's still sounds like too much.

When and if you compare it to the Black Triangle pressing you'll find it doesn't sound relaxed with a very life-like presentation like the BT. It sounds overly aggressive to the point of ear pain at loud volumes and not as natural.

 

I just double-checked my MFSL UDII. It's there, very faintly.

 

I just double-checked my MFSL UDII. It's there, very faintly.[/QUOTE]

I must be going deaf then. I have the UDI Mofi and we are just talking about the regular SACD. There is only one SACD version of this?

 

I'm very happy with my 2 ch SACD version.
Horrible cover art but great sounding, to my ears at least.

 

I will clean the wax out of my ears and give it another try. Not so sure why I even want to hear it. I feel like I'm missing out on something if I don't.

 

The stained glass cover is by far my favorite Floyd artwork.

Different strokes I guess.