Pink Floyd's The Wall, standard 'bulky box' 80s CBS CD .. good? Bad?

Hi.

I'm not a huge fan of this album but I just thought I'd ask anyway. I have the standard silver-CD edition of this one, Columbia/CBS C2K 36183. White spine, red block lettering, you probably all know this one.

I was wondering how good/bad a transfer this is. Is there much more to the tapes? Is this particular edition [overly] EQed, compressed and/or NRed?

I don't think I ever cared much for the sound, personally. It doesn't sound offensively bad, but it's not too much of an eye-opener in any sense either.

Have there been any later pressings on CD? If so, how much better/worse are those? I searched for a couple older Wall threads but so far haven't found much on the standard CD.

Thanks in advance, regards

Damián

 

Damian, if you do a search here, you will find that some people actually prefer the old Columbia version (C2K 36183) to the MFSL gold CDs. I have both versions, but have not yet compared them carefully. I've always liked the MFSL set, but I need to do the comparison. Too much music to listen to!

Gort Dave should chime in here soon enough. He is a proponent of the Columbia version.

 

As for later remasters, Damián, AFAIK there is the Japanese remaster (Toshiba), the Columbia, the Shine On remaster and the MFSL.

I'm sure I'm missing a couple...

 

The version that people are raving about is the first Canadian issue - double box, states that there are two discs in both English and French on the cover. (is that right Dave?) and is on Columbia. Black labels on the CD's.

I have one and a CDR of the MFSL - I have to get around to a shootout sometime - but those who have - do one too!

 

I got a copy of this after hearing the rave reviews here, but I was disappointed. I heard a few dropouts that didn't exist on other pressings, and the high ends were far too hot for my taste.

And no, I'm not going to sell or get rid of it!

 

The Japan Harvest edition is the best, IMO. Lush sound, low volume in mastering. The best version of this album I ever heard, even beating the MFSL in my estimation.

Evan

 

What did MFSL use for the master on their gold CD?

It had the Columbia label, but wouldn't the true master be with EMI England?

I kinda thought the MFSL had it merits but was tweaked a bit in the high end.

 

I have the old black letter Columbia pressing, inner ring DIDP 20204 91A7, it sonds absolutely spectacular, great dynamics, fantastic timbre, and the overall eq is much more neutral tnah the MFSL. I like the MFSL, but it is a little too warm for my tastes, this old Columbia version has a little more dynamic range and requires a little more amp power, but it is worth it.

 

sydbarrett said:

I seem to recall Dave, or perhaps someone else here, saying that the original US Columbia release and the black-label Canadian Columbia release sound the same.

 

Thanks for the answers everyone. Mine is the version with the rather noticeable clicks on 'Comfortably Numb' .. those can get quite distracting, I was listening to it this morning and heard several of them.

Volume is rather low so it probably has not been brickwall-limited. And the number is 36183 as I mentioned in my first post, so it should be the version many of you seem to like.

Or could there be two mastering jobs pressed in different countries under the same number?

 

Yes Damián, that's the one to grab! They were only released in N. America and the black-faced version was a Canadian exclusive, same mastering though.

I agree with Rocky 100% on this.

John, yes MFSL did have the actual masters, but what they did with them is an atrocity IMHO. I believe that the N. American is taken from an LP production master and not a strictly CD mastering like it's later pressings. BTW there's a lot more tweaking going on with the MFSL than just a bit in the high end.

Kym, are you sure that you have this pressing? It sure doesn't sound anywhere near being hot in the top end on my system. Every other pressing of this album I've ever heard on CD is hot in the top end (including the MFSL), but definitely not this one. Where are these dropouts (exactly please) on this pressing? I'd heard Sckott talk about this too, but I've never noticed on my pressing before? For the sound quality alone I can overlook a few "drop outs".

 

An ATROCITY????

Are you the same Dave that posted the following as his three favorite MFSL CDS?

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Second Helping UD1
Pink Floyd: The Wall
The Police: Syncronicity UD1 (UD2 sucks)

Yeah...the "UD2 sucks" comment is vintage Dave.

 

I have bought this album at least 3 times on CD. The first one was the original (American? I'm not sure about this anymore) issue from the mid eighties. There was a huge dropout just before the helicopter arrived.
The second one was the MFSL which was at least drop-out free and sounded a few classes better; but I thought there was too much bass on it. I sold it when the remaster came out.
I am quite happy with the actually available Doug Sax remaster.
Peace
Thomas

 

And it's still true.

Apparently you were away or missed this thread... http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15873&highlight=Pink+Floyd+The+Wall

 

Thomas, details my friend. What is the catalog # of the Doug Sax mastering and was it in 1994?

 

Dave, as I recall, the latest Capitol and Sony issues share the same mastering. Was this done by Doug Sax?

 

Ok, the Catalogue No. is 7243 8 31243 2 9; it is the Harvest / EMI United Kingdom issue from 1994; Made in Holland. 2 CDs in the old Double CD Case.

All the best
Thomas

 

It is by Doug Sax, indeed. There were sayings in a German HiFi-magazine that the newer Sony issues sounded even better than the UK EMI ones which I believe were identical to the Capitol releases, but I really do not know...
Peace
Thomas

 

I didn't miss the thread, but thanks for the convenient link.
My point is that you went from being an unabashed fan of the MFSL ...to a fan with reservations...to hatred

"However, this lowered numbered 2 cd set version that I bought today for $10.00 Canadian in some ways is better than the MFSL...the MFSL is awesome in it's own right though..."

That's a perfectly reasonable comment...the MFSL wasn't quite as good as you thought, because you heard a better version.

But now, all of a sudden, the MFSL is an atrocity? Cmon Dave, what's up with this? You sound angry...as if you feel that you've been betrayed.

 

Here is Disc 1 of my Canadian pressing. I'll post later about where the dropouts are.

 

Betrayed would be a good word, yes. They had the "real deal" and blew it IMHO. Anger? Too old, no time. The MFSL is still awesome in it's own right. The depth and clarity of the instruments is very nice, but that's where it ends for me. The cohesion of the way it originally sounded are lost on the MFSL, and shouldn't be. Instruments stick out strangely with added volume in places where it doesn't in the original mix. The bass has been over-fed and is too bloated. I seriously will never play the MFSL again as the original is just plain better in every way for me, but then again I like a very neutral un-colored sound. Your mileage may vary.

My opinion will change as my knowledge increases and my equipment upgrades. It's unavoidable.