PINK FLOYD - Meddle - Black Triangle Disc CP32-5032 Japan 1st pressing

After finally getting the 2 track Japan WYWH Disc and the non TO Black Triangle DSOTM (this forum is killing me financially ) and enjoying them very much, I today bought the above mentioned Meddle disc but have not yet received it.
What is the opinion on this one compared with the MFSL UDCD and/or other versions (Hi Dave )?

 

I think this is one disc Dave agrees the MFSL to be superior in all respects - I certainlly believe this to be the case.

 

Damn - this happens, when the Search function is disabled !!

Anyway, it should sound better than the Black Face Harvest, I hope.

A Collectors work is never done......

 

I have not purchased the MFSL disc yet, but it seems that everyone prefers it to the black-triangle disc. The black-triangle disc sounds good to me, but I guess I need to hear the MFSL version.

 

I own the MFSL and used to have the BT. While the BT is OK, the MFSL has more weight, air and punch.

 

While never becoming congested or brittle at high playback volumes.

 

Got the CP32 last week and i love it, so obviously i can't wait to get my hands on the MFSL version...

BTW, wolf66, your signature morse code says allisaellthatensaell. Sorry, but i don't get it.

 

Well me too, cause yesterday I ebayed me one .......

I know, I know - I was told before, I'll have to change it pronto. It should read "All is well that ends well" - I'm not overly creative with those stuff anyways, so maybe I should not try so hard to have a somewhat "original" signature

 

Well, here You go then:

.- .-.. .-.. .. ... .-- . .-.. .-.. - .... .- - . -. -.. ... .-- . .-.. .-..

 

Just picked this one up and in comparing it to the MFSL, it is a bit of a toss up.

The Mofi has more air and as Dave said above, it is never brittle, but the CP32-5032 does sound extraordinary. A bit duller but perhaps just a tad softer overall.

The Mofi does seem to have a bit better stereo image, but you really have to level match these as the CP32-5032 is a bit lower in volume. They are both so good but I think either one is a great score.

Anybody else compare these?

 

Do you know if it is the same as the UK Harvest CDP 7 46034 2? In case I prefer it to the MFSL.

This is the Peak levels from the UK Harvest.

Track 1
Filename G:\P\Pink Floyd\Meddle Tidlig UK\Pink Floyd-Meddle-(01)One Of These Days.wav

Peak level 84.1 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 1C522CEB
Copy OK

Track 2
Filename G:\P\Pink Floyd\Meddle Tidlig UK\Pink Floyd-Meddle-(02)A Pillow Of Winds.wav

Peak level 57.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 198F2851
Copy OK

Track 3
Filename G:\P\Pink Floyd\Meddle Tidlig UK\Pink Floyd-Meddle-(03)Fearless.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 6B4A6219
Copy OK

Track 4
Filename G:\P\Pink Floyd\Meddle Tidlig UK\Pink Floyd-Meddle-(04)San Tropez.wav

Peak level 99.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 321FC8F1
Copy OK

Track 5
Filename G:\P\Pink Floyd\Meddle Tidlig UK\Pink Floyd-Meddle-(05)Seamus.wav

Peak level 43.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC C05F111E
Copy OK

Track 6
Filename G:\P\Pink Floyd\Meddle Tidlig UK\Pink Floyd-Meddle-(06)Echoes.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 30604A72
Copy OK

 

Jeff and wolf, I have it on my agenda to purchase another BT Meddle and redo the comparison again to be 100% certain. Hopefully sometime this year when I'm able to find one.

 

Dave,

Some more comparisons and I do think the MFSL is a hair better. A tad more midrange and bit more clarity, yet not any crispier than the BT. Do you think Mofi rolled this one flat and this is simply a result of a tape that was a gen. or two better?

 

MFSL definitely used the master tapes for this one. No digital production master used on this, but rolled flat? Hmmm, I'll let you know after the shootout.

 

I stopped searching after listening to the mofi. Still looking through vinyls though...

 

A nice coincidence, I have a Black Triangle coming in the mail right now. I have the MFSL, the blackfaced Harvest and the 90's remaster, so I guess I'll be able to do a nice comparison.

 

There is at least some volume adjustments on the MFSL. Se my comments in this post.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=2258456&postcount=24

 

I love my MFSL Meddle. I also have the one from the Shine On box, and it ain't shabby either (Doug Sax?).

 

Yes, Doug Sax.

So far I haven't been disapointed in any of the versions of Meddle, but I still prefer the MFSL (placebo effect?).

 

Meddle is one of those albums I use to test for midrange bloom and fruitiness in a component...

 

I just digged through my CDs and found an old Capitol silver CDP 7 46034 2 and even though it sounds pretty good, the mofi sounds heavier and with more air. The capitol sounds thin in comparison.

 

Here's the EAC report:

Meddle CP32-5032 (matrix: CP32-5032 1A1 TO)

EAC extraction logfile from 22. May 2007, 0:45 for CD
Unknown Artist / Unknown Title

Used drive : TSSTcorpCDRW/DVD TSL462C Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache
Combined read/write offset correction : 0
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No

Used output format : Microsoft IMA ADPCM CODEC
44.100 kHz, 4 Bit, Stereo

Other options :
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000


Track 1
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\1\My Documents\My Music\Track01.wav

Peak level 54.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 108C6D37
Copy OK

Track 2
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\1\My Documents\My Music\Track02.wav

Peak level 38.2 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC DE03E9E0
Copy OK

Track 3
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\1\My Documents\My Music\Track03.wav

Peak level 68.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 9BA062FD
Copy OK

Track 4
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\1\My Documents\My Music\Track04.wav

Peak level 62.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 80682483
Copy OK

Track 5
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\1\My Documents\My Music\Track05.wav

Peak level 28.2 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC DCABE5F6
Copy OK

Track 6
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\1\My Documents\My Music\Track06.wav

Peak level 53.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 0A4BA5BF
Copy OK

No errors occured


End of status report

 

This is exactly the same peak levels as the Black Face Harvest Made in West Germany (thank you wolf66).

The black face Harvest Made in WG is the same mastering as the UK Harvest CDP 7 46034 2 (and the CP32-5032) mentioned above only the UK has different volume settings.

 

Here are the peak levels reported by EAC for some of my Meddles:

1. Meddle, UK SilverFace, matrix: CDP 746034-2 9 EMI SWINDON

Track 1: 84.1 %
Track 2: 57.8 %
Track 3: 100.0 %
Track 4: 99.0 %
Track 5: 43.8 %
Track 6: 100.0 %

This is identical to what you reported for your UK Harvest, Dr. Merkwürdigli. This supports the theory that all SilverFaces are the same. Interestingly, some forum members prefer this mastering. And it becomes even more interesting when you consider the next one:

2. Meddle, 1992 "remaster", matrix: 829749 @ 1

Track 1: 82.2 %
Track 2: 56.5 %
Track 3: 97.7 %
Track 4: 96.8 %
Track 5: 42.8 %
Track 6: 97.7 %

Simple math shows that this so-called remastering was nothing more than a 0.2 dB level drop for the entire album. A level compensation & phase-inversion test with "the Swindon" will result in total cancellation. (And I read somewhere that all "remasters" are the same.) Next:

3. Meddle, Japan BlackFace, matrix: CP32-5032 CDP 7 46034 2 4A1

Track 1: 54.3 %
Track 2: 38.2 %
Track 3: 68.8 %
Track 4: 62.5 %
Track 5: 28.2 %
Track 6: 53.3 %

This is identical to what JeffMCarney reported for his Meddle, Black Triangle CP32-5032 (matrix: CP32-5032 1A1 TO). The levels are almost ridiculously low, but it doesn't seem to suffer any problems because of this. Maybe because it's such a soft mastering anyhow. (Maybe we should refer to this one as Muddle? )

How did you come to this conclusion? As far as I can tell:

All SilverFaces and "remasters" are the same.
Black Triangles and BlackFaces are the same.

And no Meddles sound bad.

(Phew! I must be ... .. .. .... . Where's the coffee?)

-TJ

BTW, I prefer the MFSL.