Amy Winehouse - Back To Black Deluxe Edition - different mastering......

Thanks for the heads up on this, I have a slipcase edition on it's way.

 

My made in Australia jewel case version has the lower volume disc one

 

Which disc is the best sounding the Slip disc or the plastic case? I have a chance to buy both so my best choice?

 

Please someone steer me in best direction on which disc sounds the BEST.

 

For the EU release, the preferred version of the Deluxe Edition is the one with the slipcase packaging.

However, I suppose it's possible the mastering was switched before the packaging change to super jewel case?

Other territories may vary (eg, see matty's post above).

 

I bought a "Hong Kong Import Version" that has a quiet disc 1.

I purchased it from an ebay seller - gadgetsjapan for $7.78 + $3.00 shipping to the U.S. Looks like gadgetsjapan sells these on a regular basis.

This was a lot cheaper than the EU Deluxe Edition with slipcase versions that I looked at. It arrived from China within a week. I was surprised at that.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170839773441?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Right now, they have 9 available.

 

Oh, I just sold my Deluxe Edition for big bucks.

 

I think that's probably a pirate copy - I got one and the printing and case look very cheap/sub standard. Also when I ripped it there was no match in the accuraterip database which seems a little unlikely.

 

I got the digi-pack / Brilliant Deluxe version from Discogs the other day. 2 discs, Barcode 6 02517 49097 0. The matrix on disc 1 has code 1713041 01, IFPI 04AM, IFPI 0478, made in the UK. On the same disc 1, printed side (which is completly in black, as is the writing) however, it says made in the EU, LC 00407, 171* 304 1, (174 909 7)

Peak levels (as Mal described on page 1):

Track 1 Peak level 47.3 %
Track 2 Peak level 45.5 %
Track 3 Peak level 54.5 %
Track 4 Peak level 43.1 %
Track 5 Peak level 46.8 %
Track 6 Peak level 40.9 %
Track 7 Peak level 47.8 %
Track 8 Peak level 41.4 %
Track 9 Peak level 40.9 %
Track 10 Peak level 44.9 %
Track 11 Peak level 46.8 %

Please comment, because I don.t know what CD it realy is. can someone explain all these diferent codes???

 

It looks like you got the "good" version.

 

... but disc 1 is completely black and so is the writing (in high gloss black, where as the disc itself is in matt-black). Disc 2 is matt-black, but with silver-ish writing.

 

Yeah. So? That's how these discs were manufactured. It also provides a distinction between the album and the bonus disc.
If you want the bonus disc to have black writing too, you can always use a pen to make it black.

 

Similar to mine (including black text on disc 1).

Differences:

Matrix code includes Mastering SID Code IFPI L136 (opposite the 1713041 code, outside the barcode)

Mould SID code IFPI 0457 (stamped opposite to MADE IN THE UK)

Outer rim text: ... MADE IN THE EU. BIEM/SABAM. LC00407 171 304 1 (174 909 7) [no asterisk]

LC00407 is the UNIVERSAL/ISLAND label code.

171 304 1 is the original UK catalogue number for the album

174 909 7 is the catalogue number for this UK Deluxe Edition

 

I recently picked up a new edition of this great album (see here for details) - I already have the standard UK edition but it's been in the car for months so I didn't hesitate in getting this new "deluxe edition" [DE] especially since it comes with a bonus CD of great tracks.

I mean, the album itself would just be the same master as the standard edition so there was no point buying it to get a better version of the actual album, right?.......


Wrong!!

I noticed that disc 2 in the DE was much louder than disc 1 when listeing on my boombox in the bathroom the other day but didn't think too much of it at the time - I just figured they had probably mastered the bonus disc even hotter than the album disc. Now, having just loaded them both up on my computer I am astonished to discover that the DE is different to the SE.

Mal

Thanks for starting this thread. I have the original CD but not the Deluxe.

Is it worth buying a Uk vinyl copy - available for around £ 10 - 13 ?

Or is the deluxe CD better ?

I normally prefer vinyl.

Thanks.

 

Haven't listened to the vinyl recently but iirc it sounded very good. I haven't done a direct comparison though.

 

Neat to see people still speaking about this deluxe version this year. Iv'e recently found this forum after being a fan of Amy from when Back to Black was released in the States, but embarrassingly didn't appreciate it as much as I do now since I was so young - it's now in my list of favorite albums.

I currently have two deluxe editions on the way. If anyone is still interested I'll post the seller information once they arrive if they are the correct quiet editions.

 

So which mastering did you get?

 

Would anyone with this "lower volume" version be able to post a sample...say of "You Know I'm No Good"? I just did a needledrop of the UK vinyl and I still hear a lot of crackling around the vocals in this song. Here is that song from my needledrop as well as an attempt I did to declip and reEQ the original CD mastering. If there is something better out there, I'd track it down.

Needledrop
Dropbox - You know vinyl sample.flac »
Declip:
Dropbox - You know declip sample.flac »

 

A word of warning. I purchased a sealed copy of the deluxe edition with all the indications stated in this thread (black box edition, barcode in bottom right hand corner, etc) and it was still the normal mastering. So they must have switched back at some point even with this edition.

Fortunately, I purchased a second copy with the secret mastering and it is indeed much better sounding. The matrix information is very similar to that stated by Mal so I would presume this is the only way you can determine which version you have (without listening to it, of course).

Some people like DR values so this is how the secret mastering measures using the TT Dynamic Range Meter:

DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR8 -6.59 dB -15.95 dB 01 AMY WINEHOUSE - Rehab.wav
DR8 -6.87 dB -16.35 dB 02 AMY WINEHOUSE - You Know I'm No Good.wav
DR11 -5.50 dB -17.87 dB 03 AMY WINEHOUSE - Me & Mr. Jones.wav
DR10 -7.35 dB -18.57 dB 04 AMY WINEHOUSE - Just Friends.wav
DR8 -6.73 dB -17.31 dB 05 AMY WINEHOUSE - Back To Black.wav
DR8 -7.77 dB -17.93 dB 06 AMY WINEHOUSE - Love Is A Losing Game.wav
DR9 -6.80 dB -16.73 dB 07 AMY WINEHOUSE - Tears Dry On Their Own.wav
DR8 -7.90 dB -17.26 dB 08 AMY WINEHOUSE - Wake Up Alone.wav
DR10 -7.77 dB -18.74 dB 09 AMY WINEHOUSE - Some Unholy War.wav
DR9 -6.98 dB -17.29 dB 10 AMY WINEHOUSE - He Can Only Hold Her.wav
DR10 -6.80 dB -17.35 dB 11 AMY WINEHOUSE - Addicted.wav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of files: 11
Official DR value: DR9

==============================================================================================

 

Hello there

Just my 2 cents on this (on my top 10 records of all time) :

Both versions are available on Tidal.
Listening in HiFi mode the deluxe set (black cover) has softer mastering than the UK version.

The deluxe set is clearly a winner quality wise...still i prefer the uk one on earbuds and noisy places

 

These are the peaks for the version I bought from from Hong Kong :

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR8 -6.49 dB -15.96 dB 3:35 01-Rehab
DR8 -6.84 dB -16.35 dB 4:17 02-You Know I'm No Good
DR11 -5.27 dB -17.79 dB 2:33 03-Me & Mr Jones
DR10 -7.30 dB -18.57 dB 3:13 04-Just Friends
DR8 -6.59 dB -17.31 dB 4:01 05-Back To Black
DR8 -7.75 dB -17.94 dB 2:35 06-Love Is A Losing Game
DR9 -6.41 dB -16.71 dB 3:06 07-Tears Dry On Their Own
DR8 -7.66 dB -17.18 dB 3:42 08-Wake Up Alone
DR10 -7.75 dB -18.75 dB 2:23 09-Some Unholy War
DR9 -6.94 dB -17.29 dB 2:46 10-He Can Only Hold Her
DR10 -6.58 dB -17.27 dB 2:45 11-Addicted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks: 11
Official DR value: DR9