Best sounding Derek & the Dominos "Layla" CD?

If it's two discs it's the original. That seller just has the stock info, which is saying SACD. The number listed - 4228232772, or 422 823 277 2 - is the 2 CD version.

I'm losing my mind...I thought I did clips for this album once. Guess not.

 

So I could sign up today, order 1 or 2 CDs, then cancel my account in my "account settings?" They won't keep billing my card every month even though I cancelled my account will they?

 

Too good to be true??

It is, most US residents here are members, I bet.

 

Nobody's even mentioned the release that you will find in your average US record store if you look for Layla; a single CD remaster that cost me about $10 on sale earlier this year. I'm just a casual fan and this is the first Clapton recording I've ever purchased in any media. It sounds fine to me; no obvious over-NR or over-compression like some remasters. But I have no point of reference. What is so bad about it that everyone is recommending all these harder-to-find versions?

- Joe

 

That would be the Joseph Palmaccio remaster? Not bad at all! It's just that the Drake and MFSL were rounder and smoother when I compared. Besides some modern eq choices, Palmaccio usually does very good work. But since the question is about the "best sounding CD", it won't get mentionned often.

 

I've a-bed the sacd and the mfsl. It was no contest the sacd blew away the MFSL.

 

The MFSL is excellent, warm, smooth, open with tape hiss intact. I cant imagine you not liking it. It gives my US and UK original LP a run for the money.

 

Nobody here has talked about the "Layla Sessions" box set, so I will take that to mean that most are not pleased with it. All I can say is, I love the extra jams that come on the other discs with that set. I love that kind of stuff, especially from the classic rock greats like Clapton, Allman and Harrison. Can't get enough of that jammin' stuff. I love this box set.

 

The box is obviously necessary for the jams and outtakes, and while the remix is sometimes *interesting*, I prefer the original mix in almost all aspects.

 

The surround on the SACD is great.

 

Like many of you, I have all the digital versions. Several LP copies too. My vote goes for the W. German Polydor CD in the "Chubby" 2 CD case. Hiss and all............

 

All right guys, I have yet another question! I primarily listen to music in the 3 following ways:

PC: Chainteck AV710 --> PA2V2 amp --> Alessandro MS1
Theatre: Sony NS75 DVD/CD player -->optical cable-->Onkyo R500 receiver --> Athena AS-F2s
car: stock Toyota speakers

Will I notice much difference between the any of these versions you guys are recommending vs. my current CD I burned from 320 kbps mp3s? I'm going to buy the album, I just would like to know if I will be able to notice a drastic difference between the 2?

 

All of the discs will sound better than the MP3s burned to CD.

The double CD may be the best sounding, but I have had a hard time finding a copy.
The SACD is a hybrid, so it will play in a cd player, and it sounds pretty good on its cd layer.
Maybe not the best, but better than two other remasters I have.

So, try to find the double, and when you get frustrated, pick up a cheap copy of the SACD to tide you over until you find the double.

 

That's what I did. I used to have the Palmaccio, but I got rid of it in favor of the SACD. I recently lost my day job, and while I do have a side job, it doesn't bring in enough cash to allow me to go running around, looking for the better (but rarer and more expensive) versions. Unfortunately.

I have heard the MFSL, and it does sound nice, but with the 2-CD version out there I don't know that it's worth the hefty price.

Apart from the NR'd intros (which are a bit annoying), the redbook layer on the SACD sounds fine.

 

We report, you decide

Here you go folks - four CD versions of Layla for comparison. The beginning of the song and the beginning of the second half. All level matched in ProTools, but otherwise not touched. Samples are (not in this order) the original 2 CD Polydor (Drake), the MFSL, the SACD, and a mystery guest. I'll reveal that and which each is once a few have responded...

Layla sample 1
Layla sample 2
Layla sample 3
Layla sample 4

 

Wow man great post! I've been comparing these 4 and my 320 kbps mp3 version. My gear: chaintech AV-710 soundcard, PA2V2 headphone amp, Alessandro MS1 headphones. I find #1 to be the worse sounding, then #2 the second worst sounding. #3 and #4 are very close. I find #4 to have a little more low end so if I had to choose one, I guess I'd go with #4. I also think #4 makes the piano sound more like you're in the room with the pianist while he's playing the keys. And just for comparison, my .mp3 version sounds about identical to all of them

I'm going to continue comparing and I'll post if I change my mind. I'm anxious to find out which is which. I'm guessing that #2 is the SACD version.

 

I think I hear NR on the 1st, suggesting the sacd.

I agree 2, 3 & 4 sound progressively better

So #2 maybe the 2-cd Polydor

#3 maybe the MSFL

#4 maybe some German vinyl or History of Clapton LP?

Just a guessin' here .

 

My favorite moment on the box: the scream near the beginning of "Keep On Growing."

Chris

 

Thank you for the post lukpac. My guesses are:

Sample 1 is a needle-drop CD, lots of mid-range and narrow stereo field
Sample 2 is the 2CD Polydor, flat and crisp
Sample 3 is the MFSL, ambient and smooth
Sample 4 is SACD, tight and detailed

 

I'm with you on that. When I burned myself a copy of the original mix I snuck the scream in, along with the extra percussion in the intro not on the original mix.

Interesting comments so far. Very interesting in fact.

 

I think GammaSpace may have it pegged. I'm not sure about 1 and 2, although 2 sounds slightly better. But 3 sounds the best, nice bass and smooth top end. 4 sounds too bassy and compressed, so it must be the SACD.