"Bland and somewhat muddy sounding". Well, to me, that's good. Why? Well, let's just say that the better the playback system gets, the better it will sound. Just the opposite will happen on a CD that is too "lively".
No problem. This very topic has spawned several long threads here so be prepared before you start reading them.
So, let's get this straight... These are -- in your opinion -- the best available pressings, yet they are still "not recommended." Ok. FWIW, I disagree with about 75% of these.
That quote made me take out my only non-MOFI early Moodies recording -Prelude. I never remembered it sounding that good. My stereo system is not the same one I had since I owned the non-MOFI Long Distance Voyager. I'll borrow my friends and test it out. Though I still enjoy my MOFI's.
I'm not Dave, but here are my preferences over the UDCD (only those I can speak to).. UDCD 516 Elton John Madman Across the Water ---> W. German DJM UDCD 537 Pink Floyd The Wall --> Columbia C2K 36183 or Black Face Harvest Japan for UK UDCD 582 Boston Third Stage ---> Japan 1st press, or MCAD-6188 Japan for US UDCD 590 Rush 2112 ---> W. German Mercury UDCD 614 Rush Signals ---> W. German Mercury
I have to agree with your assessment of DSOTM. The MFSL was horribly overrated and sounds nowhere near the Red Book layer on the SACD. I am having fun comparing the 30th anniversary 180g vinyl against the SACD though.
I'll agree that the MFSL sounds nowhere near the Red Book layer on the SACD, but I happen to think the MFSL so much better. The redbook layer is too compressed and dynamic-less (my new made-up word) for my taste. I can't compare the SACD layer though as I have no way to play it, but I understand that it doesn't suffer that indignity. I guess I need to hunt down that non-TO CD someday.
Now I'm really confused. If I'm not mistaken, our host recently listed the Redbook layer of the DSOTM SACD as quite terrible (or words to that effect).
Hi Sckott, 1. True I'm not a fan of a lot of these that I've heard, but I'm only talking mastering. I've heard old tape sourced recordings since their dawn onto CD and it is all in the mastering as to whether they sound good or not to me. 2. There are only very few that I have not heard better/and/or other pressings of the same albums I've mentioned here. 3. I sold 3000 pieces of vinyl in 1991 so yes I do have a lot of experience with it being my preference over 8 track and cassettes until I got into digital and if I could afford it it might still be my preference. 4. True that with a lot of the artists I review and compare that I don't know their entire catalog, but what the heck does that have to do with a bad mastering job??? 5. Sorry, but you are wrong on this... I used to hang around Little Mountain Sound and could ask any question I wanted while witnessing the recording of many popular albums. On top of that I have had myself recorded in Columbia Recording Arts studio on a Neve (sp?) console to 2" analog tape that actually belongs to Bryan Adams. I don't know, I think/believe Steve Hoffman's opinion is pretty solid and concrete.
My sources are telling me that you have no idea what you are talking about. Can you please tell me about your experience with professional recording tape and shattering "metal particulate"? I have never heard of such a thing and neither has anyone I have spoken to.
Yes and the only reason they are not recommended is because of bad mastering decisions. It's a free country.
Gross distortion via signal oversaturation. Ask your buddies if they're more comfortable/familiar with that one. While the tape may hold the metal particulate still it certainly will not sound decent. I was over emphasizing and hoping most would realize this, but apparently not.
Dave, you are still not making any sense. But, please, keep trying. With your laughable attempts at self-validation and shameless name-dropping, this has gone from being a patience-tester to mere entertainment.
So Rob, you've never saturated a tape so much that it distorts before? I know I've done it a few times by accident. Please stop insulting me as you think you know more than you do regarding critical listening.
Dave, you cannot compare the limitations of your CASSETTE TAPES to 1/2" tape running at 30 inches per second! Or even 1/4" tapes running at 15. Listen, if you don't want to be ridiculed or insulted, I recommend you don't appoint yourself an authority on things with your "Dave's Picks" threads. You leave yourself wide open.
Among the MoFi Gold CD's on your list, I agree with you that they are not the best sounding versions: UDCD 509 Huey Lewis and the News Sports UDCD 517 Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon UDCD 568 Queen A Night at the Opera UDCD 612 Moody Blues On the Threshold of a Dream UDCD 728 Don McLean American Pie But I disagree on the following. I thought these are excellent sounding re-issues: UDCD 597 Heart Heart UDCD 643 Moody Blues Every Good Boy Deserves Favour UDCD 671 Moody Blues To Our Children's Children's Children UDCD 700 Moody Blues Long Distance Voyager UDCD 718 Moody Blues Seventh Sojourn UDCD 729 10CC The Original Soundtrack UDCD 737 Moody Blues A Question of Balance
If everyone takes a look at the thread title, it says: "Dave's non-recommended MFSL's". So, take what you need and say thank you. If you do not agree with some titles, that's fine. It's Dave's list. I think it's brave to take a stand on mfsl cd's and post this to help his fellow members.
I'm not Dave, but the MFSL Signals is completely unacceptible because The Weapon is an underdub and is missing vocals. The West German "atom" pressing is my pressing of choice.
Rob, I have appointed myself as nothing, period, ever, end of sentence. I offer my listening experiences of the multiple comparisons I have done before arriving at my posted preferences is all. When others have tried the comparisons I've suggested and arrived at the same conclusions it is they that want what I have in my head and have repeatedly asked for 4 years now. Self-appointed my **** Rob.
