How bad does the remastered Bowie's Low sound?

I must really buy David Bowie's Low CD but other threads here indicate that the remastered CD does not sound that great and that it is the same master as the Japanese import. But how bad is it? It might be a great album but if the sonics are really that crappy, I'll just have to wait another few years, I guess.

 

I was very disappointed witn my copy, but I can't comment on how any other versions sound.

 

I'm very happy with the RCA (Japan).

 

are these the ones that come in the cardboard packaging replica of the vinyl?

 

No, he's referring to the original RCA label pressings from the 80's. In my view, Low is simply not a sonic marvel, either the original vinyl, the original RCA CD or the remastered CD.

 

That's fair. But I suspect the RCA is most "organic" sounding version of LOW we have on CD. I haven't heard the Ryko, but...

 

I have the Ryko and I like it - shouldn't be too hard to find.

 

You can compare a snippet of the Japan RCA and the Ryko here:

http://needledrop.wikispaces.com/David+Bowie+CD+Comparisons

 

The Ryko sounds better to me, or is it just louder? Hard to tell out of my laptop speakers.

 

It's louder with increased hi-mids. Definitely listen on something other than your laptop speakers.

I think the RCA sounds more natural, but the Ryko isn't nearly as bad as the Virgin.

 

The RCA is better to my ears. The Ryko is a bit brittle and too upper-midrangey, in most cases. Never heard the newer EMI/Virgin issue yet.

 

OK, you're speaking my language now. But this RCA (Japan) is not the recent cardboard package?

 

No, it's the original 80s CD.

 

Having heard all three the Ryko and the Virgin/EMI both have their merits. The biggest drawback to both is the use of No Noise. The RCA has its limits as well but honestly of the three it does sound cleaner of artifacts, EQ and compression.

 

The RCA is too dull and the Ryko is too shrill - I think the Ryko might have the edge in the tape quality department.

 

I have only good things to say about the sound of the Au20 edition.

 

Very hard to keep the versions straight. Which one is this again?

 

The Ryko gold disc version. Probably the hardest to find though.

 

RYKO!!!

 

What're these going for these days? I never tried to buy one on ebay - I got some other gold Bowies that way, but I bought "Low" back when it was new...

 

I don't know about you guys, but I make remastered CDR's for my own enjoyment when the official masterings just don't cut it. The Ryko's (Au20 where applicable) were the discs I used because there are less tape defects (RCA) and they're not ruined with no-noise (Virgin). But taken at face value, I would have to say that the RCA's are more pleasant to listen to.

 

I'm confused: if you make a CDR of the Ryko, how does yours sound better?

 

I meant that I re-equalize it and burn it to a CDR...my bad...the Rykos are probably the best candidates if you're planning on doing that...

 

Ryko while not perfect is so much better than Virgin remaster it's not even funny.