Yes Fragile MFSL

Four reasons why I chose MFSL over Gastwirt:

1. I like high frequencies if they are not TOO loud and hiss-adding (as JVC's XRCDs do).
2. I like the much more stereophonic sound of MFSL over the other CDs.
3. It is difficult and time-consuming to find a Gastwirt that could be shipped to Eastern Europe at a reasonable price.
4. There's always a risk that the disc is scratched and one goes back to p.3

What about the Close to the Edge Gastwirt? Is it of the same qualiy as the Fragile one? If it is, and since the competition there is much weaker, i promise to buy one, just to show respect for Jamie's ears

 

I have a Close to the Edge Diament which is as good as the MFSL Fragile imo.

 

Bought a copy off ebay. The UPC in the listing was 075678266720. Said it was from 94. Gastwirt mentioned in the write up in the listing.

Disc arrived, it's a BMG disc. No bar code. D-153807 appears to be the catalog number. The disc says "MADE IN U.S.A. BY WEA MANUFACTURING INC." Is this the original Atlantic?

 

Does it sound dark, muddy and unexciting?

 

Look at the back of the CD. Does it have "Digitally Remastered By Joe Gastwirt At Ocean View Digital" written across the top above the Fragile/Yes logo? If not, you have the original.

 

I thought that Gastwirt did the remastered Atlantic CD, not the original

 

He did, that's why I wrote that if his copy DOES NOT have the Gastwirt credit then he has the original. The large Gastwirt credit is an easy way of identifying the first re-master, and the cardboard sleeve is an easy way of identifying the subsequent Rhino version.

 

What year did the Gastwirt version come out?

 

That's what I get for reading too fast.

 

LOL, wow, does it ever. I read people talk of it like that, but I never imagined it would be that dark.

I was going to pursue getting my money back as it is not what was advertised, but I might keep it as an example to show others (others being people not aware of this forum and reasons for seeking particular copies of albums) what a difference the mastering can make.

Gastwirt master was released in 1994

 

Don't beat yourself up, it is Sunday after all!

 

Crank that baby up, then it'll be dark, slightly muffled, but damn exciting!

 

The trouble is Steve to many music lovers the actual sound of the master tape isnt as important as something with a proper balanced sound. If you dont enjoy listening to it, what's the point?

 

Not everyone agrees what "proper balanced sound" is. In my opinion, the Gastwirt CD is not.

 

Yeah, I didn't say it was either. Doesn't mean the other one is good.

 

There are some bad speakers out there.

 

Breaking a forum rule, eh?

 

Ditto!

 

Gastwirt Fragile is still available new in EU (as are all the other 94 Yes-remasterings) for under €10.

 

Exactly the comment I would expect from Steve

It was shocking initially, but I got over it shortly into it. I'll hold on to it. It certainly is crankable.

 

OK, now I'm curious. You have the cat# of the "dark" version?

 

I have an old Atlantic Made in West Germany by Polygram (alu to spindle hole) w/cat# 19132-2 on the cd and 250 009 on the spine.

 

I got this cd yesterday and I 've listened to it only once so far.
I had not time to compare it with the Mofi, but this is how I feel about the sound.

The sound of the Atlantic has a very unique color with emphasis on the low and the mid range. It 's warm but not exactly pleasant.
Also, I can see how someone could describe it as muddy and I would probably use the same term but not really in a bad way.


Could it be that this is the sound of the master tapes?

 

Someone correct me if I am wrong but doesn't Steve like the flat transfers becuase he knows how to make them better? I would think most of us do not know how to do this. I guess sometimes flat is best but other times things need to be done to make them much more listenable.