I’m sure I have many to add, but I start with Prince. I always liked many of his songs, but as far as I remember, I found no LP or CD with bass yet. I’m lazy to turn treble or mid amp of my active speakers 5 dB down and bass 10dB up to be able to listen to them. All remastering engineers seem to have seen this as intention of the artist and just left it like that.
If someone knows a great remastering, please tell.
There’s so much great music between 1960 and 1990 that just sounds good on the kind of stereo I had in 1980. And even then I pushed mids down and bass up on my Marantz amp for listening to such recordings.
I wait for the remastering engineer who will make all this music listenable at the end and doesn’t just polish the existing unbalance.
Agree. I just got “Purple Rain” in vinyl recently and it sounded terrible. Very adynamic and with no bass. Then I listened to the Tidal version and it was the same way. Disappointed.
As much as I love the Stones, their sound quality on their best albums leaves a little bit to be desired, IMO. Exile on Main Street and Beggars Banquet in particular are a little disappointing with the digital versions no better. Same thing with the vinyl of most Zepplin pressings I’ve heard. Meh. The Tidal digital versions sound great though!
On the other end of the spectrum, I listened last night to a new copy of Bill Evans “Waltz for Debby” by Riverside Records, I think, that was just fantastic. It sounded almost as good as the Evans MoFi Ultradisc. Almost. Or at least I enjoyed it nearly as much. Hard to tell! I love it when wonderful music is coupled with amazing sonics. Nothing better.
Yes, no problem in golden era Jazz. There are fantastic originals and remasterings. Try the 45RPM Hoffman/Gray version of Waltz for Debbie. Should kill all others.
There are problems with Jazzrock era, like Weather Report, early Zawinul, Return to Forever, early Tower of Power etc. All great music with (not only) no bass and/or screaming mids, same in 80% of 70/80’s Pop, it’s a shame. Even most remasterings sound nearly the same. Seems the recordings were so bad, that there’s nothing to save.
I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s almost as if anything that could remotely considered “smooth jazz” or “fusion” had bass as an afterthought. Interestingly, I’ve recently come across a 70’s recording of Dave Grusin called “Discovered Again” which is a direct to disc done by Sheffiels Labs which is amazing. One of the best sonics I’ve ever heard with great bass. Granted, I occasionally feel like I’m watching a “CHiPS” rerun during a chase scene while listening, but that’s OK. I loved that show when I was a kid.
Thanks for the rec regarding the 45 RPM Hoffman/Gray version. I’ll look into it!
I have the SACD version of Let it Bleed, and agree. Most of the tracks are wonderful and it’s the only version of Gimme Shelter that doesn’t sound opaque and congested.
What I haven’t found is a version of Layla by Derek and the Dominos (Clapton) that doesn’t sound like a murky, flat, indecipherable mess. The rest of the record isn’t bad, but Layla, a showcase performance, is awful in every version I’ve been able to try. Any ideas?
Trying to figure if I should buy the Stevie Ray Vaughan SACD Texas Hurricane box set from Analogue Productions ( Sterling Sound ) or each SACD disc separate from Mobile Fidelity? Wonder what will sound better? Does anyone know what version is better sounding?
I have „Couldn’t stand the weather“ as those two DSD versions and just checked them. They both sound great, the AP sounds a little more laid back in the mids and the MFSL a little more forward and contoured with a slightly different EQ in mids.
I consider the MFSL little more lively sounding and would choose it by a small margin. But they definitely are in the same league, it’s a matter of preference and system sound and a quite minor difference.
I have „Couldn’t stand the weather“ as those two DSD versions and just checked them. They both sound great, the AP sounds a little more laid back in the mids and the MFSL a little more forward and contoured with a slightly different EQ in mids.
I consider the MFSL little more lively sounding and would choose it by a small margin. But they definitely are in the same league, it’s a matter of preference and system sound and a quite minor difference.
Thank you. Funny the box set ends up being more $ too. So I’ll order the MFSL discs. I didn’t like “Family Style” release anyway. Thanks again.
