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Joshua Tree?!!!
#63687 10/07/04 02:17 AM
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Ken.C Offline OP
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Now, I know that it's commonly said that The Joshua Tree is the worst mastered album of all time, and people should be shot for attempting to listen to it on good speakers, but I just had it in the CD player, you know... Just sitting here, and Trip Through Your Wires comes on. A massive soundstage opens in front of me, everything's clear, sounds great. A little like they recorded in a room with a few echoes, but it sort of adds to things. What gives? (no DSP, just the M50s and the sub, btw).


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63688 10/07/04 04:44 AM
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I don't think anyone has said it's the worst mastered album of all time, but it's not fantastic, that's for sure. Bad mastering doesn't always collapse the soundstage. What it often does is reduce the dynamic headroom available to the data, meaning (in English), that there are fewer levels of gradation between soft and loud. (As a side note, hot, compressed CDs are easier on amps than non-compressed CDs.)

I just gave it a listen and it may just be the worst-sounding track on the album, honestly. It does give me the feeling of a wider soundstage, but I think that's just the ambiance (natural or artificial) of the recording. The drums sound hollow and all the instruments are sorta smeared together across the front. No definition.

What are you smoking?

Try listening to that track, and then switching to anything on the Buena Vista Social Club disc, for example. The difference is night and day.

Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63689 10/07/04 04:49 AM
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Ken.C Offline OP
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ouch.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63690 10/07/04 04:53 AM
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connoisseur
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I had to check this out so I fired it up and yeah I agree, in CD or MP3 it still sounded kinda bad............the whole CD that is. I have heard far worse however! But there is hope on the horizon. I just had a listen to the new single Vertigo and it sounds not to bad at all.

Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63691 10/07/04 04:57 AM
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de tk r jrrbs!

Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63692 10/07/04 07:14 AM
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axiomite
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They're greatest hits cd...



sounds great!



Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63693 10/13/04 03:32 AM
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I'd say dynamic headroom is the most often fubar'd thing when albums are mixed (at least the stuff I listen too)

Drives me crazy! It's my personal music pet peeve

Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63694 10/16/04 11:31 AM
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I too wanted to check this out. I have both - The Joshua Tree and the Greatest Hits that Craig is showing above.

After some back to back listening, the Greatest Hits is definitely better, but it still has too much compression in the midrange. Everything in this region seems muddled together and washed over. Drums and bass seem to be the biggest improvement. Much clearer and prevelant - they aren't overwhelmed and distant like on the original CD.

Also, on the Greatest Hits, I find big differences song-to-song. With or Without You is bearable, but Angel of Harlem sounds aweful. (and it was recorded later)

The songs are now bearable to listen to on decent speakers, but overall it is a half-assed effort. In the liners, there are lots of old pictures, but no commentary, and no discography. Plus, there is still lots of room for improvement in the audio.

Shawn


Shawn

Epic 80/600 + M3's + M3 Algonquins + M2 Computer + EP125
I think I'm developing an addiction.
Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63695 10/16/04 01:45 PM
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axiomite
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At least you can listen to it. That original Joshua Tree is simply not worth throwing in your cd player. Bleck.

btw...my copy of the greatest hits is an import with HDCD, don't know if that makes any difference.



Re: Joshua Tree?!!!
#63696 10/16/04 07:51 PM
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Exactly - at least it is listenable.

My copy is just standard. It would be nice to know if there is any difference between it and the HDCD.


Shawn

Epic 80/600 + M3's + M3 Algonquins + M2 Computer + EP125
I think I'm developing an addiction.
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