Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471
axiomite
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OP
axiomite
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471 |
I'm wondering about such CDs as the Rush Remasters series, and I see that the Dire Straits CDs have been remastered.
I already have almost all of the Rush catalog on CD. Now that I'm in the Axiom fold, I'm wondering if I would really be able to tell a difference between the old versions I have and the newly remastered ones.
Anyone done an A/B test on these?
Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,155
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,155 |
Why don't you buy one or two and have your own A/B test?
The Rat.
M80s, VP-150, QS8s,
SVS PC 20-39+, OPPO,
Onkyo 703s, Harmony 880
Sony 60" SXRD HDTV
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471
axiomite
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OP
axiomite
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471 |
I probably will once the basement HT is completed (that's where the Axioms will go).
I figure that for the older Rush recordings, the capacity for upgrade is pretty good. However, they've been recording everything digitally since 1985, so I'm not so sure that, for example, the "Power Windows" remaster will be that noteworthy. It already is one of the best-recorded CDs that I have!
I also see that the Beatles' catalog is up for remaster soon.
Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 88
old hand
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old hand
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 88 |
Hemispheres is my all time favorite album. In fact it was the first music to grace my new system. The remastered version of the older stuff is fairly significant. When I put the two Hemisphere discs side by side there's no comparrison. The remastered is well worth it. But as has been said the newer CD's not as much. They can only do as good as the source material. Presto comes to mind. Great album, terrible engineering. As is with their newest CD's. Vapor Trails Sucks. BTW, if you haven't got the R-30 DVD yet, it is great. Highly recommended!
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 915
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 915 |
I've found older cds from the 70's and 80's have been worth it...more detail, less "tinny", and a bit more bass. However, anything in the 90's and forward, I get suspicious. Sometimes I wonder if all they do is throw on extra tracks, then call it a "remaster".
M60s VP150 QS8s Marantz SR6003 Samsung LN52B550 Oppo DV-980H Insignia NS-WBRDVD
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471
axiomite
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OP
axiomite
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471 |
Thanks for the words on Hemispheres, also one of my favorite Rush albums. It was the first one I owned, back on LP. I'll definitely have to go for it with the Rush CDs from the 1970s.
Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 845
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 845 |
Yes, you will hear a difference with "re-masters". The best ones, stay true to the original mix....with more care taken during the 24 bit mastering. Some, get the re-mixed, re-master treatment, with the eq flat, and other "tamperings".
If only, ALL cds originally had the complete # of 1's and 0's none of the re-masters, sacd, etc. would be needed to try and make up for it.
LIFE: "Choices, balance, and timing"
(Larryism)
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 66
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 66 |
There is a better sound to the 2112 cd. My old one had some scratches and started to skip so I had to get a new one. As I need to, I will replace all with the remasters. And Vapor Trails doesn't suck. One of their best in my opinion. Whats also great about Rush is how different each recording is which results in their longevity.
".....We don't need no thought control..."
Axiom M60's
CSW m60's
HK avr 240
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
Rapmon, I believe he was referring to the engineering of the Vapor Trails CD. If it's anything like the engineering on Test for Echo then it does, indeed, suck.
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Re: Are "remastered" CDs worth an upgrade?
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 66
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 66 |
O.K. I guess I don't understand how a recording can be great but the engineering suck. What should I be listening for? How much better could VT have been? I assumed that the way the songs sounded is what they were going for. Maybe not.
".....We don't need no thought control..."
Axiom M60's
CSW m60's
HK avr 240
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