Sound of remasters

[Hillbilly]

What do you folks generally think of the sound quality of remastered cd reissues?

I ask you because I tend do be disappointed by them. They mostly do not sound as good as the original cd releases!

Have you compared the reissued Pet Shop Boys cd's to the old ones? I only have Bilingual in two editions (I bought it only for the bonus disc and I have no plans to re-buy the older albums as I have their b-sides on Alternative). OK, I've only listened to it once, but I can't really say that the remastering sounds better than the original cd.
I don't know what it is, but there is lacking something... Currently I'm listening to the remastered Actually - in mp3 format (192 kbit) indeed, but yet I have the feeling that it would have sounded better if ripped from the original cd release...

So what's the deal with remasters, really? And what is done when mixing them?

[Very]

maybe this link will help you a little:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remaster

[One of the crowd]

I still want to know what these are...

http://www.sirendisc.com/cgi/panel.cgi/ ... pe=usr_act

Actually NEW VERSION
Behaviour NEW VERSION
Bilingual NEW VERSION
Introspective NEW VERSION
Please NEW VERSION
Very NEW VERSION

Due 04.09.06

[dgraysn]

i think the sound of the remasters is a great improvement over the original cds, but it is more obvious on the earlier albums than on bilingual.

[Ramzy]

I think it's more marked in the earlier albums because when the first couple were released on CD the mastering techniques were a bit primitive and people often stuck the vinyl masters straight onto CD etc etc. So whilst the early vinyls might sound fine (I think they do), the early CDs (which I haven't heard so am prepared to be wrong) may have benefited from it.

I don't know what it is, but there is lacking something... Currently I'm listening to the remastered Actually - in mp3 format (192 kbit) indeed, but yet I have the feeling that it would have sounded better if ripped from the original cd release...

Is ability to be compressed nicely necessarily the mark of a good master? In a way, isn't it encouraging that there's more subtlety and complexity in the new masters?

That said, it actually doesn't sound like it from where I'm sat. It sounds like they've taken the mixes and made them so loud they clip everywhere.

[MD]

What do you folks generally think of the sound quality of remastered cd reissues?

I ask you because I tend do be disappointed by them. They mostly do not sound as good as the original cd releases!

Have you compared the reissued Pet Shop Boys cd's to the old ones? I only have Bilingual in two editions (I bought it only for the bonus disc and I have no plans to re-buy the older albums as I have their b-sides on Alternative). OK, I've only listened to it once, but I can't really say that the remastering sounds better than the original cd.
I don't know what it is, but there is lacking something... Currently I'm listening to the remastered Actually - in mp3 format (192 kbit) indeed, but yet I have the feeling that it would have sounded better if ripped from the original cd release...

So what's the deal with remasters, really? And what is done when mixing them?

I have the old and new versions of many re-masters. The PSBs remasters are very good. The sound is clearer and more crisp. I find that there are parts of the songs that were not as easly heard on the older versions and hearing them improves the music.

If you want to be truly blown away by re-mastering however you must listen to a CD that has been remastered in 5.1. It is the difference between night and day. If you are a fan of D Mode get a regular copy of VIOLATOR and compare it to the new 5.1 remaster of the same. it is perfection! It sounds like you are in a room with the band playing the whole cd live just for you.!!

[MD]

What do you folks generally think of the sound quality of remastered cd reissues?

I ask you because I tend do be disappointed by them. They mostly do not sound as good as the original cd releases!

Have you compared the reissued Pet Shop Boys cd's to the old ones? I only have Bilingual in two editions (I bought it only for the bonus disc and I have no plans to re-buy the older albums as I have their b-sides on Alternative). OK, I've only listened to it once, but I can't really say that the remastering sounds better than the original cd.
I don't know what it is, but there is lacking something... Currently I'm listening to the remastered Actually - in mp3 format (192 kbit) indeed, but yet I have the feeling that it would have sounded better if ripped from the original cd release...

So what's the deal with remasters, really? And what is done when mixing them?

I have the old and new versions of many re-masters. The PSBs remasters are very good. The sound is clearer and more crisp. I find that there are parts of the songs that were not as easly heard on the older versions and hearing them improves the music.

If you want to be truly blown away by re-mastering however you must listen to a CD that has been remastered in 5.1. It is the difference between night and day. If you are a fan of D Mode get a regular copy of VIOLATOR and compare it to the new 5.1 remaster of the same. it is perfection! It sounds like you are in a room with the band playing the whole cd live just for you.!!

[MD]

What do you folks generally think of the sound quality of remastered cd reissues?

I ask you because I tend do be disappointed by them. They mostly do not sound as good as the original cd releases!

Have you compared the reissued Pet Shop Boys cd's to the old ones? I only have Bilingual in two editions (I bought it only for the bonus disc and I have no plans to re-buy the older albums as I have their b-sides on Alternative). OK, I've only listened to it once, but I can't really say that the remastering sounds better than the original cd.
I don't know what it is, but there is lacking something... Currently I'm listening to the remastered Actually - in mp3 format (192 kbit) indeed, but yet I have the feeling that it would have sounded better if ripped from the original cd release...

So what's the deal with remasters, really? And what is done when mixing them?

I have the old and new versions of many re-masters. The PSBs remasters are very good. The sound is clearer and more crisp. I find that there are parts of the songs that were not as easly heard on the older versions and hearing them improves the music.

If you want to be truly blown away by re-mastering however you must listen to a CD that has been remastered in 5.1. It is the difference between night and day. If you are a fan of D Mode get a regular copy of VIOLATOR and compare it to the new 5.1 remaster of the same. it is perfection! It sounds like you are in a room with the band playing the whole cd live just for you.!!

[MD]

Sorry guys

[Ronald42]

What do you folks generally think of the sound quality of remastered cd reissues?

Currently I'm listening to the remastered Actually - in mp3 format (192 kbit) indeed, but yet I have the feeling that it would have sounded better if ripped from the original cd release...

So what's the deal with remasters, really? And what is done when mixing them?

You can judge soundquality listening MP3s !!!! Not even if they are 320 KBit. There is always compression and stuff is filtert out. So please come back after you listened to the remastered CD.

[joeythecat]

You do need to have both original discs to make a real comparison. Depending on your soundsystem headphone/speakers/cd player/headphone amplifier you will hear a bigger difference. Still the albums are digital recordings, so it may be assumed that teh real difference is thorug the eqing process on the remasters. As fro mp3's there are different encoders and filtering processes for mp3's so if you use a different encoder and bitrate the song will actually have a different sound. When you rip an mp3 you are essentially re-mastering it to mp3! for instance listen to something ripped with a lame vbr vs say fgh producer pro or even itunes, or something like ogg vorbis and there are obvious differences.
Overall I think the remasters have more bass on the earlier albums.
The bonus discs and the nice booklets really are a great part of the remasters. Really they are some of the best remastered products to come out with the exception to something done by an independent audiophile company like mobile fidelity sound labs. Nice package, good sound, extra tracks and informative booklets. Not to be missed. Still, some may argue that the albums sounded ther best in thier respective release dates. Nothing beats the first time I put the needle on the record and heard left to my own devices.
Yeah 5.1 would be nice. But I don't have the setup for that. I will need to wait for the future to enjoy it.

[No Muscle Mary]

What do you folks generally think of the sound quality of remastered cd reissues?

I ask you because I tend do be disappointed by them. They mostly do not sound as good as the original cd releases!

Have you compared the reissued Pet Shop Boys cd's to the old ones? I only have Bilingual in two editions (I bought it only for the bonus disc and I have no plans to re-buy the older albums as I have their b-sides on Alternative). OK, I've only listened to it once, but I can't really say that the remastering sounds better than the original cd.
I don't know what it is, but there is lacking something... Currently I'm listening to the remastered Actually - in mp3 format (192 kbit) indeed, but yet I have the feeling that it would have sounded better if ripped from the original cd release...

So what's the deal with remasters, really? And what is done when mixing them?

I have the old and new versions of many re-masters. The PSBs remasters are very good. The sound is clearer and more crisp. I find that there are parts of the songs that were not as easly heard on the older versions and hearing them improves the music.

If you want to be truly blown away by re-mastering however you must listen to a CD that has been remastered in 5.1. It is the difference between night and day. If you are a fan of D Mode get a regular copy of VIOLATOR and compare it to the new 5.1 remaster of the same. it is perfection! It sounds like you are in a room with the band playing the whole cd live just for you.!!

Agreed. Stick in on your surround sound system and it's f-king amazing!

[profile790]

As far as I remember, Bilingual wasn't remasterd at all. It was just reissued with a bonus disc. Also a 192kb/s mp3 is not a really good guide to judge the quality of a remastering on.

[JSDOUVRES]

Is there really going to be that much difference that it is noticable?

I've just compaired the original introspective to the remaster and the difference must be so minimal it is unreal!

[stew]

yeh like look at star wars originall film and then the re released film when it was remasterd it is more clearer and sharpoer works sane with music too!