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Dire Straits Remasters

Wow.

Picked up the Warner Remaster of Brothers in Arms to see the difference. Not only are things cleaned up, tightened up, and tuned up, but the whole disk, well, flowed better.

Just amazing.

I do not know much about mastering and would like to learn more. I've listened to several of the Riverside 20bit remasters on Jazz and have been unimpressed -- they are grainy and bright. And while the Riverside master is clearly in a different in genre, the SBM remaster is much better. Much, much, much better. So clearly there are different approaches in eeking out the last bit of fidelity in the flawed Redbook format and some appear more successful than others.

I suppose this rolls up into two questions:

1) Any SBM recordings you recommend (I'm replacing my Dire Straights collection with the SBM remasters)?

2) Could you direct me to resources (web or book) which explains the details of different mastering approaches?

Thanks in advance,
mprime
mprime OP
92 posts
 
Rx8man,

I'm learning as you are! So far there is the standard issue CD, a remastered version (with Japanese & UK offerings in addition to the US one), and an XRCD version. That's five. Yikes. Seems there's great depth to a simple question.

As a side note, this reinforces my hypothesis that my playback is source limited; the differences between the comercial and remastered versions of BIA is far more material than the recent equipment changes I've explored. Have a trip to Amoeba records tomorrow to pick up my XRCD of BIA and will report back.

This is fun.

Best,
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,355 posts
 
Thanks Hifimaniac & Mprime for clarifying.
I assume it's safe to say, the JVC is THE one to get ?
mejames
986 posts
 
yes definitely JVC XRCD
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,355 posts
 
Thanks Mejames !!
mprime OP
92 posts
 
Quick follow up on the XRCD. Couldn't find BIA, but did pick up two jazz titles: Waltz for Debby and Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet. As for the quality difference, just one word....

Getthefuckouttahere!

It's not even funny how bright, grainy, and nasty the Redbook standard issues are by comparison. And my Waltz for Debby is the Riverside K2 remaster!

So I've got the BIA XRCD on order and am sure I'll just love it. Thanks Fatparrot and Mejames for bringing XRCD to my attention -- I would not have found them otherwise.

Oh, and fuck-you for getting me hooked on $26 CD's!

:-)

Best,
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