What is your opinion on the quality of remastered vinyl?

gfong

I did some searches and did not come up with too much other then a few posts on certain recordings.
My question is, are the remasters a good investment for "sound quality". I am not asking about collectability as I only buy albums for my listening pleasure.
Do I search the record stores for good used or make it easy and go buy the remaster if available!

Lately I have run across some remastered records that I would like to purchase but have not as I do not know how good they sound compared to the original.
I grew up in the hey-day of vinyl but I also know that some of the originals did not sound that great.

Are the remasters just a fad or a gap filler for the resurgance of vinyl or do they actually sound great and on par or better then the originals?

What got me thinking about this is that I want to purchase some Queen albums and do not want to waste my ears or money on the remasters if the are not good. One thing that I have noticed is that there are a few different copies of remasters and was unsure of the quality.
I am not just asking about Queen records! I am asking about any genre on the remasters.

Bubinga99

It would be nice if there were some sort of rating system of both qualitative and quantitative factors, but there isn't.

It may be improved or it may be worse, or it may be a combination.

It's sort of like a chocolate chip cookie recipe, and re-mastering is just someone else's recipe. The "cook" likes it, but that doesn't mean everyone will.

Some labels develop reputations for consistently improved remasters because they follow a consistent process. MFSL for example, seems to get generally high praise.

hearingimpared

That's a tough one as there are so many variables to consider. However if you stick to internet stores such as the following, you can always return them by telling the customer service rep that the record sound like crap, if you send it back in 30 days they'll refund your money. I've found that most remasters are pretty good. You just have to beware of the compressed ones. Plus one other thing, you can ask the customer service rep of these internet stores their opinion of the recording and I've found them to be honest. If they don't like a particular remaster they will usually guide you to another that is better. Here ya go;

https://www.elusivedisc.com/default.asp

http://store.acousticsounds.com/

http://www.musicdirect.com/

There are dozens of other smaller stores that specialize in vinyl but I can't vouch for their return policies. The link above I've done lots of business with over the years and they will refund your money or recommended a better pressing.

pearsall001

I love CD's! I'm a lazy bastage...vinyl's just too much work as far as I can tell.

hearingimpared

pearsall001 wrote: »

I love CD's! I'm a lazy bastage...vinyl's just too much work as far as I can tell.

Shed ep rabbit and go use your coasters for what they were intended for!:D:p

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3631362133510049020#

Toolfan66

Any vinyl that says Back To Black I would avoid.. The 3 that I have suck balls..

TSWisla

Hearing Impared is correct, there are a lot of variables and it depends on many things. He is also correct that Music Direct and Elusive Disc will help you choose which ones are worth the extra money. They have steered me away from several remasterd editions to less costly, better sounding alternates.

Gulfstrings

I have one or two "digitally" mastered vinyl recordings from back in the day. Ry Cooder's "Bop Till You Drop" is a great example of how good these can sound. Spro Gyra also released digitally mastered vinyl as did (I'm told) some classical offerings.

Sooo ... could be assumed that a remastered print would be the same thing? If so - and they sound as good as that Ry Cooder - it should be a good thing.

Note: I remember being so excited about the quality-of-sound improvement after playing that Cooder release. It never dawned on me that the industry (grrrrr) would skip over this advancement to !@#$%^&&*! tape cartridges.

hearingimpared

hearingimpared wrote: »

That's a tough one as there are so many variables to consider. However if you stick to internet stores such as the following, you can always return them by telling the customer service rep that the record sound like crap, if you send it back in 30 days they'll refund your money. I've found that most remasters are pretty good. You just have to beware of the compressed ones. Plus one other thing, you can ask the customer service rep of these internet stores their opinion of the recording and I've found them to be honest. If they don't like a particular remaster they will usually guide you to another that is better. Here ya go;

https://www.elusivedisc.com/default.asp

http://store.acousticsounds.com/

http://www.musicdirect.com/

There are dozens of other smaller stores that specialize in vinyl but I can't vouch for their return policies. The link above I've done lots of business with over the years and they will refund your money or recommended a better pressing.

TSWisla wrote: »

Hearing Impared is correct, there are a lot of variables and it depends on many things. He is also correct that Music Direct and Elusive Disc will help you choose which ones are worth the extra money. They have steered me away from several remasterd editions to less costly, better sounding alternates.

One other thing about those three big internet store is you can haggle the price down or haggle free shipping with them.

del44

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Any vinyl that says Back To Black I would avoid.. The 3 that I have suck balls..

My thoughts exactly.

gfong

Awesome comments people! So it sounds like I may have to do some digging around and some homework to find the best "remaster"!

I will probably pick one up this week or next and give it a spin to see if I like it/them.

I ordered one from Amazon but there is a delay with it. I asked some store owners about the transfer and a few of them stated it was very good.
I ordered, David Bowie , 1972 Live In Santa Monica (Vinyl) so we will see how that is once it gets here.
I am going to do some research on some Queen reissues and some more Bowie.

TECHNOKID

Bubinga99 wrote: »

It would be nice if there were some sort of rating system of both qualitative and quantitative factors, but there isn't.

It may be improved or it may be worse, or it may be a combination.

It's sort of like a chocolate chip cookie recipe, and re-mastering is just someone else's recipe. The "cook" likes it, but that doesn't mean everyone will.

Some labels develop reputations for consistently improved remasters because they follow a consistent process. MFSL for example, seems to get generally high praise.

I would also love to see ratings on newer production of vinyls. I think there is enough vinyl users and experience users on this board to open a rating thread on the subject. As pointed by HI, there are many variables and some of the important ones are the quality of the gear used along with the willingness to spend time and money for proper care.

I have a nice collection dating from the 70s and would consider acquiring the good pieces that I haven't bought through the years. However, with the only simple lower end table I presently own and the cost of proper cleaning machine I've been somewhat reluctant to get back into vinyls (especially that this retro hobby doesn't seem too popular in Canada (or at least Quebec)) so a good rating thread coming from veterans of this hobby might make a huge difference for people like me that hesitates to go back to vinyls.

By the way HI, thanks for providing good sources for new vinyls and how to use them :cool: Also, compressed vinyls :eek: what a sacriledge that is

Thanks to the internet as I checked good local stores that use to provide vinyls and they all moved to the digital age.

Cheers!
TK

quadzilla

So.... why not start a sticky thread in the music and movies section to rate various releases?

TECHNOKID

quadzilla wrote: »

So.... why not start a sticky thread in the music and movies section to rate various releases?

That is basically what I am getting at but such thread should be started by serious collectors (such as HI , he already has been providing the community with good insights on vinyls :cool:)

quadzilla

I have currently somewhere between 2 and 3 thousand albums. Do I qualify as a serious collector?

Fongolio

Vinyl remasters I've found to be very hit and miss. Almost all Classic Records remasters are really good. Some Sundazed are good and some not so good. The 30th Anniversary Dark Side of The Moon remaster I really liked. But somewhat disappointing was Nirvana's Nevermind remaster. Some people like MFSL (Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs) remasters and some don't. A lot of it depends on who remasters them.

As for a vinyl rating thread, I'd love to see that. I have 1532 rock, blues and jazz LP's (not counting over 300 duplicates) and about 200 classical titles. I just listened to a superb original of Robin Trower's B.L.T. Fantastic sounding dynamics, excellent mastering and some blazing Jimi style blues rock. Highly recommended.

quadzilla

Lasareath wrote: »

plus or minus 1000?

That's a big difference, you don't know if you have 2000 or 3000?, I wouldn't be surprised if you said 2800 to 3000

I know it's well over 2, but probably under 3, though I actually could be wrong there. I don't have them all cleaned, cataloged, and organized yet, so I'm having to guess. I was just advertising that I was buying collections for awhile, and ended up with quite a few albums which I'm now working my way through. And periodically, I take a load down to 1/2 price to dump as I pull out the stuff I'm sure I'm never going to listen to (sorry Jim Nabors fans).

It seems weird, I know. But I had a house fire a couple years ago and my collection bit it. That one was right at 2500 and I'd started it when I was about 10, so that was 33 years of collecting at the time. The upside though is that I've heard stuff that I never would have even considered buying before, and now like. If it matters, I could post some pictures of all the piles. Then we could make it a game, like guess the number of jelly beans in the bottle.

hearingimpared

TECHNOKID wrote: »

That is basically what I am getting at but such thread should be started by serious collectors (such as HI , he already has been providing the community with good insights on vinyls :cool:)

TK there are guys here that have much, much more extensive collections than I do and have much more knoweldge about vinyl than me. One that comes to mind is Larry (analog97). I don't come close to his collection and from what quadzilla stated below he's right up there too. ANother that comes to mind is Richie (SCompRacer) he knows more about analog front ends than I could ever hope to learn. I appreciate your compliments but I'm not that high on the totem pole of vinyl guys. Ken Swauger comes to mind too.

quadzilla wrote: »

I have currently somewhere between 2 and 3 thousand albums. Do I qualify as a serious collector?

Hell yes!!!

Lasareath wrote: »

plus or minus 1000?

That's a big difference, you don't know if you have 2000 or 3000?, I wouldn't be surprised if you said 2800 to 3000

Sal, it really hard to estimate if you don't have them cataloged and entered into a spreadsheet. I esitmate that I have between 2000 & 4000 LPs. I have a dozen large crates in storage and have no idea how many LPs are in them, I have 8 crates in my utility room that need to be restored due the flood I talked about a few years back, again, I can only estimate that there are between 500 & 1000 LP is that room. I have 11 full boxes of LPs from GG, karnas I won, Mark (baggedlancer), gifts etc that I haven't even opened yet. Not to mention some that are stacked on a wall in my music room that I havent' gone through yet. I also have an unknown number of 78s that I haven't thought about or years.

So yeah, the +/- 1000 in not out of the ordinary. BTW I just remembered I have about 10 crates of LPs at my buddies house who has been holding onto them for me for about 25 years that I haven't even thought about for awhile.

It going to take me years to catalog and enter them into a database or spreadsheet. All part of the vinyl junkie in me.

Bubinga99

Only indirectly related to the original question, but here's an interesting video: How It's Made: Vinyl Records
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rEmHkumWXI

hearingimpared

Bubinga99 wrote: »

Only indirectly related to the original question, but here's an interesting video: How It's Made: Vinyl Records
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rEmHkumWXI

I seen numerous videos on the production process of records but that was by far the coolest!:) Although it didn't go into some of the other details involved such as the mold release compound application to the stamper it really did a nice job.

madmax

pearsall001 wrote: »

I love CD's! I'm a lazy bastage...vinyl's just too much work as far as I can tell.

I'm with you 100%. You can't beat a CD for leveling up a couch leg!
madmax

TECHNOKID

TK there are guys here that have much, much more extensive collections than I do and have much more knoweldge about vinyl than me. One that comes to mind is Larry (analog97). I don't come close to his collection and from what quadzilla stated below he's right up there too. ANother that comes to mind is Richie (SCompRacer) he knows more about analog front ends than I could ever hope to learn. I appreciate your compliments but I'm not that high on the totem pole of vinyl guys. Ken Swauger comes to mind too.

I understand what you are saying. Your name popped up as an example because I'bve noticed many of the threads you've started on the subject but this is only an example. ùanyone that do buy new vinyls frequently would be an asset on such rating thread (a few yeah or neah could be subjective (different gear hearing etc..) but if many knowledgeable people share and rate then you can make an inform decision on buying or not). Also not to forget we are talking NEW vinyls, NOT deal on older version. I know my old vinyls are good (the main reason I kept them for so many years ) but the question is are newer vinyls worth buying, is the SQ there? It can be for some and maybe not for others.

I have currently somewhere between 2 and 3 thousand albums. Do I qualify as a serious collector?

I guess many of those 2 - 3K were bought new so yes you are the type of person we could benefit from if there was a rating thread. Feel free to start one, I am convinced it will not be a waste of your time. Like I pointed out, I've been debating if it was worth while going back to vinyls (cleaning up what I presently own (meaning investing time and money for a cleaning machine) and potentially buying new along with deals on used (which doesn't seem to be readily available in Canada). Here some nice we learn from this thread (people like me) is to stay away from anything that states ''Back to Black''. HI also pointed out to 3 reliable places to buy... all that's missing now is a rating thread !

gfong

Well, I went out and bought Queen, A Night at the Opera, reissued by Hollywood records and to me it is not that impressive!
The packaging is authentic, the 180g vinyl is heavy, but the record itself has a haze through the vinyl. I put it on the turntable and gave it a spin. The sound of some of the tracks are good and some are not so good.
The recording volume fluctuates with different songs and some are very bass heavy. The only thing that it did not do was tick from having scratches in it.

I do not think I will be purchasing anymore reissues any time soon. I may try a remaster next!

Now in the defence of A Night at the Opera, I do not remember what the original sounded like other than I really liked the music when I was growing up. I probably ran the needle across the record a few times and if a song sounded lower than another I would probably just turn up the volune!

In defense of Holiday records, they do not state anywhere that it sounds better or that they did anything different to the recording and they do not promote this album to be a remaster!
In fact on their press release they state,

"Oh, sure, we make sure you can get Queen’s music on whatever teeny-weeny micro iWhatever digital music device you insist on using," says Charlie D’Atri, director of Hollywood Records’ marketing synergy and special projects, "but fans have been crying out to hear this music on good-old analog discs for some time now. We’re thrilled to finally make them available."

So... I guess I am stuck with a new record that I think should sound better then it does but when I strip away the disappointment I guess I got what I paid for... a reissued Queen record.

What irks me is right after I listened to it I put on Bruce Cockburn, "Waiting for a Miracle" original 1987 album and it sounded so much better than the new Queen I just purchased!

It's still fun to look through the record stores for the one's that got away from me through the years, so it looks like I will be sitting on a milk crate sorting through the piles of records again! Can't wait!

quadzilla

Actually, most of that was bought used to replace a collection I lost in a fire. I'm picking up recently released remasters as I find them, especially of stuff that was done during the "vinyl dark ages" from about the late 80's to the mid-2000's. But I'm also looking for remasters of stuff I already have that is in less than stellar condition, as finding original pressings in a pain in the tuckus, not to mention that much of it is now considered collectible, and therefore albums I remember picking up for 7-10 bucks (and occasionally 2-3 out of the bargain bin) now are going for > 50 and sometimes > 200. I just listen to the things. I don't consider them investments.

As far as a cleaning machine, I made one from an old dead turntable and a vacuum I picked up at wal-mart for under 29 bucks. I also have some recipes for cleaning fluid's that work pretty well. Add a couple mo-fi brushes and a few odd and ends, and you can put together a good cleaning system for around 100.

One I can definitely recommend is the remastered from tape release of Nirvana's Nevermind on 180 gram vinyl. Picked it up for 14.99 at Fry's. Another one that's pretty good is the new release of Pearl Jam's 10 with some new mixes.