Hello Steve, Signals is dull (lack of dynamics) due to the fact that it is a digital recording (JVC). It´s a pity as it´s one of their finest albums (musically).Their next effort Grace under Pressure must also be a digital due to dull sound again ? It also is dull and gray (musically) like the cover.
Luckily Moving Pictures is opposite, very dynamic and musically their best IMO. Their obviously were using best gear available in 1981, is it a digital production ? Permanent Waves is quite lame (dynamically) to my senses, is it a digital recording as well ? Their biggest mistake was dealing with new digital technology at the time IMHO.