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Sound quality of Genesis remastered CDs?

Found one response to this from this time last year on the subject, but would like some more feedback from anyone that has any of them.

Reason why:  I never had Wind & The Wuthering or Trick of the Tail on CD.  Finally decided I wanted to get digital copies for the convenience, so picked them up new from Amazon.  W&TW on CD only, TotT CD, DVD-A and a brief DVD video.

W&TW was absolutely awful to my ears.  Compressed to a thin sheet of paper, indistinct vocals, zero punch and generally unlistenable.  Couldn't make it all the way through a single tune.  The only upside was that the dreadful static embedded in the vinyl versions in the guitar passage of Blood on the Rooftops was eliminated.

TotT CD was better, but not by much.  The DVD-A was almost SACD level, but still didn't have the fullness, range or punch of my MFSL or Japanese home-market pressings.

I would go so far as to say that the non-remastered CDs I got back in the day are all superior to these two new ones.

What have been your impressions?


effischer
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Check out the Unofficial Dynamic Range Database and all will be revealed.

http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Genesis&album=

jafant's avatar
jafant
19,745 posts
 
Yes, the original CD pressings (UK or Japan) are superior to the newer, re-mastered discs.
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
I must agree with jafant. As an early Genesis fan I have the remastered versions of everything from "And Then There Were Three" back. My remastered versions are older so I can't compare to the new releases. I felt they sounded a bit compressed and over emphasized in the high end although probably not as bad as you describe. I researched various forums and noted the recommended older versions of each album. I was very fortunate to run across one seller who had the entire collection so I bought them all. These sound much closer to the vinyl that I used to have. I will tell you that while the "Trespass" CD sounds better than the remaster, one poster on the forum emphasized that there is no "good sounding" CD version of this album and I agree. Bottom line, you should find the original versions much more to your liking than any of the remasters in my opinion. 
effischer OP
562 posts
 
Thanks for the input.  The Dynamic Range database was very interesting, and I appreciate the tip Geoff.  Wish I'd known about it before I plunked down my $20 or so for the turkeys I ended up with.

Looks like I'll have to search for some of the older CDs for my digital files. 

valinar
473 posts
 
Another thank you to Geoff for the tip!
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