The half-speed-mastered LPs I have from the '80s (MFSL and CBS Mastersound) do sound better than the conventional LPs. Of course, the MFSL were also pressed with virgin JVC vinyl and made from the original master tapes, so that also helped. If anything, I thought the bass was fuller on the MFSL than on the conventional LPs, so I'm surprised at the comments that bass is negatively affected. I wonder if this is just a relative perception because higher frequencies are enhanced, which may result in weaker-sounding bass.
Half-Speed Masters - are they worth double dipping?
I have pretty much read all that being said online, what is your personal experiences with half-speed mastered records. I see a growing trend in lot of re-issues now being sold with half-speed mastering.
The two records I am interested in are,
Ed Sheeran’s X -10 Anniversary and Police - 30th Anniversary Greatest Hits.
One good thing is, they are reasonably priced and under $50 :-)
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I don't like being assigned homework, but you could check two of my favorites - Boston's first and S&G's Bookends. But that's not the best way to read the database, because when a CD does show as having better DR, it's often a special Japanese pressing, SBM or some other release that got extra attention over the common CD you'll get from Amazon. Even then, when compared to a similarly special LP pressing (such as from MFSL or Abbey Road) or an original pressing, the CD often doesn't compare favorably.
The best research is work you've done yourself. You can measure dynamic range yourself using your favorite recordings. If you do, you'll probably be surprised.
I couldn't disagree more. Remasterings are almost always lower DR. Loudness wars. |
+1 @8th-note
i don’t know where the ridiculous notion started that vinyl has a greater dynamic range than digital. Numerous studies show otherwise. And how in the world would vinyl extend the dynamic range of a digital file when it is embedded in a slab of petroleum? |
Actually, the data show that - in practice - an LP often has wider DR than its comparable CD counterpart. See the Dynamic Range Database and examples in my previous post. Better yet, make your own measurements. In absolute terms, the Compact Disc can have a much wider DR than even the best LP. There’s no debating that. |
Perhaps the answer lies in the mastering process for the intended audience. For example, 'Redbook' CDs reportedly have a dynamic range of 96dB. While I own hundreds of them, only a few of them come close to the dynamic range of a decent LP. Why... compression. Like cassette tapes, CDs were strongly marketed for use in cars, where significant compression is required. Of course, other digital formats may lessen this constraint. |
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