What CD sound is the best?

"In other words, is a King Crimson or Moody Blues CD remastered LOUD?"

I have read that most CDs since mid 90's are "louder" overall compared to prior as I understand it due to advancements in the mastering technology and I think equalization curves applied, as I recall. Do not recall the details but I observe this to be the case in general with CDs I own (many).

That includes KC and MB remasters I have heard as well, however these are done well and not overly loud nor is waveform clipping or other forms of overt dynamic compression obvious. These are VERY good remasters/recordings overall that compare favorably to original vinyl I own in good quality and much superior to any similar CD issues of these I owned prior from the 80's, mainly the entire MB catalog.

Granted some louder mastered CDs in more recent years can approach ear bleed territory, but the vast majority I hear range from on par with most overall to some of the best sounding CD recordings I own.

See my agon reviews for a couple reviews I have done of MB CDs including some comparisons to vinyl. My ISOTLC remaster is newer though than the ones I have reviewed, and is at least as good or perhaps even better.

For the Moody Blues album it is hard to go past the Mobile Fidelity - MFSL UDCD 576 UDII. But I also like the Deram PolyGram MCPS 820 168-2 made in West Germany. Both are miles ahead of the remaster, in my opinion; and ahead of the SACD, which is not that flash.

For the King Crimson, my best is on E'G Records Virgin EGCD 1 (jem Records) made in the USA. As others have mentioned, this is not a stellar sounding album.

Regards,

I have the CD/SACD version of the Moodies album and the 40th Anniversary edition of the King Crimson and can recommend both of them. Neither album is overly compressed.

RE: In Search of the Lost Chord"
The song "The best way to travel" (I think it's this one)
This song has one of the highest notes I've ever heard on a recording. There is a passage where the instruments back down and some sort of extremly high pitched sound goes between the right and left speaker. Back and forth a couple times. My old hammered LP plays this sound supperbly. I used blow the tweeters on my Pioneer CX80's once a year on that passage. So much so, Pioneer ran out of spares.
Anyway, you know you have a great copy if this passage is extremely clear with no reverbrating except in your ears. We atre talking high pitched!
Good luck, John