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Moody Blues "Question of bal." CD or SACD vs Vinyl

I no longer have the capability of playing vinyl. I do have two different versions of "Question of Balance". One is the MFSL version which I loved. Then I bought the new SACD version. Boy, what a difference. Actually, probably the biggest difference that I have seen with the SACD format.

Although the MFSL version is very clear and precise, the SACD version is more expansive and full. I don't know which is more truthful.

Would someone out there who has the vinyl and has compared it to either the MFSL CD or the newer SACD please comment on the comparison.

Please, no in general comment like "all CD's are crap", or "vinyl always is best". I am interested in which of the formats that I have is closest to "correct".

Thank you,
Richard
drrdiamond
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,502 posts
 
I would say the arrangements on Question of Balance are the simplest and most conventional of the classic 7 albums. As such, this album will probably sound good on more systems of various quality than the other 6. The CD remaster of this particular album is quite good, I would say.

There are other Moody albums where the arrangements and mixing seem much busier and more of a challenge to discern audio details with, I would say. Lost CHord and Children's Children come to mind.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,502 posts
 
Regarding sound stage, I can proudly say that 80% of any stereo recording I play, regardless of source, including all Moodies recordings, has a sound stage from wall to wall, about 20' across with my Ohm 5's, even though the speaks are positioned only about 5' apart from center to center. I attribute this to the omni-directional nature of the Ohms combined with good clean amplification.

For the other 20%, the recordings are generally miked with a stronger center bias, so the sound stage is variably more limited in width, depending on specifics of the recording.
drrdiamond OP
671 posts
 
Mapman,

Have you heard the SACD of "Question"?

Richard
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,502 posts
 
No. Unfortunately I do not have a SACD player.

I think I noticed on Amazon though yesterday that there is yet another new series of Moody classic 7 remasters with bonus material available for pre-order and coming out soon? I'll be curious to hear what these sound like.


mapman's avatar
mapman
22,502 posts
 
I had a chance to listen yesterday and I added a separate review comparing my CD and vinyl copies of Days Of Future Passed.

I'll try to do "Question of Balance" next when I have a chance.
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