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How do you guys choose between CD releases?

This has been been bugging me for some time now and I'm wondering if any of you guys have a sensible way of choosing which release of a CD to buy. I buy the vast majority of my CDs on Amazon and too frequently have to choose between two releases of a CD e.g., 1990 or 2003. If there is a remaster I usually go with it, unless I'm warned off. That doesn't bother me, it's choosing between to releases with no more to go on than the year of release. You can't judge by sampling; you don't even know which release you're listening to, and Amazon reviews are seldom release specific. Should I just buy the newest, the cheapest or (gulp) most expensive? Any secrets? How do you guys decide?
phaelon
oakleys
78 posts
 
lots of good advice already.

subjective limitations on the soundquality of cd's in general aside...i'll add most reissues are mostly jsut attempt by label's to sell the same old material all over again with a shiny new look. if you're a big fan of the band's reissue in question, some of the time bonus demo tracks etc are added, very nice for hardcore fans.

remasters/remixes are often slight/noticably different from original, sometimes, done without the input from the original artists.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
There are differences in mastering and 'pressing.' Hard to tell what is best until a review of each is done for sound quality. Soon, there will be blu-ray versions of some cd's and those will, in most cases, sound much better then any of the cd releases.
phaelon OP
1,052 posts
 
"Soon, there will be blu-ray versions of some cd's and those will, in most cases, sound much better then any of the cd releases."

I realize that given just how rapidly digital technology is changing, that this is probably a question more appropriately asked of Kreskin, but what will be the preferred digital source 5, 10 years from now? Are CDs doomed in the foreseeable future? Will a single format emerge to finally dominate (and by dominate I mean in terms of acceptance by both purists and the mainstream)? Should an audiophile with wisdom stop investing in CDs now? What do you guys think?
bgeofft-duplicate-0
174 posts
 
I have many K2HD CD's, SACD's, and regular old RBCD's that will knock the socks off. The superiority of vinyl? Had a HUGE record collection and just like with the CD disc format - some were great, some less so. Many variables on what makes a fine recording on disc, record, or download. I don't buy into the "vinyl is God, CD's suck, hard drive tunes sound less real." Internet forums abound with advice on which discs, records, and downloads are best in substance and sound.
wildoats
339 posts
 
If dynamics is all you want then generally the older versions are best. However, newer versions are usually more clear, detailed. The best, such as beatles,mono, have both. Some that are slightly compressed such as stereo beatles are still very good. overly compressed are usually almost unlistenable ( such as Dwight Yoacham best on Rhino) or many Fuel titles like Cosmic Blues Band. Check out review sites for comments on audio quality. Go with the majority.
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