Hello,
Last night i was listening to Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack and i noticed alot of sibilance on the recordings. The recordings
are the new remasters. Is it me or the recording? And if it is the recording, could you guys tell me witch i should buy?
For digital, go in this order
1. Look for MFSL and DCC
2. 1994 British remasters
3. Original cd pressings from Japan or Britain
4. Hollywood Records (some mistakes, but they aren't part of the "loudness war")
The Japanese paper sleeve remasters and the 2011 remasters sound is disappointingly "Loud" unless all you listen to is computer speakers. The bonus tracks are ok.
to conservatives, you have to go with vinyl or the oldest possible CD available ... for the modern folk and those that have accepted change as a normal part of everyday life and can adapt to new situations... these 2011 remasters sound absolutely magnificent... i have the vinyls, the 1991 Hollywood Records remasters and now the 2011 remasters...
there is not much difference between the 91 and the '11 masters - yes the '11s are louder.. but there is also some sonic cleansing that is noticeable... Queen II, Flash Gordon and even A Day At The Races are great examples...
Although News of the World sounds fantastic in its '11 format... I must say that it will be almost impossible to outshine the MFSL disc that I own... you may as well be placed in the studio... outstanding mastering on that one.
A Night At The Opera... apparently BohRhap was cleaned up on the '11 - there was some minor distortion present on the 2006 master by Bob Ludwig... so he fixed that error on the 11.... i don't hear a difference...
Innuendo and the Miracle are probably the only ones of the bunch that I would consider must owns... in Innuendo, John's bass is more present - maybe that has to do with increasing the volume... I haven't sat down and analyzed it to death yet - I'm strapped for time. The Miracle sounds brighter but less plastic - again maybe just a volume thing...
Also, if you own the Hollywood '91s you'll notice a corrected Miracle for I Want It All - and if you haven't been listening to vinyls for the last 20 years and only have the '91 cd master of Sheer Heart Attack - you may have forgotten or never realized that In The Lap Of The Gods (opener to side 1) was incorrectly edited- listen to "oohs" and "aahs" in the intro carefully.
Wait until either the multitrack stems of all the songs have been released and master a better version for yourself, or remixed HD audiophile download versions are released.
The Japanese paper sleeve remasters and the 2011 remasters sound is disappointingly "Loud" unless all you listen to is computer speakers. The bonus tracks are ok.
Actually 2001/2004 remasters ARE least sibilant. Especially first two albums.
Putting our Militant Lesbian Masters aside, has anyone heard the recent Japan SACDs of these albums. Are they any less sibilant (ie less compressed and limited) than other recent releases?