Same here. I have an UK A3/B2 and a UK A3/B3 in mint…. Plus the 30th… definitely the best copies. The 1992 20th (also contained in the Shine on boxed set) is my favourite digital version.
@abefroman3466 Kevin Gray & Doug Sax just used what was on the master tape, no compression. That's why it comes so close to the OG. And I have both to compare and my 1st pressing is NM.
I have the Harry T Moss cut vinyl from 1976 and it sounds better than the 30th anniversary edition which I also have. I’ve only ever played the 30th twice
Enjoyed the shoot out, I have a well played UK OG from early 74, but my fave is the 2003 30th Anniversary cut mastered by Kevin Gray and Doug Sax , I am led to believe this may have been the last time the analogue tapes where used since then I think its been digitally sourced.
David... I have been scanning various forums (a couple of popular ones in particular) for hours today where people have simply inquired re the quality of the vinyl version of this album, only to be greeted by much chest thumping that someone has purchased the box set, how amazing the Atmos version and other digital formats sound, comparisons with other iterations, pictures of what appear to be sound levels etc. etc. and blah blah blah. The closest we came was to one post showing the matrix numbers and nothing else. I thought by September there might be something, but no until one post had a link to something on you tube and at the side was your shootout. I cannot thank you enough. It's perfect and all I needed. Thanks mate. David (yes, another one). Take care & have a great week.
Thanks for the feedback. I must admit when I did this it was right at the release time and I don’t recall seeing much else on the vinyl. Glad this helped you and please share the channel with anyone you know who might be helped by my videos. Cheers!
I appreciate all the info, I didn’t want to pay for the box set just to get the 50th anniversary of the album and from what I’ve been hearing its not really up to par so I’m glad I saved my money. Always appreciate your thoughts and input David.
Thanks for your review. I just have the MFSL version and the 2016 release. I love the MFSL version and the 2016 is almost as good, I was impressed. I'm not gonna get the 50th anniversary, thanks for the heads up! Great review!
Hi David, Thanks for posting. I have the 2016 Grundman reissue and I am quite happy with it and will not seek out another, unless the Mofi falls in my lap for a decent price. Regards.
I had thought that the 50th anniversary was a stereo downmix of the SACD, but after repeated listenings I don't think it is. My favorite version of Dark Side is the SACD because they went back to the original multitracks and used 1st generation tapes. When I can't play that, I made a stereo downmix. The drums are indeed much crisper because of the higher tape generation.
Thanks for this. I watched mainly to hear your thoughts about how the 2016 compared to all these pressings. I’m not an obsessive PF fan nor much of an audiophile so I think I’ll be fine just sticking with my 2016.
Hey Dave glad you got your Pink Floyd box set. I have the intermission box set of DSOFTM from 2016! Both sets are a big bang for your money! Take care and have fun playing the box!
I have the Harry T Moss cut from 1976 and I think it sounds better than the 30th anniversary. I have a sealed MOFI from 79. Can’t bring myself to open it
I am a big PF fan, but was on the fence about this because of the price. The book is cool, and if the record sounded good I would probably spring for it. Now I am going to buy the 2016 and a high res copy from HD Tracks and call it a day. Thanks for the honest review.
Great shot out ….. the whole vinyl reissue campaign from Floyd has generally been a success… as you point out great bang for your buck…really helps younger and new fans assemble a great collection of records…. I hope this 50th gets a separate release….but I’m lucky to have the 30th and the EMI century… Hard to beat those two… Hope you enjoy your box …
Hey David✌🏻🎸, Your cutting knife mishap reference reminds me of when I worked for an antique shop. The owners motto: "Skin grows back, wood don't" "Skin grows back. A NM record won't" Thanks for the comparison David👍🏻
Love your honesty I just cannot justify paying that much for this box set when the other previous box sets were much better in terms of value for money.
I have in fact never heard a comparison like this. It seems detacher from the Music to be focused on a tone here and a drum there. This kind of detailing lead the mind to an autopsy rather than which pressning sounds the best. i thing this os an American way. Leaving out the passion and bringen in the doctor.
I can see how an analytical approach can give that impression. Suffice to say that the music presentation is a sum of all of the parts, and where the parts are distinctly lacking or omnipresent, that impacts ones intake and perception of the work IMO. Simply saying I prefer pressing X over Y without detailing why would make for a somewhat lame presentation. Immersion into the music, especially that of a known work such as this, provides a strong basis for noticing and noting those aspects which please or displease. Recalling that the first 4 letters of analysis and analog all begin with "anal" I guess my microfocus has some basis in the nature of the beast! I appreciate your perspective and hope I've lent a bit of perspective beyond my video presentation.
Such a good job David. Very well executed and informative. I didn’t get this anniversary edition and I sure won’t get it now. It is a bit of a slap in the face to all Pink Floyd fans IMO. $300 is just over the top. Thanks again. 👍🏻🍺🙏🏻
Thank you for putting the effort in doing this comparison! I wish you had access to the 2003 KG’s version. I agree with the other comments it does sound great, especially to me over the mofi I have, I don’t have the UK first pressing. Good videos as always!
I compared my 2016 LP vs Apple Music’s (loseless) 50th remastered and side A sounded almost identical. Side B however, was a bit better on the right channel on the 50th. Wright’s electric piano was more noticeable, sounds fuller. But other than that I didn’t find enough difference to be curious about the newer vinyl cut. My 2016 does sound different to the OG US pressing but not to the 2023 remaster from Apple Music
Thanks for doing a shootout! When I first heard about the 50th Anniversary DSOTM, I debated whether or not I should pick it up. I'll stick with my 2016 pressing!
nice review have pro use mo -fi and japan 3rd press as well as various European pressings i agree - i also agree that BG did nice work on the 2016 remasters - they are mastered a little different - however still a nice listen thats true to the source
Got it yesterday, I am not opening it, this GEM is already worth triple of what I paid for it. I believe this clear LP could be up in the top 3 of all time .
I'd love to hear the quad version, and my stereo set has terminals for 4 speakers, but I know it's not really quad because I'd have to get a decoder or a certain stylus, etc., and it's JUST not worth the hassle.
I don't own, nor have I heard the Pro-Use pressing of DSOTM, but I do own the Pro-Use pressing of Abbey Road. Just like DSOTM, the Pro-Use Abbey Road may not have used quite an early, perfect a tape source as the British OG, the absolute lack of noise floor on the Pro-Use vinyl makes for such a stunningly clear presentation, that I don't know if it matters.
It was a 30IPS 1:1 copy tape made for Japan from the original master tape. Hence, the lower noise floor. I like this edition as well, but if you get a quiet 1st UK - it beats it.
Compare the quad to the multichannel mix. The Atmos version on Apple Music may actually be the quad mix, since the center channel is not used, as it is not on the Animals 2018 SACD. I listened to both the Atmos and stereo ALAC 24/48 Apple Music mixes on my home theater using an Apple TV 4K connected by HDMI to a Yamaha TSR700. They sound like two completely different recordings.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion Stereo. While properly done Atmos remixes sound great, I end up listening to the stereo mix. I have a 7.1 setup with Bose 301 II speakers as my mains, sub is off for 2.0 music. Virtual height is on. The 301’s do a great job of creating a 3D soundstage. QSound mixed music sounds real good (love Sting’s Soul Cages, I have to give Amused to Death a full listening to) Very few classic albums that did not get a quad mix benefit from Atmos remix. They sound like a droplet was used instead of someone taking the time to do a multichannel mix. DSOTM had a quad mix done in the 1970’s I’m not sure if that’s what is on the set you have, and the Apple Music version. It does sound very different than the stereo mix. The voices on Speak to Me swirl around you. I will say the Giles Martin Beatles Atmos mixes do sound good, but I end up listening to the stereo mixes. I will listen to Let it Be occasionally with Atmos turned on. It has the feel of being in the middle of the band.
Well, the original 2016 remaster was pressed by Record Industry, but was repressed in 2022 by GZ Media. I like the GZ Media version the best. Both pressings were the same being cut by Bernie Grundman and the metal master made by RTI. I think that I prefer the 2022 pressing. Everybody has defects, but the bubbles in the vinyl may be a sign of recycled vinyl usage. This new 2023 version is an entirely different master and probably pressed by Optimal Media. I do really like my SQ quad LP version, played back in stereo or quad. With the later multi-channel SACD's and DVD/Blu-rays, you can hear what the SQ quad version wa supposed to sound like. There was also the Q8 version which was the only discrete 4-channel version at the time, but then you had to put up with the tape hiss. I understand where you are coming from, about listening to the drums. As a drummer, you realize than the drummer sets the beat and tempo of the recordings, being important to be able to hear them clearly. In the words of the famous and prolific drummer, Hal Blaine, "the drummer IS God"!
I have the Toshiba pro used series when I compared it to the mobile fidelity press I had the Toshiba was much superior what is your opinion of the quad versus the Toshiba I was talking to Patrick and he said that that was a very good sounding pressing do you think it's worth my while getting it is it superior to the Toshiba or just different
Thanks for the detailed review David, hard to say what the heck they did on this new 50th. My first red flag was when you mentioned the recessed "change" sound on Money. From what I gather the DSOTM tapes are fine so probably not a tape drop out. Maybe they rolled the sound off too much since you describe the sound as more indistinct. All of the detail loss sure makes me think so. Mushy bass drum, undefined sax..yeah, not good. Bummer. I had no intentions of buying this as I have the 30th and the UK A2/B3 and A2/B2. But it would have been nice if this 50th had at least matched Bernies 2016. Is your US original a Wally? I think he was the mastering engineer on one of the US reissued back then. Thanks again David for your hard work on these listening comparisons👍🏻
When I heard how much you paid for the box I was "lucky son...", best I saw it was $269 which was out of my budget still. Now, that I hear what you think of it, I'm glad I didn't take the plunge. A little sad as this album is quite dear to me since it was the first album I ever got (I was 8). And I agree with you the 2016 version is pretty good even if it's digitally sourced. (I have nearly all of the series and they all sound great) and make this album affordable. The 30th anniversary, I only have the SACD, but I was quite amazed at the time that playing it back to back with my original LP (not an OG press mind you since I got it in 1980) how similar they sounded. The SACD had the benefits of not having been used and abused for 20 years at the time, but the dynamics were so close, I can only imagine how that 30th anniversary sounds on vinyl. And as some people mentioned in the comments it was the last time they used the tapes so that might explain it. Michael 45 said that he cannot see this 50th anniversary pressing not being released as a stand alone so we'll see what comes out of it. In that case, one could buy the 2 albums and the book separately and have nearly the box without the hefty price tag. But yet again, if that pressing doesn't sound great I think I'll pass.
Wish there was a pressing without the darn alarm clock ringing at the start of 'money'. L I agree the EMI is the best pressing. I believe it was done from the original analog tape. (?) I get what you were saying about the sound being "smooth" on the 50th anniversary, I think of it as if the music has lost some "energy". I think this 50th and the now separate 50th of DSOTM by itself is just kind of a sad money grab. What I would like to see is a UHQR release, THAT would be something.
I recently did a comparison of DSOTM. I only had four pressings to compare. Below is what my son and I thought. 1. 1st edition Japanese pressing. 2. 2016 remaster pressing. 3. Pro-Use, 4th edition Japanese pressing. 4. 1980's UK pressing. I was very impressed with the first two, especially the Japanese 1st edition. I was expecting a lot more from the Pro-Use, but the high frequencies were too high, in my opinion, to the point that I couldn't listen to it. The UK 1980's pressing is the first copy I bought as a teenager, and I always thought that the sound quality was good, but it sounded muffled compared to the first two. I will have to see if I can get the original UK and Irish pressings. I have heard good reviews of those.
I’ve been away from vinyl for decades after buying the Mission CD player back in the 80’s as I was feed up with poor pressings and quality control, we are certainly getting back to the bad old days, nearly every LP has surface noise somewhere and go back for another copy. PF Animals I gave up in the end as so bad! I see you have another DSOTM on the rack behind you as well 😱
Yes you can buy the desirable bits without an inferior DSOTM pressing. I rightly predicted this outcome and avoided the pricey box, but did expect it to beat the 2016!
I have the A2/B2 UK first pressing. The 50th anniversary sounds like the mids are boosted relative to the A2/B2, or has less of a smiley curve. Great Gig had the bass way down and it sounded muddy on the 50th, like a pillow over the speaker. I only compared side 1 on both. My 50th copy did not have defects. Lol I’m typing this while viewing before knowing your opinion, and you came to the same conclusion! Edit - we also agreed that the 50th has a certain harshness overall, and it’s grating and not a pleasant listen. I won’t be playing it again. Actually I thought it sounded a lot like the SACD version I have, which I don’t like, either. UK first press all the way.
Hi Vivian! It was the 2016 with the defects not the 50th. Thanks for the feedback on the 50th as well. Seems you have a similar impression. Really disappointing… Happy freakin’ anniversary :(
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion oh ok on the 2016 version with the defect. I need to stop tying my replies during the video and pay more attention! My husband and I listened to both the OG a2/b2 and the 50th last night, and we both agree with your assessment 100%. We both were looking at each other like, “Are you hearing what I’m hearing !?” Yeah we didn’t like the EQ on the 50th
I've got umpteen pressings of this album, including the UK Harvest -3 both sides, not sure if -2/-3 is any better, also the MFSL vinyl and CD, 2011 pressing, 30th anniversary LP, and a few more. I've never thought this recording was that great, to me it sounds veiled in many ways, an overly warm presentation. I've played this album since it came out on many systems and heard it so many times I've lost count. It's a good recording IMO, just doesn't live up to hype it gets from audiophiles.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion I'd like to hear it. The Japanese pressings (of various titles) I have are on the "leaner" side of neutral when compared to the same pressing from the USA or UK so I wouldn't doubt that the Pro-Use would follow that model.
I love my first press mofi copy much more than my pro-use. The pro-use is way too bright for my liking. The guitar solo in Time has me actually wincing in pain. For what its worth, the German first press, non-quad is supposed to be very good. Have not heard it myself. I will not be buying the 50th anniversary box set. But I have ordered the live at Wembly 74 album that came out on the same day as the box set. Eagerly awaiting that in the mail. Cheers.
Fun Shootout !! Even a DSOTM Pink Floyd Casette sounds better than other Casettes! The UK A10 - A12 UK Pressings usally with Posters and Sticker - the edge of the Vinyl is thin and could be described as dangerous Razor Sharp, not much, vinyl best avoid ! The UK Originals A2 B2 (and 2-3 Variant) Questions Pop Up ..Cost...Are The Posters and Stickers Correct..Has somebody put their name on the Light Blue Triangle...Is the cover more blue than black ?? To hear this Sound Effects Album the UK A3 B3 was not very pricy and never has the Poster or Stickers. So a UK A3 B3 and the 2016 Reissue the one you mentioned with the Poster and Sticker sounds like a good deal ! This is a common Album so The Masses (Collectors) must have multiple copies ! Sold Millions !! 50th DSOTM It should have came with a "Build Your Own Wembley 74 Stage with the band members" Di-cutout Book ! Genesis did it with the 2007 Stage but the Booklet (From Borders Book Shop) cost £30. Some of ELO Out Of The Blue had build your own Spaceship (This form of Transport was not popular in 1978 ) and was Free !!
I think that the vinyl suffers because the mix seems to have been done for digital. It also is very difficult because we have heard the older mix so much and so often.
Too many people whine about this 50th. As most things in life, no one is forced to buy it. I bought it because it is 50th Anniversary. It will stay sealed. I have 1 from 2016 Sealed and 2 Canadian 1978 Copies. I play those. I would love to get my hands on a Quadraphonic but people have them way overpriced.
I am so glad I was not the only one who was not impressed by the new mix and I am going by the surround mix on the Standalone Blu-ray that was released last Friday. I have not played the stereo mix on there yet but having watched this I can only presume it will have the same problem. The impression I got with this mix is that Guthrie tried to clean it up as he did with his mix of Animals though I will say he was way more successful with Animals because it still had good lows and highs. This new mix of DSOM is all mids and at times it does sound harsh and it's as if he's used too much compression on the mids. To be honest, some of the parts are brought out more clearly but other parts are just not right at all. I was also hoping that Alan Parson's Quad mix would be included on the Blu-ray so I could sell my Immersion box set but unfortunately, they have not included it. Personally, for my ears, I don't think Parson's quad mix can be beaten it is by far the best way I have ever heard the album and not even Guthrie's 5.1 mix he did for the 30th Anniversary released on SACD is that clever either. I am so glad I only laid out 15 bucks on this thing and never shelled out as you did for the box set.
Bought this album when it came out ,saw them that night, the band said it was David's birthday , Saint Louis Kiel Auditorium Best concert l ever saw. It was a very good day. You sound like you would have enjoyed them, they were great!!!You would have enjoyed Nick Mason ,he was great.Not a fan of re do is a 1973 worth anything?
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion How about that rare bird never opened with that punch hole in the cover , l don't think it was supposed to be sold, it was a disc jockey promo , good album , l had two that's why l never opened it
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion l had the posters and cards back then but would you have saved them, back then albums were like baseball cards, l guess l have to have them looked at
Remastered Vinyls who have re-released after 10's are generally so bassy, I can barely listen high end, they lack dynamics, also fake digitized like artificial sound and they have extreme loudness. I haven't listened this album of Pink Floyd from vinyl but I have listened remastered editions of Greek Albums on vinyls. And also new releases on vinyl from Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish that sound doesn't differ from a digital file. So bassy and muddy sound, without dynamics, and so much loudness and distortion.
I just don’t understand the endless reissues and pressings. You would think at some point the customer would say ..I have that album… Who really needs to hear the great gig in the sky over and over? What are you getting out of the experience? I’ve never understood the 10 copies of dark side sgt peppers whatever There’s so much great music out there that you HAVEN’T heard how in the world do have the time to listen to dark side again?
The Box Set is not only packed in cardboard but most of the oversized box is packed inside with cardboard, much more than its contents.This is cash grab nothing new, Immersion and Chad previousily did the silver disc's and the 2016 digital little to improve on. Not sure why the listening of a concept album would start on side 2? Their history to that point was moving thru jam passages with time changes and rock and roll attacks, progressing continued with continuity to DS. The shows consisted of their stage almost dark with focus on the movie screen playing scenes that matched the music with the leading to time change attacks that digital has some trouble with. My 1st US press upon release was what we had and was great, 1st MOFI press years later improved some detail but softened the attacks, Then the 2003 30th cleaned up the US original with clear strong attacks the best I have, Immersion and Chads SACD along with the 2016 are similar clean what digital produced at the time. Your Pro and 1st UK would be nice but they could have done much better for one of the best albums in this century, something along the lines of MOFI's UHQR with Chad putting a set together with the complete Wembley show again only half a loaf, that would be worth the $300.00 with much less cardboard!
The original MoFi is not good and the Pro-Use isn't that great (it's EQ'd). The only versions to really own is a 1st UK Pressing A/2-B/3 (1st German Pressings are acceptable as well) or the 2003 Kevin Grey Cut. Searching out anything else is not worth your time.
yeah just completely disgusted with this release. I consider it disrespectful to the fans. I do not give a rats ars for digital i want an AAA vinyl LP.
My two best sounding copy's are the 1st UK A/2 B/2 and the 2003 30th Anniversary pressing.
Same here. I have an UK A3/B2 and a UK A3/B3 in mint…. Plus the 30th… definitely the best copies. The 1992 20th (also contained in the Shine on boxed set) is my favourite digital version.
@abefroman3466 🤔The 40th is digital and sounds harsh.
@abefroman3466 Kevin Gray & Doug Sax just used what was on the master tape, no compression. That's why it comes so close to the OG. And I have both to compare and my 1st pressing is NM.
@abefroman3466 The digital 40th is completely compressed 🤣🤣
I have the Harry T Moss cut vinyl from 1976 and it sounds better than the 30th anniversary edition which I also have. I’ve only ever played the 30th twice
Enjoyed the shoot out, I have a well played UK OG from early 74, but my fave is the 2003 30th Anniversary cut mastered by Kevin Gray and Doug Sax , I am led to believe this may have been the last time the analogue tapes where used since then I think its been digitally sourced.
You are correct… all AAA….
Maybe for the last time … if they couldn’t make the 50th analog…. Then when will they?….
Great shootout and glad to hear the thumbs up for 2016, which I recently purchased.
David... I have been scanning various forums (a couple of popular ones in particular) for hours today where people have simply inquired re the quality of the vinyl version of this album, only to be greeted by much chest thumping that someone has purchased the box set, how amazing the Atmos version and other digital formats sound, comparisons with other iterations, pictures of what appear to be sound levels etc. etc. and blah blah blah. The closest we came was to one post showing the matrix numbers and nothing else. I thought by September there might be something, but no until one post had a link to something on you tube and at the side was your shootout. I cannot thank you enough. It's perfect and all I needed. Thanks mate. David (yes, another one). Take care & have a great week.
Thanks for the feedback. I must admit when I did this it was right at the release time and I don’t recall seeing much else on the vinyl. Glad this helped you and please share the channel with anyone you know who might be helped by my videos. Cheers!
I appreciate all the info, I didn’t want to pay for the box set just to get the 50th anniversary of the album and from what I’ve been hearing its not really up to par so I’m glad I saved my money. Always appreciate your thoughts and input David.
Excellent video/review. Really enjoyed it. Also like the consistent praise across the VC for the 2016, since I own it 😂
Cool! 2003 is probably the last great audiophile processing. My Wally cut also sounds pretty great. I also love the quad.
Thanks for your review. I just have the MFSL version and the 2016 release. I love the MFSL version and the 2016 is almost as good, I was impressed. I'm not gonna get the 50th anniversary, thanks for the heads up! Great review!
Hi David, Thanks for posting. I have the 2016 Grundman reissue and I am quite happy with it and will not seek out another, unless the Mofi falls in my lap for a decent price. Regards.
I had thought that the 50th anniversary was a stereo downmix of the SACD, but after repeated listenings I don't think it is. My favorite version of Dark Side is the SACD because they went back to the original multitracks and used 1st generation tapes.
When I can't play that, I made a stereo downmix.
The drums are indeed much crisper because of the higher tape generation.
Thanks for this. I watched mainly to hear your thoughts about how the 2016 compared to all these pressings. I’m not an obsessive PF fan nor much of an audiophile so I think I’ll be fine just sticking with my 2016.
Hey Dave glad you got your Pink Floyd box set. I have the intermission box set of DSOFTM from 2016! Both sets are a big bang for your money! Take care and have fun playing the box!
I have the 40th anniversary one and an early UK copy, don't need any more i love them both.
I have the Harry T Moss cut from 1976 and I think it sounds better than the 30th anniversary. I have a sealed MOFI from 79. Can’t bring myself to open it
Thanks David I have two copies of the quad and 2003 and 2016 pressings sounds like I did well!
I am a big PF fan, but was on the fence about this because of the price. The book is cool, and if the record sounded good I would probably spring for it. Now I am going to buy the 2016 and a high res copy from HD Tracks and call it a day. Thanks for the honest review.
Great shot out ….. the whole vinyl reissue campaign from Floyd has generally been a success… as you point out great bang for your buck…really helps younger and new fans assemble a great collection of records….
I hope this 50th gets a separate release….but I’m lucky to have the 30th and the EMI century…
Hard to beat those two…
Hope you enjoy your box …
The 30th will beat the pants off the 50th.
Hey David✌🏻🎸, Your cutting knife mishap reference reminds me of when I worked for an antique shop. The owners motto:
"Skin grows back, wood don't"
"Skin grows back. A NM record won't"
Thanks for the comparison David👍🏻
The best philosophy when any object can contact mere PVC :)
Love your honesty I just cannot justify paying that much for this box set when the other previous box sets were much better in terms of value for money.
The previous box set had cheap components like CDs. This box has expensive materials and multiple vinyl records. Can’t compare apples with oranges
I am not surprised and thank you!!
I have in fact never heard a comparison like this. It seems detacher from the Music to be focused on a tone here and a drum there. This kind of detailing lead the mind to an autopsy rather than which pressning sounds the best. i thing this os an American way. Leaving out the passion and bringen in the doctor.
I can see how an analytical approach can give that impression. Suffice to say that the music presentation is a sum of all of the parts, and where the parts are distinctly lacking or omnipresent, that impacts ones intake and perception of the work IMO. Simply saying I prefer pressing X over Y without detailing why would make for a somewhat lame presentation. Immersion into the music, especially that of a known work such as this, provides a strong basis for noticing and noting those aspects which please or displease. Recalling that the first 4 letters of analysis and analog all begin with "anal" I guess my microfocus has some basis in the nature of the beast! I appreciate your perspective and hope I've lent a bit of perspective beyond my video presentation.
Such a good job David. Very well executed and informative. I didn’t get this anniversary edition and I sure won’t get it now. It is a bit of a slap in the face to all Pink Floyd fans IMO. $300 is just over the top. Thanks again. 👍🏻🍺🙏🏻
Thank you for putting the effort in doing this comparison! I wish you had access to the 2003 KG’s version. I agree with the other comments it does sound great, especially to me over the mofi I have, I don’t have the UK first pressing. Good videos as always!
I should have bought that 30th for $100 when I saw it last year sealed.. ugh!
Manythnx, this was a lot of fun
I compared my 2016 LP vs Apple Music’s (loseless) 50th remastered and side A sounded almost identical. Side B however, was a bit better on the right channel on the 50th. Wright’s electric piano was more noticeable, sounds fuller. But other than that I didn’t find enough difference to be curious about the newer vinyl cut. My 2016 does sound different to the OG US pressing but not to the 2023 remaster from Apple Music
The 50 live is really good it’s warm sounding . Versus the the us is a big difference!
Thanks for doing a shootout! When I first heard about the 50th Anniversary DSOTM, I debated whether or not I should pick it up. I'll stick with my 2016 pressing!
Glad I could help you save the grief!
After listening once again to my different copies. I like my quad, pro use, 30th and MoFi.
Just got a 30th!
I was lucky to catch this on a one day sale for $223 w/tax & shipping $255
Great review, I like my EMI. All my Japanese pressings are pretty darn good !!!! The 50th is a nice trophy. I wish I had room. Aloha
nice review have pro use mo -fi and japan 3rd press as well as various European pressings i agree - i also agree that BG did nice work on the 2016 remasters - they are mastered a little different - however still a nice listen thats true to the source
My dad bought the original on its release & its fantastic still
Welp, glad I did not bite on this 50th. The 2016 remains champion in my collection. GREAT plug for Vinyl Community Podcasts! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I added that plug after we talked. Realized it was a missed opportunity and since this got a lot of views :)
My Amazon copy is awesome! The best $23 remaster I have ever bought.
Most likely the 2016 remaster. Solid for the $$$
I have a tie between a uk 5th pressing with -10,-9 in the deadwax and the 30th anniversary DS, KG pressing
Got it yesterday, I am not opening it, this GEM is already worth triple of what I paid for it. I believe this clear LP could be up in the top 3 of all time .
I'd love to hear the quad version, and my stereo set has terminals for 4 speakers, but I know it's not really quad because I'd have to get a decoder or a certain stylus, etc., and it's JUST not worth the hassle.
Saved me some cash, thank you.
I don't own, nor have I heard the Pro-Use pressing of DSOTM, but I do own the Pro-Use pressing of Abbey Road. Just like DSOTM, the Pro-Use Abbey Road may not have used quite an early, perfect a tape source as the British OG, the absolute lack of noise floor on the Pro-Use vinyl makes for such a stunningly clear presentation, that I don't know if it matters.
It was a 30IPS 1:1 copy tape made for Japan from the original master tape. Hence, the lower noise floor. I like this edition as well, but if you get a quiet 1st UK - it beats it.
Compare the quad to the multichannel mix. The Atmos version on Apple Music may actually be the quad mix, since the center channel is not used, as it is not on the Animals 2018 SACD.
I listened to both the Atmos and stereo ALAC 24/48 Apple Music mixes on my home theater using an Apple TV 4K connected by HDMI to a Yamaha TSR700. They sound like two completely different recordings.
Which do you prefer both in soundstage and musical reproduction?
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion
Stereo. While properly done Atmos remixes sound great, I end up listening to the stereo mix.
I have a 7.1 setup with Bose 301 II speakers as my mains, sub is off for 2.0 music. Virtual height is on. The 301’s do a great job of creating a 3D soundstage. QSound mixed music sounds real good (love Sting’s Soul Cages, I have to give Amused to Death a full listening to)
Very few classic albums that did not get a quad mix benefit from Atmos remix. They sound like a droplet was used instead of someone taking the time to do a multichannel mix. DSOTM had a quad mix done in the 1970’s I’m not sure if that’s what is on the set you have, and the Apple Music version. It does sound very different than the stereo mix. The voices on Speak to Me swirl around you.
I will say the Giles Martin Beatles Atmos mixes do sound good, but I end up listening to the stereo mixes. I will listen to Let it Be occasionally with Atmos turned on. It has the feel of being in the middle of the band.
Well, the original 2016 remaster was pressed by Record Industry, but was repressed in 2022 by GZ Media. I like the GZ Media version the best. Both pressings were the same being cut by Bernie Grundman and the metal master made by RTI. I think that I prefer the 2022 pressing. Everybody has defects, but the bubbles in the vinyl may be a sign of recycled vinyl usage. This new 2023 version is an entirely different master and probably pressed by Optimal Media.
I do really like my SQ quad LP version, played back in stereo or quad. With the later multi-channel SACD's and DVD/Blu-rays, you can hear what the SQ quad version wa supposed to sound like. There was also the Q8 version which was the only discrete 4-channel version at the time, but then you had to put up with the tape hiss.
I understand where you are coming from, about listening to the drums. As a drummer, you realize than the drummer sets the beat and tempo of the recordings, being important to be able to hear them clearly. In the words of the famous and prolific drummer, Hal Blaine, "the drummer IS God"!
I have the Toshiba pro used series when I compared it to the mobile fidelity press I had the Toshiba was much superior what is your opinion of the quad versus the Toshiba I was talking to Patrick and he said that that was a very good sounding pressing do you think it's worth my while getting it is it superior to the Toshiba or just different
My Quad is German copy from 1978, not the Toshiba-EMI quad from 1974 which probably sounds better as it is way pricier on Discogs (nearly $400).
The 30th anniversary is great. It’s my only copy. ☮️
It’s a keeper!!!
Thanks for the detailed review David, hard to say what the heck they did on this new 50th. My first red flag was when you mentioned the recessed "change" sound on Money. From what I gather the DSOTM tapes are fine so probably not a tape drop out. Maybe they rolled the sound off too much since you describe the sound as more indistinct. All of the detail loss sure makes me think so. Mushy bass drum, undefined sax..yeah, not good. Bummer. I had no intentions of buying this as I have the 30th and the UK A2/B3 and A2/B2. But it would have been nice if this 50th had at least matched Bernies 2016.
Is your US original a Wally? I think he was the mastering engineer on one of the US reissued back then.
Thanks again David for your hard work on these listening comparisons👍🏻
Yes OG is Wally
When I heard how much you paid for the box I was "lucky son...", best I saw it was $269 which was out of my budget still.
Now, that I hear what you think of it, I'm glad I didn't take the plunge. A little sad as this album is quite dear to me since it was the first album I ever got (I was 8).
And I agree with you the 2016 version is pretty good even if it's digitally sourced. (I have nearly all of the series and they all sound great) and make this album affordable.
The 30th anniversary, I only have the SACD, but I was quite amazed at the time that playing it back to back with my original LP (not an OG press mind you since I got it in 1980) how similar they sounded.
The SACD had the benefits of not having been used and abused for 20 years at the time, but the dynamics were so close, I can only imagine how that 30th anniversary sounds on vinyl. And as some people mentioned in the comments it was the last time they used the tapes so that might explain it.
Michael 45 said that he cannot see this 50th anniversary pressing not being released as a stand alone so we'll see what comes out of it. In that case, one could buy the 2 albums and the book separately and have nearly the box without the hefty price tag. But yet again, if that pressing doesn't sound great I think I'll pass.
the walmart here has that 2023 version in,they had a previous version of DSOTM too,i bet that was the 2016 version!
Maybe my swap will be with the new 2022 pressing by Optimal vs 2016 by GZ
Great Video
Well heck. Now I have to go try to find a copy of the Toshiba/EMI. 😄
Wish there was a pressing without the darn alarm clock ringing at the start of 'money'. L
I agree the EMI is the best pressing. I believe it was done from the original analog tape. (?)
I get what you were saying about the sound being "smooth" on the 50th anniversary, I think of it as if the music has lost some "energy".
I think this 50th and the now separate 50th of DSOTM by itself is just kind of a sad money grab.
What I would like to see is a UHQR release, THAT would be something.
Money has tape flutter during the sax solo on the 1988 MFSL on the CD release.
That sux!
It sounds like they really stuffed this up!
Even the concert record is ridiculously edited.
I recently did a comparison of DSOTM. I only had four pressings to compare. Below is what my son and I thought.
1. 1st edition Japanese pressing.
2. 2016 remaster pressing.
3. Pro-Use, 4th edition Japanese pressing.
4. 1980's UK pressing.
I was very impressed with the first two, especially the Japanese 1st edition.
I was expecting a lot more from the Pro-Use, but the high frequencies were too high, in my opinion, to the point that I couldn't listen to it.
The UK 1980's pressing is the first copy I bought as a teenager, and I always thought that the sound quality was good, but it sounded muffled compared to the first two.
I will have to see if I can get the original UK and Irish pressings. I have heard good reviews of those.
I have a ProUse first press and I don’t find it that bright, but every system and set of ears vary…
should I wait 50th years edition single vinyl sales or should I buy 2016 edition which version do you prefere or suggest more?
I would simply go with the 2016 (they haven’t even stated the 50th will come out a single LP, have they?).
I’ve been away from vinyl for decades after buying the Mission CD player back in the 80’s as I was feed up with poor pressings and quality control, we are certainly getting back to the bad old days, nearly every LP has surface noise somewhere and go back for another copy.
PF Animals I gave up in the end as so bad!
I see you have another DSOTM on the rack behind you as well 😱
In certain ways, the 50th anniversary release should have just been the live at Wembley vinyl .
The book can be bought separately as well as the Live record.
Yes it’s this 50th DSOTM that isn’t available separately. Given my experience, I can see why :) :(
Yes you can buy the desirable bits without an inferior DSOTM pressing. I rightly predicted this outcome and avoided the pricey box, but did expect it to beat the 2016!
I have the A2/B2 UK first pressing. The 50th anniversary sounds like the mids are boosted relative to the A2/B2, or has less of a smiley curve. Great Gig had the bass way down and it sounded muddy on the 50th, like a pillow over the speaker. I only compared side 1 on both. My 50th copy did not have defects. Lol I’m typing this while viewing before knowing your opinion, and you came to the same conclusion! Edit - we also agreed that the 50th has a certain harshness overall, and it’s grating and not a pleasant listen. I won’t be playing it again. Actually I thought it sounded a lot like the SACD version I have, which I don’t like, either. UK first press all the way.
Hi Vivian! It was the 2016 with the defects not the 50th. Thanks for the feedback on the 50th as well. Seems you have a similar impression. Really disappointing… Happy freakin’ anniversary :(
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion Try the 30th anniversary. I think it is great and beats the 2016
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion oh ok on the 2016 version with the defect. I need to stop tying my replies during the video and pay more attention! My husband and I listened to both the OG a2/b2 and the 50th last night, and we both agree with your assessment 100%. We both were looking at each other like, “Are you hearing what I’m hearing !?” Yeah we didn’t like the EQ on the 50th
@@juliosanchez95 I passed on a 30th last year for $100 and am kicking myself!
I've got umpteen pressings of this album, including the UK Harvest -3 both sides, not sure if -2/-3 is any better, also the MFSL vinyl and CD, 2011 pressing, 30th anniversary LP, and a few more. I've never thought this recording was that great, to me it sounds veiled in many ways, an overly warm presentation. I've played this album since it came out on many systems and heard it so many times I've lost count. It's a good recording IMO, just doesn't live up to hype it gets from audiophiles.
I’d wonder what you would think of the Toshiba-EMI Pro-Use as it has no veiled sound IMHO….
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion I'd like to hear it. The Japanese pressings (of various titles) I have are on the "leaner" side of neutral when compared to the same pressing from the USA or UK so I wouldn't doubt that the Pro-Use would follow that model.
I love my first press mofi copy much more than my pro-use. The pro-use is way too bright for my liking. The guitar solo in Time has me actually wincing in pain. For what its worth, the German first press, non-quad is supposed to be very good. Have not heard it myself. I will not be buying the 50th anniversary box set. But I have ordered the live at Wembly 74 album that came out on the same day as the box set. Eagerly awaiting that in the mail.
Cheers.
Cheers! If the pro-use had you wincing in pain, the clocks in Time on the 50th would send you to the dog shed! :)
Fun Shootout !! Even a DSOTM Pink Floyd Casette sounds better than other Casettes! The UK A10 - A12 UK Pressings usally with Posters and Sticker - the edge of the Vinyl is thin and could be described as dangerous Razor Sharp, not much, vinyl best avoid ! The UK Originals A2 B2 (and 2-3 Variant) Questions Pop Up ..Cost...Are The Posters and Stickers Correct..Has somebody put their name on the Light Blue Triangle...Is the cover more blue than black ?? To hear this Sound Effects Album the UK A3 B3 was not very pricy and never has the Poster or Stickers. So a UK A3 B3 and the 2016 Reissue the one you mentioned with the Poster and Sticker sounds like a good deal ! This is a common Album so The Masses (Collectors) must have multiple copies ! Sold Millions !! 50th DSOTM It should have came with a "Build Your Own Wembley 74 Stage with the band members" Di-cutout Book ! Genesis did it with the 2007 Stage but the Booklet (From Borders Book Shop) cost £30. Some of ELO Out Of The Blue had build your own Spaceship (This form of Transport was not popular in 1978 ) and was Free !!
Love the reminder on the ELO spaceship :) just got an OG Blue Vinyl copy of Out of the BLUE :)
I think that the vinyl suffers because the mix seems to have been done for digital. It also is very difficult because we have heard the older mix so much and so often.
True and true
Too many people whine about this 50th. As most things in life, no one is forced to buy it. I bought it because it is 50th Anniversary. It will stay sealed. I have 1 from 2016 Sealed and 2 Canadian 1978 Copies. I play those. I would love to get my hands on a Quadraphonic but people have them way overpriced.
The German Quad isn’t too outrageous vs Japan and others..
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion I will seek out German and check it out. I wont do Japan for anything as I heard many Japanese releases lack bottom end
@@DarkSideOfThePepper most do, the Toshiba EMI Pro-Use Series are an exception to that though….
You need the 30th Anniversary by Doug Sax all analogue
I got it last week! Haven’t had time to listen yet, but I expect a mega bass experience.
Thanks for the review David! Curious you mentioned A2/B3 as the definitive pressing, wasn’t it A2/B2?
I’ve heard both names as “best of” with A2/B2 possibly named more often.
I prefer the second issue A3/B3,perfect sound 🎶
@@pinkfloyd.appreciation Yes I have a friend that swears by the A3/B3. Claims its essentially indistinguishable from A2/B2
I am so glad I was not the only one who was not impressed by the new mix and I am going by the surround mix on the Standalone Blu-ray that was released last Friday. I have not played the stereo mix on there yet but having watched this I can only presume it will have the same problem. The impression I got with this mix is that Guthrie tried to clean it up as he did with his mix of Animals though I will say he was way more successful with Animals because it still had good lows and highs. This new mix of DSOM is all mids and at times it does sound harsh and it's as if he's used too much compression on the mids. To be honest, some of the parts are brought out more clearly but other parts are just not right at all.
I was also hoping that Alan Parson's Quad mix would be included on the Blu-ray so I could sell my Immersion box set but unfortunately, they have not included it. Personally, for my ears, I don't think Parson's quad mix can be beaten it is by far the best way I have ever heard the album and not even Guthrie's 5.1 mix he did for the 30th Anniversary released on SACD is that clever either. I am so glad I only laid out 15 bucks on this thing and never shelled out as you did for the box set.
Parsons mixed DSOTM as quad from the start! I love my the German SQ.
Bought this album when it came out ,saw them that night, the band said it was David's birthday , Saint Louis Kiel Auditorium Best concert l ever saw. It was a very good day. You sound like you would have enjoyed them, they were great!!!You would have enjoyed Nick Mason ,he was great.Not a fan of re do is a 1973 worth anything?
A 1973 is great condition can be worth something especially with poster and cards. US pressings typically aren’t worth as much as foreign pressings.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion How about that rare bird never opened with that punch hole in the cover , l don't think it was supposed to be sold, it was a disc jockey promo , good album , l had two that's why l never opened it
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion l had the posters and cards back then but would you have saved them, back then albums were like baseball cards, l guess l have to have them looked at
50 years old and your asking good condition, hehe it's in better condition than a lot of 50 years olds , but played oh yeah, played
It's fine, they are worth gold in memories to me
I didn’t care for the 50th much at all, my go to is my 1973 Capitol Wally Pressing 😎🤘
Remastered Vinyls who have re-released after 10's are generally so bassy, I can barely listen high end, they lack dynamics, also fake digitized like artificial sound and they have extreme loudness. I haven't listened this album of Pink Floyd from vinyl but I have listened remastered editions of Greek Albums on vinyls. And also new releases on vinyl from Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish that sound doesn't differ from a digital file. So bassy and muddy sound, without dynamics, and so much loudness and distortion.
I just don’t understand the endless reissues and pressings. You would think at some point the customer would say ..I have that album…
Who really needs to hear the great gig in the sky over and over?
What are you getting out of the experience?
I’ve never understood the 10 copies of dark side sgt peppers whatever
There’s so much great music out there that you HAVEN’T heard how in the world do have the time to listen to dark side again?
The real question is where did you buy this box set for $241?
I believe I mentioned it was Popmarket (.com). They offered an early bird discount and I had a discount code from previous purchases.
The Box Set is not only packed in cardboard but most of the oversized box is packed inside with cardboard, much more than its contents.This is cash grab nothing new, Immersion and Chad previousily did the silver disc's and the 2016 digital little to improve on. Not sure why the listening of a concept album would start on side 2? Their history to that point was moving thru jam passages with time changes and rock and roll attacks, progressing continued with continuity to DS. The shows consisted of their stage almost dark with focus on the movie screen playing scenes that matched the music with the leading to time change attacks that digital has some trouble with. My 1st US press upon release was what we had and was great, 1st MOFI press years later improved some detail but softened the attacks, Then the 2003 30th cleaned up the US original with clear strong attacks the best I have, Immersion and Chads SACD along with the 2016 are similar clean what digital produced at the time. Your Pro and 1st UK would be nice but they could have done much better for one of the best albums in this century, something along the lines of MOFI's UHQR with Chad putting a set together with the complete Wembley show again only half a loaf, that would be worth the $300.00 with much less cardboard!
My 2 best copies of DSOTM are the original UK 1973 and Roger Waters Redux. I also have the MOFI and this is a waste of money.
Most people our age can't hear much above 6 or 7 kHz, mate
Well I get tested every year and still can hear past 14khz so I’m just one lucky dude!
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion and you were a DRUMMER??? 🤯
The original MoFi is not good and the Pro-Use isn't that great (it's EQ'd). The only versions to really own is a 1st UK Pressing A/2-B/3 (1st German Pressings are acceptable as well) or the 2003 Kevin Grey Cut. Searching out anything else is not worth your time.
Follow my reviews David I think you’ll like them cheers Born in 57!
Cheers and I will check out your channel!! Good luck…
yeah just completely disgusted with this release. I consider it disrespectful to the fans. I do not give a rats ars for digital i want an AAA vinyl LP.
I did not like this version.
Warm to the point of muddy.
Agree, very disappointed
The B roll stuff is annoying and distracting.
Why did the flogs change the cover art ? So Unnecessary. Should be a felony.