New music, remastered cds

[fuzeman]

Remembered I was going to ask this but was too busy or forgot when I was online. The reissue of The Rolling Stones 'Sticky Fingers' had me wondering.

When a cd gets reissued and comes out in a remastered format is it really beneficial to get that version? Does it just work better with surround sound for example or does it get the latest wizz bang digital enhancements that music can get now days?
I guess a true audiophile would still want vinyl as its the true representation of the actual music opposed to a digital sampling which you get on a cd.

Do you really notice a sound difference when playing a remastered version opposed the the original cd version?

I also note the point will probably be lost on me as the last link in the 'listening to music' chain isn't too good on my end. Holes in both eardrums.
Despite the holes, there is no NEED TO SHOUT in your replies. 

[RTHolmes]

you should be able to easily tell the difference, and yes get the remastered version (unless its known to be badly done.)

things have moved on alot since CDs were introduced so whether its better ADCs to master from analogue tape or improved resampling to master from digi tape the quality should be better. more importantly the original CD releases were just a straight conversion from the stereo masters created for vinyl, remastered for CD means the master should have been designed for CD reproduction.

the only CD i have both original and remastered versions is Peter Gabriel's So and on decent gear its pretty obvious which is which. I've also listened to some of the multitrack master for tracks from this album which was pretty cool

[Soulyss]

Holmes here pretty much summed it up, I think the best answer is "it depends".  A lot of early CD releases sounded really bad but ultimately it probably comes down to how good the original master tapes were and how good of a job they did doing the re-mastering and production of the new disc. 

I still think even a modest $400-$500 turntable on a decent system will sound better than a CD player of similar cost. 

[morfiend]

Fuzeman,

 IMHO it all comes down to your ears,if they're good and the system used is good the differences will be quite noticable.

 However if either your ears or you equipment isnt up to snuff,most won't notice the differences,except as Holmes has said the quality of the mastertape can greatly effect what you hear.

 To me most CD's just dont sound as nice as vinyl but I think that has alot to do with the digital/analog converter used in the CD player.I have 2,one is a DVD/CD player with a 10bit converter and the other a high end NAD CD player with a 24bit converter.

 The sound differences between the 2 is very noticable so I removed the DVD/CD player from my system and only use it to play back video!

  I agree with Soulyss about the turntable,I also hear vinyl is making a comeback so dont be surprized to see rereleases of some CD's on vinyl. Best get your turntable now before the prices skyrocket!

          

[Soulyss]

By most accounts this is a great budget/starter deck.  It also benefits from having a pre-mounted cartridge included.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Turntables-Debut-III-Basic-Black?sc=2&category=46

Also keep in mind that a lot of modern AVR/Receivers don't have a phono stage in them in which case you would need a phono preamp to boost the signal coming out of the cartridge up to a level where the receivers preamp stage would be comfortable.

[morfiend]

Soulyss thx for that link,they have thorens TT available there!


 I've been looking for a Thorens for some time now,passed on 1 awhile back that I could have gotten for under $100 at an auction.I didnt want all the rest of the equipment that came with the thorens and offered $75 to the person for just the thorens but they wanted the complete system,had I'd known at the time I would have offered what he paid for the whole thing just for the TT.          Oh well live and learn.

   

[68ZooM]

i like CD's for the when I'm traveling around, but for great sound i like playing my vinyl,.... funny story thou, back in the mid 80's when Cd's first came out my Parents wanted a rack audio system for there house, and i was really into good sounding home stereos, they liked my system and wanted something like it, after telling them how much mine was they decided something similar to mine was to much money lol they mentioned Pioneer and Kenwood (which are great systems) but i had a Friend who was a Pilot for NW Airlines who flew oversea's alot and he was telling me about a Manufacture called Akai, He brought me some info in the stereo, He told me if my parents wanted it he would buy it next time he was in Tokyo, Well i talked them into it, the price was just over $800 Dolllars ( this was about 1984)

Parents got it and just loved it, they hardly ever used it but at that time im sure they were feeling real Techie  lol, when my parents passed away they left me there Akai, the thing is still like brand new and i love playing Vinyl on the turntable, the system has 400 watts per channel, EQ, Preamp, Amp, Tuner, Cassette and single Cd player, and most important the Turntable, its cool to hear such quality out of a 25+ year old system

[Soulyss]

Soulyss thx for that link,they have thorens TT available there!


 I've been looking for a Thorens for some time now,passed on 1 awhile back that I could have gotten for under $100 at an auction.I didnt want all the rest of the equipment that came with the thorens and offered $75 to the person for just the thorens but they wanted the complete system,had I'd known at the time I would have offered what he paid for the whole thing just for the TT.          Oh well live and learn.

   

That is a dangerous, dangerous website to visit.  Thorens is still alive and kicking, I haven't had much hands on experience with them but know them by reputation.  I have the entry level Music Hall (2.2) turntable which I'm enjoying quite a bit till I can save up for a better one.   I think conventional wisdom would be that unless you're looking to spend some dough I would focus my attention on belt driven turntables (most are, unless you start looking at DJ decks).  IMHO the benefits of direct drive tables don't outweigh the potential problems of directly coupling the motor to the plater.

Don't knock 20-30 year old Audio equipment, some of it is better than the stuff you get these days.