How does The Dark Side Of The Moon 50th Anniversary stack up against its 2011 release?
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- Опубликовано: 1 май 2024
- A friend was kind enough to get me a copy of this 50th Anniversary Collectors edition. I compared it to my 2011 pressing and was amazed at the results. Come join me for a Dark Side discussion!
Where I get my Hi-Res audio files
hdtracks.com
Where I buy my new vinyl records (online) Great Service!
theingroove.com
/ @theingroove
My current 2 channel Hi-Fi system
Digital Source - Dell XPS Tower, Windows 11
DAC - Denafrips Ares II/ENYO
Integrated Amp - Rotel A11 Tribute
Analog Source - Audio-Technica LP120-USB
- Upgraded cartridge - AT-VM95ML
Phono Preamp - Pro-Ject Tube Box S2
- Upgraded tubes to Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube
I appreciate re-releases because not every collector is born the same year. I never had the opportunity to buy the original or the 30th-anniversary edition; therefore, I am happy to have the 50th-anniversary edition, which is still affordable. In 50 years, people will be happy to find the 100th-anniversary edition in their stores at a reasonable price. Only the audiophile sound, close to the analog master tape and as intended by the original artist, should matter, not the question of multiple re-releases.
I bought the blu ray audio version and love it.
All you need to do now my friend is to get yourself a turntable and Cartridge combination and you'll be blown away.
I've only ever owned the 1973 issue. I bought 5 copies of this new one. I'm looking forward to hearing it. I'm in the process of buying a new system so I can wait. I'm 69 and remember going to see PF live on the 73 DSOTM tour. It was life changing. I just couldn't help myself when this new pressing hit. Thanks for the review. You made my day.😊
Hey Jim! Thanks for the kind words! Enjoy listening to this on the new system!
Hope you have a blast
Received mine this week, looking forward to giving it a spin, especially now that I’ve watched your review. 😊 Thanks!
Thanks for the comment Bill. Enjoy the ride!!
I have the 2016 , nice deck , nice cart , job done .
I had to get it , I love it.
I have the 1973 version and the 2016 versions... tempted to get the 2023 version.
The 50th is so much full of life as you say and zero surface noise on my pressing, i love the MFSL version but this is in the same league to my ears
The lack of surface noise won't last long.
Very useful review, I have this version and a 30th anniversery (UK) version and it stacks up very well, you are dead right about how quiet the 50th is, and it just happens to look very cool indeed...an absolute must for any Floyd fan.
Thanks for the comment! Great to hear that others feel this version stands up.
Hello
After listening to the 2011 copy, I used it for the sleeve.
🤣
I didn't know the 2011 was meh. I hear the 2016 is a great sounding pressing. I guess i'll find out as I just popped an order for one just in case they stop making them. Good vid and that's a cool looking clear vinyl set !
My 50th anniversary clear copy is not super quiet as you describe yours here, mine has pops and clicks on many places, not nice for a brand new album, but that's what happens nowadays, you're lucky to have a quiet copy.
Thanks for the review. In my room, my 50th (Black) outperforms my 2016 and US OG I was a bit skeptical to buy it because of the mixed reviews but I finally did it last week and can't be happier. I'll spend some time next week to compare it against my 70s UK.
Thanks for the comment! I haven't heard the 2016 but hear its pretty good. Enjoy the UK comparison!
Please let us know how these two disks compare. I still have my 1970's pressing that I bought in Canada. I think that the records in Canada were the same as what was issued in the USA.
Just finished comparing.
My UK Stereo copy is a 1970s cut by HTM (Harry Moss). It draws imaging very easy despite a bit of channel imbalance issue in it which is still forgiven and easily addressed with the balance knob in the amp. Bass sounds punchy, but clean and highs are a bit more boosted but clean too. Vocals sound very present in both (Better than on the 2016) but the 50th gives them a sort of modernized tone (And a good one).
For many, a cut like the UK stereo may be perceived as a more "Airy" or "Open" sounding, though both the HTM and the 50th carry the exact same soundstage and the latter draws imaging perfectly, in some moments actually way better but some others not as much. Same with instrument or track sounding. In some moments the "Airyness" of the HTM brings certain sounds better but some other moments it is the 50th which will bring a smile of joy.
I will put it this way. I no longer listen to this album that much after a crazy amount of listens over the last 3 decades. I am so familiar with my favorite pressings that I no longer get that excited to spin them.... except for this 50th. I liked it so much that it has been in heavy rotation since I bought it. It brought back the joy and excitement of active listening to its entirety with my eyes closed. It is a new and different flavor. Like a modernized remaster (EQ, Gain, Compression etc) which isn't missing a single piece of recording detail in it despite its new layer of warmth tube like sound. For example during "Breath", the rhythm cymbals don't sound as loud, but they sound so full despite being laid back that you can notice the tail of their sound and how Nick Mason was hitting them in different areas. Or some reverb in cymbals in moments of "Any Colour You Like", or that the bass sounds punchy, clean and uniform all across the album, and in "Us and Them" you can tell Roger Waters was strumming the bass with a pick during the verse, just to cite a few.
@@rwlewko just did, on a separate comment. The Canadian is the only pressing I've never had and for a long time I thought the same (Maybe same as US) until I watched a vinyl rip here in YT and noticed the bass and highs better like in the UK (Unless who did the rip added EQ).
@@marianochvro Thank you very much for responding. Sounds like this 50th pressing is one I need to get!!!
I traded in my 2011 copy to get the 50th. It sounds sooooooooooooo much better
Awesome!! Thanks!
As R Stevie Moore says on one of his releases “who keeps buying Dark Side of the Moon?”
Should compare the 30th Anniv vs 50th. ;)
I have the 2016 Reissue, Remastered version and the 2023 Reissue, Remastered, 50th Anniversary version. The 2016 is meh - just sounds dead. The 2023 sounds very good. I'm still on the lookout for a 1973 version.
How can you tell if you have the 2011 copy. Thank you for the review. I appreciate your efforts.
Thanks for the comment Steve. I usually have to put my detective hat on and look at the deadwax, barcode numbers, year of release, etc. I'll plug that into discogs and hunt until I find the match. Looking at the label images helps a lot as well. Here is the info on my 2011 release.
www.discogs.com/release/3128042-Pink-Floyd-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon
I have 2 copies, sealed. After hearing the SACD 5.1 version, that's not easy to beat. I haven't decided whether to open one of the 50th aniversary copies or not.
Thanks for the comment! I have listened to the Beatles 50th Anniversary sets that came with the 5.1 Blue-ray files. Pretty cool! I'm sure Dark Side sounds incredible.
@@TheModestAudiophile-oq2hy DO NOT open . These vinyls aren't good at all ! Lots of garbage, muffled sound. I recommend (Blu-Ray AUDIO 2023 Dolby Atmos & Remaster). You can buy it cheaply and you have a full high fly.
I have the 2016 version of DSOTM. Very happy with it, and have many reviews that favor this one over the 50th.
Thanks for the comment! Interesting. I think there may be some similarities with the 2016 copy from a mastering perspective. I believe a friend of mine has that version as well. Now I want to compare the 2016 to the 50th.
@@TheModestAudiophile-oq2hy Everyone's ears and audio equipment are different. I actually sold my MFSL DSOTM 1981 copy last year. I never really thought it was all that great. Seemed kind of flat sounding to my ears. Now I'd like to hear the 50th!
I must get out my 1980's Direct to disc copy and play it again one day.. and my Abbey road, and Born to Run, and Breakfast In America direct to disc and play them again too.... No I wont, my turntable ain't up to scratch anymore.
This is mastered from a digital source. Have you compared it to the blu ray in hi res. And don’t you think that a vinyl copy from the 70’s would sound better being pre digital?
Thanks for the comment. I have not compared it to anything but what I currently have which is the 2011 vinyl release as well as the 2011 MP3 that came with it. In general terms I would say that an original copy (all analog) would be better. However the vinyl being used could be bad (too much surface noise), it could have been pressed with tired stampers or maybe the mastering wasn't that great. Finding a great soundstage and imaging is what makes this hobby so much fun. Albeit on a modest budget of course. 🙂
From a "I couldn't care less how it sounds" point of view, I'm still waiting for the $5,000,000.00 box set that includes Roger Waters coming to your house to perform one song. Not that it matters, and who even cares, but I've stuck with my original 1973 pressing which I've played maybe 1,000,000 times, I lost count in 1984, and am quite frankly sick of it. Lovely video, by the way.
Very true and yes a person needs to be satisfied with what they have but…..we always strive for perfection and something better. I have an OG copy from my teens (I’m 63) but I did purchase a remastered copy two yrs ago. Better packaging and yes leaps ahead in sound. If you own above average audio equipment as I do it will make a huge impact on your listening experience.
2016 & 2023 are the best versions imho.
I would imagine that the carbon black that makes it record black, makes the vinyl stiffer.
Where is your copy been pressed, any idea? Thanks for your review!
Thanks for the comment! Here is the URL to the Discogs description that I have. Looks like it was pressed at "Record Industry". This is probably more info than you wanted but here you go. Enjoy!
"Dutch vinyl pressing plant established in June 1998 after operations of Sony/CBS, Haarlem were taken over by Ton Vermeulen and Marcel Nothdurft of Moxmusic (the latter later replaced as shareholder by Vermeulen's spouse Mieke).
With 33 presses, Record Industry became one of the largest vinyl pressing plants in the world (capacity: 40,000 to 50,000 records per day). It is a full-service provider with in-house cutting, galvanoplasty and printing departments. In April 2022 the company merged with distributor Bertus forming a new Bertus Holding. At the same time 30 brand new vinyl presses were acquired with the aim of doubling the capacity, up to 25 million records per year.
When the plant was taken over from Sony Music Entertainment it was agreed Record Industry would remain manufacturer of Sony product on vinyl. When the EMI Records plant closed in 2000, a similar deal was struck. Furthermore there are exclusive deals in Europe with Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. Record Industry also presses all Music On Vinyl releases, a label it operates together with Bertus."
www.discogs.com/release/30443351-Pink-Floyd-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon
@@TheModestAudiophile-oq2hy Yes, have seen that info as well. Do you see BG on dead wax? If yes, then they may have used same mastering from earlier box and single black vinyl 2023 release, however still confusing. On discogs it says: Reissue, Remastered, Repress - Mastered By - Bernie Grundman, James Guthrie, Joel Plante. From 2011 - Mastered At - The Mastering Lab. From 2016 - Remastered By - Bernie Grundman, James Guthrie, Joel Plante. From 2023 - Remastered By - Bernie Grundman, James Guthrie, Joel Plante. So, the fact that 2011 is differ from this one make sense as it was remastered at BG studio instead using same mastering from The Mastering Lab. But, if 2016 and 2023 are from BG, how come they sounds differ? Did they Remaster own 2016 Remaster? Thats why I was wonder about pressing plant, which often has some differences, while mastering and cut are the same. Whichever way, still confused🙂 Cheers!
@@jabensergei I'm with you in that this can get very confusing very quickly. I think that the 2016 and the 50th are sourced from the same digital file but perhaps the lacquer being cut was different for the 50th. I'm sure there are DSOTM experts that can fill in the blanks far better than I. I'm just happy that the 50th sounds sooooo much better than my 2011 copy.
@TheModestAudiophile-oq2hy The earlier 2023 50th Anniversary release single black vinyl mastering is the same as this one. Both variant should be released at the same time, but probably simply delayed. I own 2011 Wish You Were Here and same story, its just mhe and mastered by same guy Guthrie who is also seen on the line with BG and Joel Plante. Thats why I asked you to check dead wax and see if there BG stamped. If not, this may mean that Guthrie did the mastering and Bernie just may supervise and then cut the lacquer. I found a very usefull review on RUclips channel >Top 5 Records< where the nice young fella ranked 10 differ DSOTM pressings. Of course, this is his own opinion, however some of his rankings I have seen from others too and non ranked 50th Anniversary on top and thats very frustrating.
On the other hand, you found this release been much, much better than 2011 so I wonder how warm / mellow 50th Ann sounds compared to 2011. According you, it has better punch and clarity, right? I love the look of this clarity double set, really nice looking, but if I have to pay EUR 90 here local I want to be sure its worth not the look only.
Regarding the pressing plant. I believe its International release that been pressed in The Netherlands only for worldwide sale, at least this run. Its already on discogs, got the info from there.
Well, dont want to bugger your channel any longer, will search bit more and see by then. Thanks again!
How many times has this album
Been remastered and reissued
Too many times. It;s a cash cow for the record company, that's all.
Too many times. With that said, I'm glad I found a better version than my 2011 release.
It's just being milked now.
I can’t go with Roger Waters’ DSOTM.
bro cant tell if he likes the vinyl or not without measuring all that tf lol
Wonder how it sounds compared to the 2016, cut by Bernie Grundman... 🤔
Hopefully they press more of the clear ones, as they're sold out everywhere.. Kind of wish I would've grabbed one, just for shitz & giggles. 👍
Cool but they can keep it for $60.
'Footsteps were much more realistic and holographic'. Realistic sounds authentic, holographic sounds like a tacky special effect
When you have an OG copy, you don't need any other copy. Record companies only re-release LPs because they know the gullible will buy them.
What should do someone who doesn't have an OG copy?
Thanks for the comment. I along with many others, I presume, don't have an OG copy to make the comparison. All I can say is that this 50th is far superior to the 2011 copy.
That’s a very snobby .. narrow minded thing to say …..
Man the 2011 sucked soooooooook bad the 50th is so much better
That's only a "recent" thing. When records were pretty much the only medium to listen to music, there were few re issues, unless the particular record needed stock replenishment. It's only now that record companies are milking the market, expecting those of us that are retired or nearing retirement to have more expendable cash or millennials who see it as a trend to buy records, further pushing up prices.
Boring