Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses (Deluxe Edition)

[elrod-tom]

This is the newly available CD packaged with DVD/DVD-A. I bought one, because I'm SUCH a whore for hi-rez that I just couldn't resist.

Now I should say that I thought that the original album was very nicely recorded and produced on CD. As CD's go, it's one of the better ones...so the bar for incremental improvement was set pretty high at the start.

That said, I've found that a well-done hi-rez (in this case PCM 24/96) really opens up the room, so to speak. The extra dynamic range makes all that nasty compression that goes on today a largely moot point - quieter spots are quieter, and louder passages jump out at you. There's also a smoothing of rough edges that takes place, and you hear things that simply didn't seem to be there before.

I'm fortunate...I've got a rig where I can pull down in 24/96 format, and upsample from there at 24/192. That means less error correcting, less interpolating, and more richness to the music.

At any rate, the long and short of this is as follows: This is one of those special edition releases that really is made special by the hi-rez disc that comes with. I can't recommend it strongly enough!!

I'll post some more detailed impressions later, along with some specific examples of how the hi-rez portion really sets itself apart.

 

[virometal]

Just a fyi in case some aren't aware. The imports are 5.1 SACD hybrids plus the DVD...

 

[soundboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by virometal Just a fyi in case some aren't aware. The imports are 5.1 SACD hybrids plus the DVD...

Depeche Mode: Music For The Masses on SACD

 

[virometal]

Oops, also the DVD with the import is PAL. So you get an SACD hybrid, but if your player isn't PAL compatible, no DTS, no videos for you!

 

[elrod-tom]

As mentioned above, my DAC will read the PCM stuff...but not SACD (that goes out the analog ports of my player), so I prefer the DVD-A stuff. But, to each is own. It's not a DualDisc, which so many folks seem to dispise around here.

 

[markl]

Hi elrod-tom, I can't wait to get my hands on these. They were remastered by Simon Heyworth, is that correct? One of the only reliable UK mastering engineers working.

 

[virometal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elrod-tom A so I prefer the DVD-A stuff.

Nothing wrong with that. As someone who was burned from this before with Playing the Angel, I thought it prudent to inform members interested in the SACD's, that they are by import (UK?) only. The U.S. versions are redbook with the DVD which has the awesome DTS Mix.

Look forward to the more in depth impressions. Out of the re-releases, I think Speak & Spell gained the most - Violator the least. All of them are a treat in surround.

 

[elrod-tom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by markl Hi elrod-tom, I can't wait to get my hands on these. They were remastered by Simon Heyworth, is that correct? One of the only reliable UK mastering engineers working.

I believe that's correct...I don't have it handy to check, but I think that's right. They really did a nice job with the hi-rez remix. I've not had a chance to compare the CD version, though I will do so when I get a chance and report back.

 

[Jahn]

So if I get the import, I will get the SACD Hybrid with both SACD and Redbook layers, and the 2nd disc are the videos in DTS 5.1 surround, with a DVD-A PCM Stereo mix? I think I'll get the import then! well, once i get a new universal player that can play PAL and DVD-A and SACD...

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn So if I get the import, I will get the SACD Hybrid with both SACD and Redbook layers, and the 2nd disc are the videos in DTS 5.1 surround, with a DVD-A PCM Stereo mix?

If I'm reading the specs correctly, I don't think the DVD disc in the import SACD package includes the DVD-A hi-rez mix. Just standard rez DVD-V.

 

[Jahn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg If I'm reading the specs correctly, I don't think the DVD disc in the import SACD package includes the DVD-A hi-rez mix. Just standard rez DVD-V.

ah, so it's an either/or, thanks.

 

[donunus]

I love this band so much I need a new source player

 

[nothing111]

This last week-end I finally had a bit of time to compare the original cds and the remasters of Violator, MTFM and Speak & Spell. I'm a long time fan and I've listened to those albums more than any other (especially the first two).

I'm sad to say I'm far from impressed by the remasters. Compared to the originals, for example there is a bit more punch with the drums, and the voices are clearer, more "in your face". But I think these parts are now mixed too loud compared to the rest of the music, especially when listening on headphones. This kind of mix would translate well on radio or in the car though. Having said that, these records seem to be mastered correctly and I haven't noticed any clipping problem (something that really can't be said about the last DM album, Playing the Angel, which sounds horrible and flat).

Actually the main problem, to me, is how the new remasters sometimes mess up the original mixes and the position of some sounds. For instance, at the beginning of Policy of Truth on the original Violator, there is a hi-hat sound on the right channel which can be heard during the whole track. On the remaster, this sound appears on the left channel (and yes I verified my headphones were in the right position). Sometimes voices that could be heard slightly on one side (therefore creating some kind of interesting imbalance) were completely recentered.

Honestly I did not bother to compare each track, but changes such as these were present in the few tracks I compared on each remaster. The soundstage on the remasters seemed smaller because of some of those changes (a bit like listening to a Grado headphone when you're used to an AKG). To me even the original Speak & Spell sounds better than the remaster, which sounds a bit dry in comparison (more digital than analog sounding, in a way). The remasters also do not sound as "dark" as the originals, which is an important part of the DM sound (at least until Songs of Faith & Devotion).

My general feeling is that those remasters are flawed, and the music was "simplified" to play better (and louder) on some systems. But not on headphones with a good amp.

Alan Wilder (who, on Violator, pretty much co-produced the album with Flood) is credited as Executive Producer, in this case it means he advised on mixes and provided comments and feedback during the re-mastering process (on MTFM and Violator). The question is : "to what degree?" I have no idea, but would I be him, I'd be kinda pissed off with the result.

Still, I think these new editions are worth purchasing. The 5.1 mixes are actually more interesting because they clearly have a different purpose (to be used with 5.1 systems and provide a surround sound) and the changes are more radical (some of the sounds themselves sound different), which can be exciting to listen to. And the documentaries on each album are excellent.

I'd be interested in hearing comments from other people who could compare both masters. At least to be sure if I'm crazy or not.

 

[Jahn]

i think it's time to listen to the ultrasone guy and get into dolby surround sound cans...

 

[nothing111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn i think it's time to listen to the ultrasone guy and get into dolby surround sound cans...

Well, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that. But it looks like some kind of private joke used every time a noob like me suddenly decides to give his opinion.

If that's the case, thanks for the welcome, nice to meet you too.