[pigmode]

I recently got the Warner remaster (comes with a distinctive gold sticker) of Madonna's first CD. Don't laugh; what I was after was the ultimate version of Borderline. Anyway, they totally screwed Borderline up. Huge chunks of music are missing. In some ways it is greatly improved, but the editorializing they've done has ruined the song imo.

Anyway, I recently saw a few Van Halen remasters with the same gold stickers. I want to buy a few, but if they've changed the music then it's not worth it for me. There's just no way to know what you're getting till you get it.

Caveat emptor: there seems to be as many valid remasters out there, as there are crappy versions that are just scams for sucking in the audio enthusiast.

cheers

 

[Tim D]

I have one Van Halen HDCD Warner remaster and like it compared to the original. I don't notice anything so drastic as actual music editing. However besides being slightly cleaner and a bit louder, it is not TOO much an improvement. The increase in volume however did not mean a sacrifice in more compression as I find the CD to still be dynamic if not more so.

I'd have to listen to both again to make sure, but all I know is that I was not dissapointed. It also has much better CD art if that matters.

 

[pigmode]

Thanks, I may take a chance on one since I'm going to Blockbuster today. I'm not exacly Mr. A/B tester, but what I am after is a noticable improvement in quality, however large or small.