Led Zeppelin CD Pressings.
- Thread starter wezzywest
- Start date
ff1d1l
pfm Member
I'd say the original Barry Diament transfers are the most natural sounding...some remasters while they have their points, seem a bit more dynamic and crunch.
If your system is dynamic, say using speakers in the nineties, you might very well be happy with the flat original transfers. Otherwise go boom crash straight to one of the several remasters. You might well view the remasters as how the original material might had been treated had the format not been the vinyl disc.
Others might disagree, but LZ one is the best sounding for me, with PG probably the worst.
ciderglider
pfm Member
As far as I know there are 3 versions. The original CDs issued in the 80s, the remasters from the 90s, and the 2nd remasters, with extra tracks and photos, from the 2010s.
Opinions vary on which are the best, but some of the original recordings are a bit ropey, regardless of how they are remastered.
Opinions vary on which are the best, but some of the original recordings are a bit ropey, regardless of how they are remastered.
wezzywest
pfm Member
Cheers mate. I suppose its take a chance but i know to avoid the `deaf rockstar` ones.
Seeker_UK
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
I have a 'gold' copy of "Untitled" (IV) from the "40 Golden Greats" promotion from '89.
https://www.discogs.com/Led-Zeppelin-Untitled/release/3805065
Mastering is by Joe Sidore (I don't think Barry Diament did that one) and sounds OK to me - certainly never felt a need to upgrade it.
https://www.discogs.com/Led-Zeppelin-Untitled/release/3805065
Mastering is by Joe Sidore (I don't think Barry Diament did that one) and sounds OK to me - certainly never felt a need to upgrade it.
paulfromcamden
Baffled
I'm not a massive LZ fan so I can't comment but I do think that's quite an interesting and refreshing point of view.
Tony L
Administrator
Except they managed to remove so much dynamic range from the remasters! The vinyl is far more dynamic, as are the first issue CDs. It annoys me how often rock music is remastered for CD with it’s 90db+ dynamic range by squashing things down to have a dynamic range of about 6-8db! I suspect it is more likely Robert Plant and others have hearing damage and monitor very loud (you just can’t hear dynamic range properly when playing stuff loud).
Yes, for me too. I (and to a lesser degree II) sound like ‘60s albums to me, the rest obviously ‘70s, i.e. more reliance on multi-tracking and studio FX rather than good mic placement. I’m not a huge LZ fan and I only have I (the Classic Records issue, which is pretty good, probably the equal of a red/plumb 1st press).