I'm going to be obtaining a copy of the Live Killers JP remaster (which i hear is far superior to the HR 1991 edition), so i'd like a chance to hear the comparison for myself before I weigh in on Live Killers...
bigV · Member since
I have nothing productive to add to this topic except to say that I am enjoying it thoroughly :)
V.
rhyeking · Member since
BIG NEWS!
What I'm sharing below challenges a few of our previous conclusions
I emailed Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studio on Friday and asked the following: **** Hi Peter,
I'm doing some research into the various remastering efforts made by Queen Productions over the years with Queen's catalogue of music. You are credited with remastering the following releases:
I'd like to know whether each new release features a new remaster. Put another way, did you sit down and newly remaster the tracks, either with different equipment or a different approach, for each product?
Also, were any of these remasters ever re-used for subsequent releases, meaning do two or more of the products listed feature the SAME remaster?
I hope you can help clarify this for me and I thank you for your time.
Sincerely, (rhyeking) *** Peter, being a pretty awesome guy, was gracious enough to reply:
***
Hi (rhyeking) From Memory, I believe The 1998 and 2001 Remasters are different The 2004 release and singles collection are taken from the above 2 remasters, with new remasters of the tracks that do not feature on the 1998 or 2001 remasters The 2001 remaster was done at the request of the Japanese, and is a liitle more extreme than the 1998 set
HTH
cheers -pm ***
Okay, let's take a moment to let that sink in (and no, I actually signed my real name, but subbed 'rhyeking' in here).
(deep breath) What a guy! He didn't have to answer, but he did.
Now, to examine what he told me...
PM FACT: The 1998 Crown Jewels Remasters are different from the 2001 Japan Digital Remaster Series.
What we knew before: The 2004 remasters are the same as the 2001 remasters.
PM FACT: The Singles Collection is taken from the 1998 AND 2001 remasters, except for tracks not included in those releases.
Well, that would be the non-album tracks and Single Versions. But...WOW...standard album tracks, like "Keep Yourself Alive" and "Killer Queen" are one of two possible remasters (1998 or 2001). How do we figure out which is which, without burying the man in requests to clarify each track?
(And I recommend NOT asking him for a track by track breakdown, because Abbey Road's website actually subtly discouraged emails about individual band's work. That didn't stop me from asking and I'm impressed he took the time to reply, so let's not take advantage of his generous reply. It might make him less inclined to reply to future emails by people who looking for his expertise).
And we may not need to ask that question, as he gives us a clue as to the differences between the 1998 and 2001 remasters. The 2001 Japanese remasters are, in his words, "a little more extreme." That ought to help distinguish the two as we continue.
Personally, I'm not inclined to re-examine the albums we've covered soley based on this new info. It's possible that in selecting "alternate" remasters, we've really, unknowingly, just substituted the same remaster. It still comes down to the apparent differences and if it's the same one we arrive at the same place anyway: the Best Remaster of the track.
The recent Singles Collections, though they use "older" remasters, still sound stunning and I'm going to still refer to them by their year and series, so we all know the SOURCE of the remaster I'm refering to)
Thoughts?
joesilvey · Member since
wow is right... great insight, and very gracious indeed of Mr. Mew to respond so openly to your inquiry.
now, with no cynical intent whatsoever, simply pointing out... he did say "from memory, i believe" ... but let's give his memory the benefit of the doubt.... =)
so, the tracks whose single versions are identical to the album version (the ones that, based on PM's email, appear on the Singles Collection in the form of their prior remasters, either 1998 or 2001) are the ones i'm interested to more critically research at the moment.
correct me if i'm wrong (and believe me, i defer to many others here on intricate details of certain tracks' various versions, edits, etc) but isn't Seven Seas of Rhye (from Queen II) album version the same as the 7" single release version? If so, the screenshots I posted recently of it sampled from SC box and CJ box could, according to Peter Mew, be the same. They are not. THEREFORE, if his info is correct, i need to see a screenshot of SSOR from the 2001 JP remaster. If it's identical to the SC version, then we have confirmation. Because I can say as somewhat of an audiophile and experienced sound editor, SSOR on Singles Collection is definitively NOT the 1998 remaster.
anyone with certain knowledge want to tackle listing for us the tracks on the Singles Collections that would fall into this 1998 or 2001 remaster sourced category? Having Crown Jewels (and soon to have the counterpart JP remasters) i can do the waveform analyses... just want to confirm beyond my own knowledge which ones are truly identical album/single versions to consider...
rhyeking · Member since
Agreed.
I'm sure the "Memory" remark was more along the lines of: "I don't have my notes and such in front of me, but off the top of my head, here's what I remember doing." (His email arrived in my box at about 11:15 AM. Adjusting for the the time difference, he fired it off at 4:15 PM his time, maybe near the end of his day). Afer that he gets pretty specific for such a short email.
Here's a breakdown of the Singles Collection tracks and some tracks of interest from the 2001 Japan Remasters of Greatest Hits and Greatest Hits II (which were part of that series, remastered by Peter Mew) and the 2004 Hits:WWRY Edition (also by Mr. Mew).
1998 or 2001 remasters: 2008 remasters: Keep Yourself Alive White Queen (EP Version) Son And Daughter See What A Fool I've Been The Seven Seas Of Rhye Tenement Funster (EP Version) Killer Queen Flick Of The Wrist (UK Single Version) Now I'm Here Lily Of The Valley (UK Single Edit) Death On Two Legs I'm In Love With My Car (UK Single Version) Bohemian Rhapsody Tie Your Mother Down (Single Version) You're My Best Friend '39 Somebody To Love 2009 remasters: Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy Love Of My Life (Live - Single Version) We Will Rock You We Will Rock You (Live - Single Version) We Are The Champions Let Me Entertain You (Live - Single Version) Sheer Heart Attack A Human Body Spread Your Wings Back Chat (Single Re-mix) Bicycle Race I Go Crazy In Only Seven Days Don't Stop Me Now Now I'm Here (Live) 2004 Greatest Hits WWRY Ed. Remaster (by Miles Showell): Play The Game I'm In Love With My Car (UK Single Version) Another One Bites The Dust Crazy Little Thing Called Love Save Me 2010 Remasters: Thank God It's Christmas Blurred Vision 2001 Japan Remasters* A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling Teo Torriate (2001 Hits Re-issue Edit) Pain Is So Close To Pleasure (Single Remix) Flash Who Wants To Live Forever (Single Version) Football Fight Forever Staying Power Hang On In There Body Language Stealin' Put Out The Fire Hijack My Heart Life Is Real My Life Has Been Saved (Original Version) Calling All Girls Las Palabras De Amor Cool Cat Under Pressure Under Pressure (Hits II Edit) Radio Ga Ga Tear It Up It's A Hard Life Man On The Prowl Machines I Want To Break Free (Single Mix) Keep Passing The Open Windows Hammer To Fall (Headbangers' Edit) Is This The World We Created? One Vision (Single Version) A Kind Of Magic One Year Of Love Friends Will Be Friends Who Wants To Live Forever (Hits II Edit) Gimme The Prize Don't Lose Your Head Princes Of The Universe I Want It All (Single Version) The Invisible Man Breakthru Scandal I'm Going Slightly Mad (LP Version) Headlong (Single Version)
* Presumably the 2001 Japan Remaster of Greatest Hits II features the minor edits (aka early fade outs) of the original UK Hits II. Also, because only Queen through to The Game were remastered in 1998, everything AFTER that is most definately the 2001 remasters.
joesilvey · Member since
also agreed... thanks for this well-organized structure, Rhyeking...
i'll do my wav reviews as i now have some of the early JP remasters, and begin to post my conclusions for the list of 1998 or 2001 remasters in the coming few days...
joesilvey · Member since
@ Rhye - wouldn't Son And Daughter (KYA b-side on Singles Collection) be in the mix of 1998 or 2001 remasters as well? Or is it a version difference?
my apologies if this is common knowledge - just striving to be thorough! :-D
rhyeking · Member since
Oops...
Yes, you're exactly right, sir. "Doing All Right" shouldn't be on that list as it wasn't on The Singles Collections. I'm going to correct it now.
Those reading this list later, I accidently included "Doing All Right" on the list instead of "Son And Daughter." Call it a brain freeze or something, haha. Maybe I was thinking about the (not included) "Liar" single.
joesilvey · Member since
Alright - i honestly expected to find nice clear results as i began my waveform comparisons (taking Peter Mew's words at full face value - and the following conclusion is not delivered with any sarcasm or disrespect to him AT ALL) but i don't think things are going to be so simple.
Because of some home life issues, I only got to review one track in question this evening: Keep Yourself Alive (album/single version). I did direct encodes from the CD sources of Singles Collection I, 2001 Japan remaster of Queen album, and 1998 remaster for Crown Jewels, and compared waveforms.
the one with the weakest overall peak volume level and perhaps the truest (broadest, perhaps is a better term) dynamic range: the 2001 Japanese remaster.
the Crown Jewels remaster actually seems to have a very similar overall peak volume level, but clearly has moderate dynamic compression applied, as the "meat" of the waveform is bulked up throughout, bringing it closer to the peaks. not slightly, either.
The Singles Collection version does seem to be closely derivative of the JP remaster, but it has the MOST dynamic compression of all three, with the peak volume levels (though there are only a few) nearly at the max of what the CD can record and reproduce. Now, it does also look as though it COULD be the JP remaster simply boosted - as is - to be louder ON the disc, without altering anything else in the mix/master.
but... i would NOT say they are the same. Even without having done a sonic test, i can tell you these will sound different among the three. they are not identical matches, though again overall, the waveforms within the tracks themselves seem relatively very similar.
If we had to conclude, with respect to PM's claim, that the SC master came from one of these other two sources, i'd happily concede that Keep Yourself Alive was derived from the 2001 JP remaster. HOWEVER, at LEAST a significant volume increase was added to the Singles Collection mastering process, perhaps more that my ears could contend upon further aural review.
The point is... i'm gonna have to look as these track by track. =) or =( depending on the reader, i suppose.
personally, i'm loving all this...
brians wig · Member since
That's brilliant Joseph. Ironically, I did a comparison between the CJ & Jap remaster of 'Doing Alright' and they virtually look identical - again, one slightly higher peaks than the other. Whether this will follow suit with the other albums I don't know.
I'm certainly interested in re-creating the albums using the best sounding versions available until such time as all the albums are remastered one final time as the definitive versions, but my only worry with this is that they'll all be compressed to make them punchier. While the AG remasters sound great, they're compressed as hell. Such a pity DTS Entertainment stopped with the surround mixes. I really thought we were getting somewhere with those, and Brian himself said that they were about to do Queen II when Mike Stone died :(
ADDITION: Having just done an A-B listening comparison between the 1991 Hollywood Records remasters and the 1998 Crown jewels version of Queen II, I can certianly confirm that there is more sibilance on the CJ version - very noticable on "Loser In The End". The japanese remaster also has more sibilance than the HR version, but it's not as bad as the CJ version.
Anybody care to listen to this track as well and confirm or deny my results?
I don't know if it matters, but I've listened on my alessandro/Grado MS1's( 2009 versions)
joesilvey · Member since
Now, for Son And Daughter... the least compressed is the Crown Jewels edition. Next is the JP remaster: slightly louder overall level, but some compression is evident as well. And again, the Singles Collection is yet another step up in loudness, and seems pretty clearly a different remaster (peaks in different places, and noticeably different "landscape" if you will, to the waveform.
again - not saying Peter Mew doesn't know what's he's talking about - but perhaps the SC began with one of the 2 prior masters and just did a little more additional work on them than he remembers. Not sure, but it returns us to the point my pal Brians Wig makes above... this is a very subjective pursuit. I can't list a definitive "best available" versions compilation for any of you, any more than i could create a list of your favorite foods.
Again, Brians Wig - completely agree that AG sounds HUGE and for the most part, I think great as well. But it is because it was mastered with a ton of compression on it to sound more like today's music and less like 1975's. =) Some have already voiced conflicting opinions within this very thread - a preference for one way or the other.
So, i'll continue to analyze these (as I'd like to for myself) and post my findings on loudness and which, if any, are duplicate (re)mastered versions. But it's going to be up to us individually to create those definitive CD-Rs to treasure! At least we have a project while we're waiting another 10 years for the mythical anthologies!!
rhyeking · Member since
Okay, it may sound like I'm rationalizing, but I like to think I'm reinterpreting the evidence provided (that from Peter Mew and that from Joe). PM says he did new remasters of tracks which didn't feature on either the 1998 or 2001 sets. However, by just going on his memory, this answer could have lead him to not account for redoing a such as "Son And Daughter." What I mean is, he is not nessecarily expected to be an expert on Queen and therefore specific tracks MAY have been remastered again for the Singles Collection and he didn't differentiate between it being a track he'd done previously. OR he had a reason to redo "Son And Daughter" (and maybe other tracks) in order to improve them, and just didn't get into that level of detail with his reply to me.
Short of him providing a track by track account of which came from what remaster, we're still in the position of exploring each track individually, and at least have his statement to use to to help clarify any disputed findings. If we find evidence that indisputedly contradicts his account of events, I guess we accept that it falls into a grey area in his "from memory, I believe..." statement.
Anyway, great job on taking on the waveform analysis.
joesilvey · Member since
rhyeking wrote: PM says he did new remasters of tracks which didn't feature on either the 1998 or 2001 sets. However, by just going on his memory, this answer could have lead him to not account for redoing "Son And Daughter." What I mean is, he is not nessecarily expected to be an expert on Queen and therefore specific tracks MAY have been remastered again for the Singles Collection and he didn't differentiate between it being a track he'd done previously. OR he had a reason to redo "Son And Daughter" (and maybe other tracks) in order to improve them, and just didn't get into that level of detail with his reply to me. .....................................................................................................................................................................................................
I think the above is a good assessment of what info we have available to us. I agree that PM perhaps BEGAN with the best sounding remaster for each of the tracks that he'd previously done... but touching them up a bit further is hard to resist, especially 10 years later. Remastering is a myriad of things available, that MAY or MAY NOT be applied for a given project. The Beatles reportedly used hiss removal (which some feel can compromise the original master's high range too much) on their back catalog's recent remasters. but it was used for a total of something like 3 seconds of audio amongst the entire series. !! I can only hope that any future releases we might someday see (Brian's talk of 150-200 tracks, an anthology of some kind, whatever) might employ that kind of loving, respectful care to the music. It's certainly the spirit with which Queen originally recorded the material.
so, my views on all that having been established - REestablished, if you will... we come to Seven Seas of Rhye:
any of you that were able to download my screenshots already know about the Crown Jewels edition. It's a good, evenly loud master, yet with plenty of dynamic range available. The 2001 Japan is surprisingly similar. (again, thinking of PM's remarks about the JP versions being "more extreme" than the 1998's or something to that effect, is not especially evident with this particular track). Virtually no difference in peak levels throughout, and only a slight amount of additional compression within the "meat" of the waveform. By PM's email, THIS is the kind of close match I expected to see between previous remasters of these tracks and what he said was used again for the Singles Collection....
But the Singles Collection version is clearly boosted even further in terms of dynamic compression. Overall peaks are raised slightly, but the dynamic range of those previous remasters is not entirely lost. There is still a clear "mountain range" type landscape to the wave. It's not shelved across with max volume like AG is, by any means.
The progression between the three masters, for THIS track now, is more subtle than the two from Queen I. Very interesting... (to me at least)
(i've been told I use too many parenthetical remarks - sorry if it bugs you)
more to come...
rhyeking · Member since
So, Joe, you're saying it's the same remaster but louder?
Maybe add a recap at the end of the analysis, like:
"My opinion: 1998 - Remaster A 2001 - Remaster B 2008 = Remaster (A or B...or C)"
I know it would make things easier to read when I'm thumbing through entries, which I do a lot of here.
Anyway, here's what I've been working, an overview of the existing masters and remasters, the the best of my knowledge. I think I got all the releases, except maybe a few non-album single tracks
QUEEN & SOLO MASTERS AND REMASTERS
1972 – Queen: Mastered by Roy Thomas Baker (?) at Trident Studios, London (?) 1973 – Queen II: Mastered by Mike Stone (?) at Trident Studios, London (?) 1974 – Sheer Heart Attack Mastered by Mike Stone (?) at Trident, Rockfield or Air Studios (?) 1975 – A Night At The Opera Mastered by Mike Stone (?) at Sarm Studios, London (?) 1976 – A Day At The Races Mastered by Mike Stone (?) at The Manor, Sarm East, Wessex(?) 1977 – News Of The World Mastered by Mike Stone at (?) 1978 – Jazz Mastered by Geoff Workman at Mountain Studios, Montreux 1979 – Live Killers Mastered by George Marino at Mountain Studios, Montreux 1980 – The Game Mastered by Mack at Mountain Studios, Munich 1980 – Flash Gordon Mastered by Mack and Alan Douglas at Town House Studios, The Music Centre and Advision 1980 – Greatest Hits Mastered likely used existing Masters 1981 – Fun In Space Mastered by George Marino by Sterling Sound, NYC 1982 – Hot Space Mastered by Mack and George Marino at either Mountain Studios, Montreux or Musicland Studios, Munich 1983 – Star Fleet Project Mastered by Bernie Grundman at (?) 1984 – The Works Digitally Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC 1984 – Strange Frontier Mastered by George Marino (?) at Sterling Sound, NYC (?) 1984 - "Thank God It's Christmas" single Mastered by George Marino (?) at Sterling Sound, NYC (?) 1985 – Mr. Bad Guy Mastered by Mack at Musicland Studios, Munich 1985 - The Complete Works likely used the existing masters 1986 – A Kind Of Magic Digitally Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios, London 1986 - Live Magic Digitally Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios, London 1987 – Shove It Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios, London 1988 – Barcelona Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at Town House Studios, London 1989 – The Miracle Digitally Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe and Gordon Vickary at The Town House, Studios 1989 – Queen At The Beeb Digitally Mastered by (?) at (?) 1990 – Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios , London 1991 – Innuendo Digitally Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios, London 1991 – Greatest Hits II likely used the existing Masters 1991 – Hollywood Records remasters series:
Eddy Schreyer, at Future Disc Systems: Queen, Queen II, Jazz, Live Killers, The Game, The Works, A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle
Kevin Metcalfe, at Town House Studios: Sheer Heart Attack, A Day At The Races, News Of The World, Hot Space
Stephen Marcussen, at Precision Mastering: A Night At The Opera, Flash Gordon
1991 – Blue Rock Mastered by Barry Woodward at The Town House Studios, London, and “Cut” by Kevin Metcalfe* 1992 – Live At Wembley’86 Mastered by Eddie Schreyer at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood 1992 – The Freddie Mercury Album and The Great Pretender Digitally Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood** 1992 – Barcelona Digitally Remastered by Eddy Schreyer at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood 1992 – Classic Queen and (Red) Greatest Hits Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood** (likely used the individual 1991 Hollywood Records Remasters) 1992 – Box Of Trix: The 12” Collection Mastered/Remastered by (?) at (?) 1992 – Back To The Light Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios, London 1993 – Five Live (EP) Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood 1994 – Digital Master Series (Queen to Innuendo) Remastered by Kevin Metcalfe (?) at Town House Studios (?) 1995 – Made In Heaven Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios, London (?) 1994 – Happiness? Mastered by Chris Blair at Abbey Road Studio, London 1995 – Queen At The BBC Mastered/Remastered by (?) at (?) 1996 – Fun In Space and Strange Frontier Digitally Remastered by Tony Cousins and Joshua J. Macrea at Metropolis Studios, London 1997 – Queen Rocks Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Town House Studios, London (using the 1994 DMS remasters, except for new masters for “I Want It All [Rocks Vers) 1998 – 25th Anniversary “Crown Jewels” LP Reproduction CD Box Set (Queen to The Game) Remastered by Peter Mew at Abby Road Studios, London 1998 – Electric Fire Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Sound Masters, London 1998 – Another World Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Sound Masters, London (?) 1999 – Greatest Hits III Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at The Sound Masters, London 2000 – Freddie Mercury: The Solo Collection Remastered by Peter Mew at Abby Road Studios, London (except Barcelona & The Great Pretender, which uses the 1992 Eddy Schreyer remasters) 2001 – Japanese “Queen Digital Remasters” Series (Queen to Live At Wembley ’86, including Hits, Hits II and Live Magic) Remastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios, London 2004 – Greatest Hits: We Will Rock You Edition Mastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios (using his 2001 QDR Series remasters), except for “In In Love With My Car (Single Version),” “Under Pressure (Live),” and “Tie Your Mother Down (Live) Remastered by Miles Showell at Metropolis Mastering, London, 2004 2004 – Japanese “LP Reproduction” Series Remastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios (using his 2001 QDR Series remasters). 2004 – Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl Mastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering, London 2004 – Jewels likely used the 2001 QDR Peter Mew remasters 2005 – Jewells II likely used the 2001 QDR Peter Mew remasters, with a new master for Teo Torriate (High Def Mix) Joshua J. Macre (?) at (?) (not sure about the “Tie Your Mother Down [Air Guitar Edit]”)*** 2005 – Return Of The Champions Mastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering, London 2005 – 30th Anniversary A Night At The Opera CD Remastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland 2006 – Stone Cold Classics likely used existing 1991 HR remasters & the 2005 Return Of The Champions Master 2006 – The Very Best Of Freddie Mercury Solo uses a combination of 2000 TSC remasters by Peter Mew and 1992 Eddy Schreyer remasters. Mastering details of the new tracks unclear. 2007 – The A-Z Of Queen Volume 1 likely used existing 1991 HR remasters 2007 – Queen Rock Montreal Mastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering, London 2008 – The Cosmos Rocks Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe, The Sound Masters, London 2008 – The Singles Collection Volume 1: Remastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios using a combination of new remastered tracks and his 1998 CJ & 2001 QDR remasters 2009 – Absolute Greatest Remastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland (?) 2009 – Live In Ukraine Mastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering, London 2009 – The Singles Collection Volume 2: Remastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios using a combination of new remastered tracks and his 1998 CJ & 2001 QDR remasters 2009 – Everything Is Broken single Mastered by Joshua J. Macrae (?) at (?) 2010 – The Singles Collection Volume 3: Remastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios using a combination of new remastered tracks and his 1998 CJ & 2001 QDR remasters
* Blue Rock has a strange credit, listing both a Master and a “Cut,” the latter by Kevin Metcalfe, who has mastered other Queen and Solo material ** Eddy Schreyer Mastered both these albums, and the FM Solo Collection says they were Remasters. *** I own the 2006 Tour Edition and it has NO mastering info listed at all (?) indicates I’m guessing, based on who was either
joesilvey · Member since
good grief, Rhye... that's a crapload of credits!! thanks for such an exhaustive and detailed listing!
as far as my summary assessment - i'll do that at the end, if that's okay. For this pass, i'm just gauging how much "modernizing" if you will (compression, loudness) these various remasters have gone through, and i'm keeping track as i go of the gradation from least compressed/altered to most. When i've reviewed all the waveforms and have a listing in order of loudness... i'm going to go back and give my order of best sounding. Granted it will be a subjective review, but i think most Queenzoners who are following this thread have a good enough understanding of what's out there (91 releases being largely just transfers to digital without much doctoring, progressing all the way up to AG with it's ultra-compressed trying-to-compete-with-the-music-of-today sound) to use my results as a reference point to be taken with their individual preferences in mind.
for now, i'm just giving objective assessments of the waveforms themselves and how they differ in respect to mastering. My SOUND tests (when i kick my lovely wife and our 4 year old daughter out so i can use my high-end stereo to its full glory) will be subjective, but i promise you i WILL pick favorites.
thanks again, Rhye, for starting this thread and making it such fun as we've gone on. Obviously, i'm not a veteran poster here, but this has been one of the most engaging threads for me personally, since i've gotten on QZ...
