Essentials for Testing

Mine was a slightly loaded question as the headphones they have to work with nowadays are not as balanced as say the HD250 Linear II. I would not even be surprised if people do it freelance from their home studios where  there is little external control over their equipment... Although the fat cats will always rule everything.

Funny you should say that as I love that performance but have not noticed the imbalance... Is it more noticeable on speakers than headphones?

Sadly every single element of the audio chain has to carefully considered. He is going to be over the moon with a headphone amp from Graham!

I think more and more the record companies are looking to cheap out and cut costs. One way to do that is on the mastering front. Rather than have a new album or reissue mastered specifically for different markets, e.g. the streaming folks that listen on $10 earbuds vs. the audiophiles and music nerds, they just have one version mastered. And of course that version is going to be the loudness war version. Sadly even a lot of the newer remasters coming out on sites like HDTracks et. al are completely squashed with all the life and dynamic range sucked out. 

Look at the latest Iron Maiden HD remasters for example. That was an opportunity to do things right but it didn't happen, instead they are loud and compressed. Had they been done right I would have purchased them, but no dice from me. I stick with the pre-1998 CDs which may have some shortcomings but remain the best available digital versions. Similar things have happened with many bands, old and new. You have to do your research and take everything on a case by case basis IMHO. 

Beautifully recorded on the original vinyl. The Abbey Road half speed remastered reissue of 2016 is taken from a digital master. (only realised this after listening, disappointments and subsequent research into recording) There are audible differences especially in vocal positions. Not an improvement on the original! 

Why the remastering engineers always think they know best, is beyond me! It must be an EGO thing. (Or perhaps they were recording for headphones????) 

Worth considering when looking for the 'best' version. 

Fantastic combination of acoustic and electronic instruments. Good mix of tempo's and vocal performance makes this hard to better for an overall setup record IMHO 

I link this to give a flavour only. 

You're way off target here.  'Calm down.' What? 

Nonsense. That's a real pity you choose to interpret that way. 

Point out exactly what's your point? 

Then I'll make a rational decision. 

Thank you.