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3 versions of "The Captain and Me" compared

Doobie Brothers – The Captain and Me.
This is an all-time favourite album so I have purchased various versions to find the best sound.
I have compared the Mobile Fidelity SACD, the Friday Music vinyl with the Speakers Corner version. I have used a Rega 3-24 turntable with Garrot Brothers cartridge ($1,500AUD) and a Yamaha CD-S2000 SACD player ($2,500AUD) for the comparisons.
The winner by a mile is Speakers Corner vinyl. It is full rich and deep compared to the others. Speakers Corner have used master analogue tapes, NO digital fiddling and used pure analogue in the cutting process which has delivered richest sound of all.
The Friday Music version is the worst. It lacks bass and depth. They “remaster” digitally and I suspect that is where we are being robbed of all the rich sound.
The Mofi SACD is better than the Friday Music but not as good as the Speakers Corner.
I have played these versions to two other respected friends and they also picked the Speakers Corner as the best by far.
So if you want the full rich fidelity that this album contains get the Speakers Corner version. It is awesome!
rockpig

Showing 2 responses by qdrone

qdrone
1,039 posts
 
Not suprised re: Vinyl / CD comparisons here. I'm reading Neil Young's new book right now and as it points out that in the digital format(CD) the most you can extract from what was recorded in the studio is 15%.That means 85% of the music ain't there. Where is it,it's still on the master tape,and it is mostly warm,smooth,soothing bass.
I think people need to start to realize that digital and the CD medium was forced upon us for one reason and one reason only,to maximize the profit margin of the recording industry.We were duped people.
qdrone
1,039 posts
 
Also RockPig in your original post you say you played the version to "two respected freinds." Hell next time go with one numbskull and a whacky broad.
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