What CD sound is the best?

Foe Moody Blues, the more recent CD remaster with the bonus tracks is quite good, much superior to the initial release on CD from many years prior. The bonus tracks on this CD are particularly good. Two similar versions of "A Simple Game", which one of my favorites, and is quite hard to find otherwise. One version the one released to single with Pinder doing the vocals and the other quite similar except with Justin Hayward doing the vocals, which is a similarly strong version that I had never heard before.

I also have a standard issue CD copy of ITCOTCK also remastered within the last 10 years or so (date not at my fingertips) with no bonus tracks but also with good sound, as is true with most KC remasters I have heard (and Moodby Blues) from recent years. GDon't know if tehse are "the best" whatever that might entail, but they are quite good, as good sounding as most anything I have heard for these over the years or even better, and should satisfy most I would expect.

"In other words, is a King Crimson or Moody Blues CD remastered LOUD?"

I have read that most CDs since mid 90's are "louder" overall compared to prior as I understand it due to advancements in the mastering technology and I think equalization curves applied, as I recall. Do not recall the details but I observe this to be the case in general with CDs I own (many).

That includes KC and MB remasters I have heard as well, however these are done well and not overly loud nor is waveform clipping or other forms of overt dynamic compression obvious. These are VERY good remasters/recordings overall that compare favorably to original vinyl I own in good quality and much superior to any similar CD issues of these I owned prior from the 80's, mainly the entire MB catalog.

Granted some louder mastered CDs in more recent years can approach ear bleed territory, but the vast majority I hear range from on par with most overall to some of the best sounding CD recordings I own.

See my agon reviews for a couple reviews I have done of MB CDs including some comparisons to vinyl. My ISOTLC remaster is newer though than the ones I have reviewed, and is at least as good or perhaps even better.

Gave a quick listen to part of ITCOTCK last night just to refresh my memory regarding sound quality and to compare to other recordings for overall quality.

I think it is This One.

I listen to everything these days from lossless file (.wav in this case) ripped to music server, not the CD live.

I would say the recording quality is very good to excellent and not overly loud or artificially compressed at all.

Caveat is that I detect a lot of variation in sound quality from recording element to recording element within the mix. The best elements are very good, some are not as dynamic or detailed as one might like.

So I think this is a very good quality recording overall, but there are sonic flaws in specific elements that went into the mix for whatever reason. The good news is that you can hear the really good (which is most of the CD) and the sonically flawed mix elements quite clearly. That's a sign that this product in particular is of very good quality, even if some of the musical elements that went into it in teh recording studio originally had flaws.

Note that the flaws are more just imperfections, nothing horrible. IT actually adds a certain "earthy" element to the proceedings, rather than the whole production shining clearly from start to finish.

All in all, this particular product is a huge success, 8 out of 10 stars minimum overall I would say, probably more.

Just listen to the closing mellotron passage of Epitaph. The mellotron was a analog keyboard that predated synthesizers that used tape loops to produce sounds. MEllotrons are revered almost as much for their quirkiness and difficultly to maintain as they are for teh lovely sounds they can produce. The details of that quirkiness are on display in this recording. Were they intentional given the overall nature of this beast, or just quirky artifacts that happened? Listen and hear and decide for yourself.

THe music in ITCOTCK speaks for itself in this release. That's all that is really needed, but yes, audiphiles will find much to enjoy in hear. It is after all in teh minds of many the first and still maybe the absolute quintessential progressive rock release of all time.

While listening to "Epitaph", listen to these dystopian lyrics, soak in the album cover enjoy the musicianship and artistry (including majestic and somber mellotron and lovely accompanying guitar work) and see what happens next.

The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams,
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
As silence drowns the screams

Between the iron gates of fate,
The seeds of time were sown,
And watered by the deeds of those
Who know and who are known;
Knowledge is a deadly friend
When no one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind I see
Is in the hands of fools

Confusion will be my epitaph
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh,
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow I'll be crying

On a side note neither King Crimson, nor The Moody Blues, have even been nominated I am pretty sure to be in the R&R hall of fame to date. No ELP either.

On a brighter note, Yes is nominated this year and will surely make it, FWIW.

Great art doesn't just go away though. Hopefully, each will get all the recognition they deserve.

Isn't 40th anniversary edition a box set? I read it includes the 2004 remaster as well as a fresh mix by Stephen Wilson (of Porcupine Tree fame) whose recordings always sound fabulous.

Everything I read about that version would lead me to expect excellent results plus a lot of material to listen to in the box set. That mix scores slightly higher in dynamic range in the on line recording dynamic range database than the 2004 remaster, FWIW.

I also read the other day that there is a new box set version of the KC classic "Red" coming out. 20+ CDs of related material in that one is what I think I saw. That's a lot of KC material to absorb. Could keep one busy for awhile.