Yes remasters/ HDCD


A number of times on here people have asked about the best sound quality of various Yes albums available on CD.

I have previously reviewed the complete Rhino remasters set on Lugs http://lugsmusicreviews.com.

Last week I at last tracked down a copy of a Japanese import HDCD version of Close To The Edge.
I have to say I was very impressed by the sound quality,it is louder and clearer than the Rhino version-of course I can't state if this is true for every release but I have to say the HDCD versions (remastered by a Japanese gent whose name I don't have at hand) seem the way to go.
These versions unlike the Rhino ones only contain the original track listing.
ben_campbell

Showing 4 responses by ben_campbell

Slipknot I agree CTTE is probably the definitive Yes album.

I'm not up on the vinyl to be frank perhaps others can help here,I've certainly seen pressings from various countries that go for high prices but I suspect that is more down to collectability than sound quality.
Foster9 I think the last time I heard Yessongs was easily over 25 years ago!
I don't have an HDCD decoder on my CD player either (Ayre CX-7)but the HDCD version of CTTE does sound better than the Rhino.

Yessongs is available on the HDCD release but the Rhino remasters missed it out.
Curbach I'll need to check out that newsgroup for info.
David HDCD recordings tend to sound good anyway-having previously had a DAC with the decoder and now living without it.

The point is as my thread states-Close To The Edge HDCD remastered by Isao Kikuchi sounds better than the Bill Inglot Rhino remaster and my Ayre CX-7 has no decoder.
Nothing wrong with it David indeed I don't think I ever heard a bad HDCD recording.
I would guess it is popular in Asia hence the Yes remasters only appearing there.

From an Audiophile point of view it's been surpassed by SACD and DVDA-these are the direct competition and HDCD is now seen as yesterday's news.