Prince - Diamonds & Pearls - 2023 BG remaster vs original 1991 Euro pressing. been waiting ages for the box set to arrive since it was released on Oct 27th. cleaned all records and time to put on the actual album.
I pull out the first record and immediately notice that the tracks do not go anywhere near close to the inner label than I remember, especially side 2 that has 4 tracks and close to 20 mins.
started playing the remaster and it did not "jump" out like I remember the original and had to put the volume higher. Played both sides and it sounded good, but it seemed to be a bit too polite and lacked the huge dynamics I remember from the original pressing.
Put on the original and POW!! Thunder starts and the bass is deeper with more impact, the vocals more forward and the lead instruments are actually in the lead. the top end is also more extended, however one complaint of the original is that it was a little hot in the top end - yea maybe on tracks like Jughead or live 4 Love. I then played Cream - similar - huge powerful sound.
Spun Willing and Able as this almost sounded like a different song on the remaster. About 3/4 the way thru this track there is an amazing organ solo coming out of the left channel and out of the right was some rapping, however it was the organ slightly in front of stage leading the jam and the rapping just behind - really gives the song a great groove. On the remaster, the organ is now behind the rapper and in the background.
Anyway I got bored of the remaster. I think BG has gone way to safe with this and should have cut the record louder and maintain the subterranean bass with more actual vinyl used and subdued the top end just a little while maintaining the leading edge groove. I have a large system with deep bass extension, so maybe my complaints are based on this as many systems will miss the deep bass or the original pressing and just get the lively top end.
time to start spinning the Vault material, which is why I bought the box.
new album cover - which one do you like?
Old album cover
new remaster vinyl pressing side 1 and 2 - notice how much vinyl has been used for the pressing
original 1991 pressing both side spread out to similar areas - notice the pressing spread over the vinyl more - this allows it to be cut hotter ( which it is) and give better dynamics, especially bass - which it does.