From the session tapes?

R.

Right now I'm in love with the "Master of Puppets" 24k gold edition. The record set the standard on which all music thereafter was created.

^where did you get it?

Is that directed at me?

yes. where did you find the 24k disc?

I'm sorry but my English is not enough good to get what is this thread about...
Can you explain it to me?

I am a Metallica fan so I remember about this stuff being released....received the news with some mailing list service. It was like a couple of years ago (too lazy to go and search). IIRC supposedly the metallic reflectant surface inside these special discs is made of 24k gold instead of aluminium (which, I think, is used in standard pressed CDs). Also supposedly, these discs offer "higher fidelity for a better listening experience".

I highly doubt any normal person would perceive any differences compared to the standard CD, but since I do not own the 24k gold edition of MOP I have no proof against it. The golden discs seem like a marketing strategy to me, there are many Metallica fans that would buy Lars´ "Singing in the shower" recordings if they were available. Metallica is more an extremely profitable industry than a metal band these days (nonetheless they still sound and feel awesome on live shows). I remember reading they were one of the top 4 money-making musicians of 2004. (Money made on tour).

Money....gooooood. Napster....baaaaaaaad.

This guy says the remastered 24k gold edition sounds better: http://www.audiorevolution.com/music/revs/...ofpuppets.shtml


If you are a young metal fan you should definitely and absolutely get this album, 24k gold or not, because it has, IMO, absolutely amazing songs. Definitely not recommended for the casual rock listener or someone used to "easy listening" stuff (too heavy/ some dense tunes).

I can say that, subjectively, the MFSL version of Nirvana's Nevermind is an improvement over the standard Geffen release...most of the improvements center on the treble region: more distinct and crisp, more extended. I bought the disc in a "recently traded-in" used bin for $10 (lucky find). However, I doubt the average music listener would be able to appreciate it, especially at the typical prices charged.

every person i've seen talk about the 24k edition says they hear a world of difference.

Mobile Fidelity did their own half-speed mastering from the original master tapes to produce the "Original Master Recordings" throughout the late 80's and early 90's. The reason the MOFI version of Nevermind is an improvement is because of the fact that it was mastered differently than the standard Geffen release. It is most likely not due to the 24k gold disc itself that it sounds different/better.

From what I'd read on Amazon a while back, the gold issue is a different and better remaster than the Elektra original, which shouldn't be that hard to percieve (especially with Ride The Lightning, a personal favourite of mine which also went gold in a similar manner).

Just a quick copy&paste, you must judge yourself what it's worth

---

Û C O M M E N T S : Û
Û This is xxxed from the DCC Compact Classics re-release on a Û
Û 24k gold disc. It is copied form the original master tapes Û
Û and offers superior sound quality to the original elektra Û
Û release. Û
Û Û
Û DCC Compact Classics notes: Û
Û You've never heard your favorite music sound this good! The Û
Û clarity is exceptional, the separation...amazing. You will Û
Û hear deeper lows and crisper highs. Treat yourself to a Û
Û musical experience you've never had before. Û
Û Û
Û Our 24k Gold discs reproduce the ultimate sound of a classic Û
Û recorded performance without the digital harshness and Û
Û irregular plated surfaces of standard aluminum discs. Û
Û Û
Û Only the original two-track master tape is used for the Û
Û digital transfer, and is played back on a specially Û
Û reconstructed tube reproducer. Without any further sonic Û
Û manipulation, the master is shipped directly to the Û
Û manufacturing plant for etching onto the glass surface by Û
Û laser. Û
Û Û
Û The end result of this unique mastering process is a compact Û
Û disc with the warm sound of the original master tape Û
Û combined with a 24 karat gold surface free of any type of Û
Û defect. Û
Û --- Û
Û Produced by Metallica and Flemming Rasmussen Û
Û Engineered by Flemming Rasmussen Û
Û Recorded, Sept.-Dec. 1985 at Sweet Silence Studios, Û
Û Copenhagen, Denmark Û
Û Mixed by Michael Wagener at Amigo Studios, North Hollywood, Û
Û CA Û
Û Assistant mxiging engineering: Mark Wilzcak Û
Û All lyrics by Hetfield. All arrangements by Hetfield/Ulrich Û
Û Cover Concept: Metallica and Peter Mensch/Clover Û
Û illustrations: Don Brautigam Û
Û Remastered for this compact disc by Steve Hoffman Û
Û All vacuum-tube mastering system

Still nobody answered my question...

But I think the point is that the gold versions have different mastering so pople hear the difference.
I dont know what are you discussing here though.

It's pointless, I think that every quite clever person can tell you that if the source is the same for both the standard silver pressing and the limited edition gold the sound will be the same!

Yes, they should sound the same. Gold pressings may inherit less errors because of the more meticulous process to create them (less manufactured and better quality control), but who knows. Here's a thread somewhat related to this topic.
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....ndpost&p=229746

Yeah, IMO that's right, the DCC versions were mastered by Steve Hoffman, from some of the DCC CDs I've heard he does very good work. You can get some ideas on how he goes about mastering from this page.

Same goes for the DCC Gold 'Master of Puppets'. It's all in the mastering, not the metal.

"half-speed mastering" is a term related to cutting vinyl. It means the record's groove is cut at half the speed of playback, which can improve fidelity. MFSL did use it for their vinyl releases, but it would be difficult to do for CD

@k.eight.a:
Please ask something specific...
It's not neccessary to understand everything in a thread, I don't do. It's often too few information and not the language that causes problems.



They didn't ABX, did they ?
Anyway, @some guys:
Be careful to not violate TOS#8. As long as both layers are read correctly they will sound exactly the same, if they have been pressed from the same source/master. I can imagine that a gold layer might have better reflecting capabilities. Say, if both CDs become scratched with many tiny scratches, it may be that the gold version can still be read bit-truely but the aluminum version can't.
Also, a gold layer may be more durable than a aluminum one. Still enjoy your gold CD at age 200, not only 150.

From what I understand, MFSL still uses half-speed mastering for their vinyl releases.

See here.