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103 of 124 people found the following review helpful
Possibly the worst CD transfer in the history of music,
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This review is from: 21 (Audio CD)
First of all Adele 21,as a piece of Music is a great, Turning tables, Set fire to the rain are just brilliant, and the Cure cover Lovesong also fantastic. So why the three stars. Well first of all Adele 21 is a five star album, however the compression on this CD is unbearable,it has at times is so harsh it has distorted the music.This appears to be because the transfer being so loud you loose the quality of the recording. I was so disappointed with the sound I bought the vinyl version hopping it would be better, it is not leaps and bounds but it is of a higher quality than the CD. I can only believe the CD has been mastered from an MP3 file, hence the loss of quality. I appear not be the only one who felt this i looked on line and it appears to be many people upset by this transfer. I personally do not understand why this is being done, why can't the record companies just let the quality of the recording come through. If you want to know what I mean put the CD in a reasonably good system and turn it up, you will not be able to go to loud before the sound begins to distort and clip,if this is the future we are going backwards, there are many recording 50 years older than this that sound 100% better. This is a shame that one of the best albums this decade has been mastered so badly I do hope XL recording take note and solve this problem. Those thinking of buying the vinyl version don't bother it sounds the same as the CD. This review is based on the very poor quality of the CD so please make sure you understand it not for the album musically. Shoot the mixer!
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Tracked by 3 customers
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Showing 1-10 of 61 posts in this discussion
Initial post:
17 Aug 2011 14:17:51 BDT
Last edited by the author on 28 Feb 2012 04:30:41 GMT
Mr. R. G. Prizeman says:
On line it appears the debate on this album and the compression has already started with many upset at the vast compression used to crush the sound to fit an MP3 File, on the VU levels they almost remain static unable to identify any frequency change what a shame
In reply to an earlier post on
10 Dec 2011 20:38:49 GMT
Ian from Barnehurst says:
Would be interesting to know where you got this info?
In reply to an earlier post on
10 Dec 2011 20:58:52 GMT
Mr. R. G. Prizeman says:
its all over the internet, just put in Adele 21 sounds awful and read away, i then did some digging myself, after i bought the LP version hoping for a better sound it was not, I have a friend who will remain completely nameless who works for XL who advised me that the master was to DAT and more compression was used than normal, why who knows, This is one of the best artist ever ruined for the MP3 generation.
In reply to an earlier post on
10 Dec 2011 22:48:29 GMT
Ian from Barnehurst says:
Thanks for that, I'll certainly do a search. It's a shame about the sound quality.
Posted on
23 Feb 2012 18:45:32 GMT
Alexander J. Dunn says:
Dear Mr. Prizeman,
It's really interesting that you found this record to be so horribly compressed. I just wrote a review for this album in which I praised it's LACK of obvious compression. Don't get me wrong, I can hear it HAS been compressed a lot and there is a lot of noise present in the signal, but I actually thought that this record stood out for not being one of the victims of UNMUSICAL compression - I hear music that breathes and has vibrancy and dynamics while still using the studio tools so abused by the droves of loudness war victims. Let me know your thoughts, if you have time. All the best, Alex Dunn
In reply to an earlier post on
23 Feb 2012 19:41:11 GMT
Mr. R. G. Prizeman says:
Thanks Alex, i am listing to this album on quite a good hifi, Naim Audio Cd player power supply hi-cap and Naim amp's with Linn Speakers, what I did like many I placed the album in a a wave meter to measure the levels, what appears to happen with 21 and many modern recording is that the album reaches its peaks and the levels just don't move. As I just love Adele and her fantastic voice I purchased the Vinyl again the record deck is a Linn Sonder deck LP 12, the master is the same as the CD although not as loud i would say the sound is a little better the sound was the same. The quieter tracks do not suffer like the louder ones "Set fire to the rain" which is probably my favourite suffers more than others which for me is a shame. 21 is loud, maybe not as loud as say red Hot Chilli peppers Californication but loud. There is a debate on line re loudness war and 21 was mentioned, for me quality is far more important than volume as I can turn it up myself. I hope this does not come across patronising or the views that I know what I am talking about, i don't its just I researched what my ears heard, and almost cried at the way modern music was being mastered.
Posted on
26 Feb 2012 15:33:48 GMT
Abbafan1972 says:
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In reply to an earlier post on
26 Feb 2012 16:52:10 GMT
Alexander J. Dunn says:
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In reply to an earlier post on
26 Feb 2012 19:44:53 GMT
Last edited by the author on 26 Feb 2012 20:26:19 GMT
J Bullock says:
i have to disagree with both of you, this album has been the album of much debate and like many modern recordings compressed, I am not going to comment on the equipment you are listening the album on , but by your own admissions no the best, part of the problem with the music industry is they make music mainly for the I pod's and not for people who listen on proper HiFi equipment therefore the frequency range of recording is squashed thinking that many will not notice, as the frequency range is normally 128 bits (less than a mini disc) I Pod's, computer equipment or DVD/Bluray sending the signal in5.1 were never set up for the stereo medium.
In reply to an earlier post on
26 Feb 2012 19:53:21 GMT
Mr. R. G. Prizeman says:
Mate you are of cause able to disagree I just do not like the sound of compressed music, and this album is too loud, not allowing the natural music to come through. Kate Bush recently remastered the Red |Shoes from the original analogue tapes, and hearing that against the original digital version was amazing. Adele 21 is not the only victim here, the major problem is that the music industry ignore hiFi listing and now make for the I pod generation, or people who listen to music on computers, almost the same as why the Beatles mixed to Mono because that was how people listen. I am just fed up with music being turned up loud and the expense of quality. This album has its moments but look at the music through a sound monitor and its a disgrace. I am sure this sounds fine on headphones but on good listening equipment all the limitations of compression show up and ruin a fantastic album.
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