Mirage Audio/Fidelity Quality Issue (My 2 cents)

**jbrownsjr** · #1 01-06-2005, 02:31 AM

Because I had Mirage on record album, I believe I appreciated it a lot more than I do now. My parents had huge JVC speakers and a JVC top shelf receiver. And Mirage really punched out at you on that system. (much like rumours - even though I think these two albums are nothing alike).

Songs like Hold Me, Eyes, That's Allright and others (so tight and crisp)

I just listened to Mirage on CD and it falls flat in intensity and recording level. All the highs are missing, and the lows are bland. It has little dynamic.

In closing I say this

For the love of God re-master this CD.....correctly and soon! so others may appreciate some of the elements missing on this analog (crap) cd recording.

strandinthewind · #2 01-06-2005, 11:26 AM

I agree - MANY have complained about the intergrity of the audio dynamics on the Mirage CD. I mean when the LP is better

GypsySorcerer · #3 01-06-2005, 01:02 PM

I like the "Mirage" album. Not my favorite, but I still think it's good. But the CD sound is horrid. I agree -- it needs to be remastered and re-released ASAP.

**jbrownsjr** · #4 01-06-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

The audio quality isn't very good at all. Am I the only one whose CD skips right before "Only Over You" starts?

That's in the song haha! Sounds like a skip

Lala · #5 01-06-2005, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

For the love of God re-master this CD.....correctly and soon! so others may appreciate some of the elements missing on this analog (crap) cd recording.

AMEN!

I've only heard the CD so I can't compare it to a vinyl verson BUT I definitely hear a difference between my CD and the remastered Mirage songs on The Very Best.

amber · #6 01-06-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Because I had Mirage on record album, I believe I appreciated it a lot more than I do now. My parents had huge JVC speakers and a JVC top shelf receiver. And Mirage really punched out at you on that system. (much like rumours - even though I think these two albums are nothing alike).

Songs like Hold Me, Eyes, That's Allright and others (so tight and crisp)

I just listened to Mirage on CD and it falls flat in intensity and recording level. All the highs are missing, and the lows are bland. It has little dynamic.

In closing I say this

For the love of God re-master this CD.....correctly and soon! so others may appreciate some of the elements missing on this analog (crap) cd recording.

I wonder if that's part of the reason i think Mirage sucks so much? (cept stevie's songs) The whole thing just sounds really shallow, metallic, tinny, unsubstantive, to me...maybe it could be better....

gldstwmn · #7 01-06-2005, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Because I had Mirage on record album, I believe I appreciated it a lot more than I do now. My parents had huge JVC speakers and a JVC top shelf receiver. And Mirage really punched out at you on that system. (much like rumours - even though I think these two albums are nothing alike).

Songs like Hold Me, Eyes, That's Allright and others (so tight and crisp)

I just listened to Mirage on CD and it falls flat in intensity and recording level. All the highs are missing, and the lows are bland. It has little dynamic.

In closing I say this

For the love of God re-master this CD.....correctly and soon! so others may appreciate some of the elements missing on this analog (crap) cd recording.

I know. I used to listen to the tape back in '82 on my ex father in law's JBL'S and it was fab. There is definitely something lacking in the CD's sound.

**jbrownsjr** · #8 01-06-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

I wonder if that's part of the reason i think Mirage sucks so much? (cept stevie's songs) The whole thing just sounds really shallow, metallic, tinny, unsubstantive, to me...maybe it could be better....

amber

Straight Back is my fav from Mirage and u can't even hear Christine's parts like you could on the album. That whole song is CM and SN. Spotlight it don't hide it!!!

The recording level is bad and unbalanced. Headphones helps a little.

HomerMcvie · #9 01-06-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

amber

Straight Back is my fav from Mirage and u can't even hear Christine's parts like you could on the album. That whole song is CM and SN. Spotlight it don't hide it!!!

The recording level is bad and unbalanced. Headphones helps a little.

I contend there are TWO versions of Straight Back! The original cassette version I have(the day it was released) doesn't have the guitar solo lines at the end. But on the cd version I have, it has the guitar lines. Go figure....

amber · #10 01-06-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

amber

Straight Back is my fav from Mirage and u can't even hear Christine's parts like you could on the album. That whole song is CM and SN. Spotlight it don't hide it!!!

The recording level is bad and unbalanced. Headphones helps a little.

I'll try that, if i can stand it. REISSUE!!! REISSUE!!! It's probably worse that i have crappy speakers...

golddustwoman77 · #11 01-06-2005, 07:05 PM

I personally think vinyl is better than CD any day of the week. Vinyls are warmer and richer sounding than CDs. CDs sound cold and steely to me. I own them for convenience for the car or for things that you can't purchase on vinyl. But if I'm listening on my stereo at home, it is vinyl for me. It doesn't matter what the album is--just my two cents.

But since we are talking about Mirage, I own Mirage on vinyl and CD both. Obviously due to what I said above, Mirage on vinyl is my choice. It is much warmer, richer, and punchier than the CD for sure!

estranged4life · #12 01-06-2005, 07:17 PM

the cd and the audio cassette and the cassette sounds much better...But I did make my own mix sourced disc from the cd which sounds much better than that awful low volume level cd does.

DWIG · #13 01-07-2005, 04:10 PM

Me and a mate, who were real FM enthusiasts, bought Mirage on Vinyl when it was first released. I remember goig Going to his house and him putting on the album - and I was amazed to hear that the version of Straight back was different to the one i had!!

I now know that this was another version of the song ( i guess the one without Stevie singing.....hours and hours of waiting for you!! is the rare version, but I was really pissed at the time thinking i didnt have the rare version with Stevie singing those lines)

Regardless, I love the song...and now have really good quality versions of both....however....just thought i'd share this titbit!!!!!!

DAVE

Alexbt · #14 01-08-2005, 06:54 PM

This talk of Straight Back is getting me confused.

I have the 'original' cassette (I believe it is, it was my Dad's), and a copy of the CD version from the iTunes Music Store. I didn't notice any difference in the arrangement, but I'll pay more attention this time.

JamieSPC · #15 01-13-2005, 02:06 PM

I have the audiophile version of the Mirage LP... picked it up in a used record store. It's apparently a different formula of vinyl... can't speak too intelligently about it since I'm right at the age that CDs were fairly prevalent by the time I had my own money to buy music. But apparently this version was also mastered at half speed.

Sonically the differences are stunning between this and the CD. Lindsey's vocals, though still highly processed, are much thicker and more "muscular." To me, the CD seems to be ALL highs (as opposed to what someone else here saying they were missing), making the whole thing sound thin. In fact, the full bit-rate CD all sounds like badly compressed MP3s to me: distorted cymbals; thin, "wavey" vocals and generally flat, even when EQ'ed to hell and back.

The vinyl was a revelation. Until the inevitable remastering that's been talked about so much on this board, dust off the turntable and pick this thing up, even if it's not the audiophile version. Vinyl is simply the only way to hear the whole of "Mirage" right now.

~Jamie