Buying updated versions of CDs

Many of us have bought remastered versions of albums we may have bought years ago.  I know I have.  Now some collectors will keep both copies just to have their collections complete.  Others will sell their original since the sound quality isn't as nice and get their money back out of the more rare album.

Which do you do?

I get used to how it sounds so a reissue usually sounds weird to me.

I only have a few of these, and quite frankly I'm having a hard time letting go of the original copy...even though I only listen to the reissue.  (I selected A, but I'm far from a "completeist"

i'm one of the fools they're after, I have to buy everything...it drives me CRAZY! my prime example is Saint. I love Saint but man how many re-issues of re-issues of re-issues of WOS do we need? and for certain bands, Saint being one, I just buy everything they put out...what a sucker i am

With Saint, I just simply asked Rich to send me the updated files because I didn't want to have to rebuy them.  He did.  So, I have the original CD but the updated MP3s.  That works, I guess.

I am thinking of selling a few originals that I have like Eternal Ryte, Recon, Guardian's "First Watch", Mastadon's first one, a few Bride CDs, etc.  Some of the reissues are just about as rare.

For me it's mostly the other way around. I only buy the remaster if i can't find an original print. If i do find one i keep the remaster.

I had a hard time voting as it depends on the situation. There are some of these types of albums where I have the rerelease because I can't get an original. In some cases, I have the reissue because it has bonus tracks. In some cases, I have both...

I'm the collector . . . I want them all!!!! 

Alldat, keep me in mind if you ever wanna get rid of that First Watch. Been wanting that one for quite some time now.

I don't selll the extra copy of the CD, but never listen to it.
That's why I've decided not to buy updated versions of CDs anymore.

I don't feel as passionately as the first option, but that's basically me.  I keep the original, but rarely listen to it.

ishmael81 wrote:

I had a hard time voting as it depends on the situation. There are some of these types of albums where I have the rerelease because I can't get an original.

I have more than a few of those myself.

I'm not usually fortunate enough to have an original AND a remake, but when I am I definitely keep both. Even if the original sucked production-wise.

I guess point A is me... I dont view myself as a completeist anymore...

But I rarely sell my old stuff....

I may have to get rid of some updated versions.  To be honest, I don't much care for the new Recon or Eternal Ryte (done in 2007) as they bring everything up to the point that the rhythm guitar is lost to the bass and bass drum.  All you've done is create loudness--not louder with clarity.  There has to be a balance as music from the 80's doesn't need to be slammed the same as music that is written to be played that way.

I voted 'c' which best fits my outlook but it's a case-by-case sorta thing.

kerrick wrote:

I voted 'c' which best fits my outlook but it's a case-by-case sorta thing.

Like with Iron Maiden or My Silent Wake? 

Hahahaha yeah pretty much... 

alldatndensum wrote:

I may have to get rid of some updated versions.  To be honest, I don't much care for the new Recon or Eternal Ryte (done in 2007) as they bring everything up to the point that the rhythm guitar is lost to the bass and bass drum.  All you've done is create loudness--not louder with clarity.  There has to be a balance as music from the 80's doesn't need to be slammed the same as music that is written to be played that way.

what they call brick walling...

That's exactly right, Mr.Electric47!  It is so loud overall that you feel like you just got slammed into a brick wall!

Remasters should be clear, louder but not maxed out, and the stereo field increased or excited.  This makes the album better without making too many changes in it.  When you bring out the low end too much or give it too much of a modern sound, it can actually make a long time fan of an album reject it because it just doesn't sound right.  If done well, remastering should increase the volume while just accentuating what is already there.