Each to their own - I quite like the Natalie Merchant & Stone Temple Pilots discs and would never get rid of them... but for example I can't listen to Elton John - GBYBR - its waayyy to bright. I like all the other EJ Sacds though...
We're all different - that's what make life interesting eh???
Oh yes! Of course, it wouldn't do for us all to be the same!
It's interesting though because I dislike the Natalie Merchant & STP DVDAs for their surround mixes, as much as anything, especially the NM. The NM album itself is nice, it's the poor use of surround on her DVDA that does it for me.
The STP I fear I may never like but I'm willing to give it another try soon and see! On first listen the surround was very lacking, almost double stereo dreck.. but that's to be revisited another day!
I agree GYBR is very bright. I do think that's inherent to the original recording though, as every version I've ever heard has been varying degrees of bright!
Even now I own at least 6 different formats/masterings of that album, with the exception of the DJM vinyl and the Limited Edition yellow vinyl (which both from memory sound different, yet both still on the bright side) I've played all of the others in the last 6-8 weeks and can attest they go from..
- ear-blisterringly bright: high-res stereo on SACD/DVDA being the worst offender,
- the 95 remaster similarly too bright,
- the DVDA/SACD M/C still bright but less so than the SACD or Gus Dudgeon stereo and at least the brightness is spread around the room making it seem less fatiguing (just for me personally),
- the original DJM CD from the mid 80's i feel has been treble boosted a bit (could be totally wrong, could be flat) but is still really very nice, for this album,
- and the MFSL Ultradisc II being least bright.. but still a bit bright.. I think for YBR, the MoFi sounds wonderful. the drums in particular are a revelation on this mastering.
