Here is my 1 cent takeaway: I've had the DVD-A since it was released 17+ years ago. I loved it then and I still love it now. With that said I rated both "10."
1. The DVD-A still sounds brilliant, yes at times it's a bit bright, but I think Tim Weidner did a heckuva job with what he had back when DVD-A was in it's infancy and maturity all at the same time. I even found this review "This DVD-Audio version of
Fragile is a stunning revisitation of these classic tracks...When a piece reaches the point of fullness, it gradually expands to the surrounds to create an airy, yet understated, effect...these high resolution mixes absolutely ruin your ability to listen to standard CDs...his is, at the present, the definitive release of
Fragile, and the only way to fully enjoy it..." (
https://web.archive.org/web/2009071...lbits.com/reviewsdvdasacd/yesfragiledvda.html). I can just imagine if the reviewer had a chance to revisit the DVD-A and the much newer SW mix on Blu Ray, what would he muse.
2. The Blu Ray...deserves 10+++ not only for the quality of the music, the 96/24 LPCM and 96/24 dts, but for the overall wealth of material here: Original and 2015 stereo mixes, additional tracks, exclusives, instrumentals, a "vinyl" transfer, and not only the 2015 SW 5.1 mix but also the ability to toggle to the 2002 Weidner mix!
11.27.2019 edit:
Did some unscientific A/B'ing of South Side of the Sky LPCM - 2002 vs. 2015 and I stand by my 10 for both overall as they are both unique in their own rights and deserve independent ratings. Both are similar but of course very different. The 2015 is a bit crisper and cleaner but seems to lack a touch of bass punchiness that the 2002 has. I do love the more aggressive surround nature of the 2015 version, however the 2002 mix has more of a lead up to the surrounds, with the music mainly in the front three. It feels to me that Steve Howe's guitar is more prominent in the 2002 version of this song.
