Brothers in Arms in 2025, 40 th anniversary : Which Format Delivers the Best Sound? CD, LP, Streaming, Blu-ray, SACD, Stereo to Atmos

[Jean.Francois]

"Brothers in Arms" is the fifth studio album by Dire Straits and remains the band’s greatest commercial success, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide, including around 2 million in France.

Released in May 1985, the album received a Grammy Award in 1986 for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, recognizing its outstanding sound quality.

Pioneering for its time, Brothers in Arms was one of the very first albums to be recorded using the Sony 24-track digital tape recorder. It quickly became a reference album for promoting CD players, making full use of the format’s wide dynamic range. Its fully digital production—indicated by the DDD label, meaning digital recording, mixing, and mastering—marked a turning point in audio engineering.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of this iconic album, we’re updating our comparison with the addition of new anniversary editions released in spatial audio, available on CD, vinyl, and a limited SDE Blu-ray edition with Dolby Atmos mix. This is also the perfect opportunity to include two SACD versions (20th anniversary and SHM) in the test.

For this review, 18 versions are now tested :

Ed 1: Japanese Vinyl Vertigo ref 28PP-1005 – 1985

Ed 2: Vinyl Vertigo Back To Black 3752907 remastered – 2014

Ed 3: Vinyl MOFI MFSL 2-441 remastered – 2015

Ed 4: SACD MOFI? UDSACD2099 remastered – 2013

Ed 5: CD Vertigo 824 499-2 – 1985

Ed 6: CD Warner Bros Records? 9 477732 USA Remastered SBM – 2000

Ed 7: Vinyl Abbey Road Studio ARHSDLP004 – 2021

Ed 8: Streaming Amazon HD – 1985

Ed 9: Streaming Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2022

Ed 10: Vinyl Record 40th anniversary – 2025

Ed 11: CD 40th anniversary – 2025

Ed 12: Blu-ray 1985 CD Version Stereo Mix – 2025

Ed 13: Blu-ray 1985 Vinyl Version Stereo Mix – 2025

Ed 14: Blu-ray 2005 5.1 Mix – 2025

Ed 15: Blu-ray 2022 Dolby Atmos Mix – 2025

Ed 16: SACD 20th anniversary – 2005

Ed 17: SACD 20th anniversary 5.1 mix – 2005

Ed 18: SACD SHM – 2014



The waveform of the 40th Anniversary CD - version 2025 shows a low dynamic range for this album, as confirmed by the waveform curve.

The 40th anniversary CD edition offers little interest in this album. The only real interest lies in the second album included in the box set, “San Antonio Live in 85”, which has been remixed specifically for this release and will be the subject of a review shortly.

The SDE bluray edition is very interesting because it includes stereo CD, Stéreo Vinly, the 5.1 version corresponding to the 20th anniversary SACD, and of course the Dolby Atmos TrueHD version which offers specialization and reproduction finesse.

Average spatialization of the Dolby Atmos TrueHD version



As for the added SACDs, the 20th-anniversary version has limited dynamics, as does the 40th-anniversary CD version. It's the SHM edition of the SACD that offers the best rendering of these two SACDs.

waveform of the 20th Anniversary SACD:

Discover the full review here ([link]), featuring 18 versions analyzed and compared. Samples are also available, so you can compare the different versions as you listen.


Enjoy rediscovering this legendary album!

Jean-François



Find reviews of other Dire Straits albums:

Encores – Review (Vinyl , Download, CD)

Dire Straits – Money For Nothing – Review (Tidal Dolby Atmos, LP, CD, Qobuz, 1988, 1996 remastered 2022)

On Every Street – Review – (Test: MOFI vinyl record 45 rpm SACD and CD 1991 1996 2000, Tidal Music HD and vinyl record from Back To Black ). What’s wrong with the MOFI and Back To Black vinyl records?

 

[Watire]

There should be a Nobel prize for what you're doing @Jean.Francois !

 

[Mysta]

Interesting article today regarding this of not seen...

Mastering Legend Refused to Touch This Classic Album After Hearing What the Label Offered

His stance exposes the compromises labels often push when remastering classic albums.

www.headphonesty.com

 

[Matt_Holland]

The magic of this album is not lost regardless of the issue. Hell, I’d love it in AM on a crappy portable radio.

 

[Matt_Holland]

The version available on Amazon in the UK is the 1996 remaster at 24bit 44.1KHz.

It doesn’t look like any of the 18 editions in the review are from the 1996 remaster?

 

[Jean.Francois]

The version available on Amazon in the UK is the 1996 remaster at 24bit 44.1KHz.

View attachment 473222

It doesn’t look like any of the 18 editions in the review are from the 1996 remaster?

Indeed, I haven’t tested any of the 1996 versions yet. Of course, it’s difficult to go through every available release, but I’ll look into adding it to the 18 other versions I’ve already reviewed.

 

[Oddball]

I do enjoy all of them - but really appreciate the effort to pin point the best of them.

 

[jmdesignz2]

I do enjoy all of them - but really appreciate the effort to pin point the best of them.

But which is best and how to get it??

 

[BJL]

But which is best and how to get it??

The SDE Blu Ray with the 2022 Atmos mix (and also includes an Atmos instrumental version, two stereo versions and a 5.1 dts MA HD version). You can find copies on the secondary markets, if you see one at an acceptable price, get it right away, you won't regret the purchase.

The Atmos mix is exquisite, brings out details you might miss in the stereo mix (or that were buried). Spatialization is precise. It will take advantage of all of your speakers, and it sounds amazing, even if you don't have height speakers. The dynamic range is full and apparent.

That mix is also available from streaming services. I have never heard it because I don't have any subscriptions to those services. The full review referenced in the first post said that the streaming version was very good, but not as good as the blu ray due to compression. This of course is something that audio and music enthusiasts debate endlessly.

I can tell you that if you get the blu ray it will blow you away, but I can't say anything about the other media because I have not heard them.

 

[Jean.Francois]

The SDE Blu Ray with the 2022 Atmos mix (and also includes an Atmos instrumental version, two stereo versions and a 5.1 dts MA HD version). You can find copies on the secondary markets, if you see one at an acceptable price, get it right away, you won't regret the purchase.

The Atmos mix is exquisite, brings out details you might miss in the stereo mix (or that were buried). Spatialization is precise. It will take advantage of all of your speakers, and it sounds amazing, even if you don't have height speakers. The dynamic range is full and apparent.

That mix is also available from streaming services. I have never heard it because I don't have any subscriptions to those services. The full review referenced in the first post said that the streaming version was very good, but not as good as the blu ray due to compression. This of course is something that audio and music enthusiasts debate endlessly.

I can tell you that if you get the blu ray it will blow you away, but I can't say anything about the other media because I have not heard them.

Indeed, the Blu-ray is superb..
To fully appreciate the quality difference between Dolby Digital Plus Atmos (streaming at 768 kbps) and Dolby TrueHD Atmos on Blu-ray (variable bitrate, averaging 7000 kbps), here is a comparison (link) of the two formats with samples that let you hear the impact of the lossy format.

 

[Sal1950]

The SDE bluray edition is very interesting because it includes stereo CD, Stéreo Vinly, the 5.1 version corresponding to the 20th anniversary SACD, and of course the Dolby Atmos TrueHD version which offers specialization and reproduction finesse.

This is going to get a ton of completely subjective responses but what a Wealth of Riches this material to chose from.
The 1985 CD was one of the first to show what an incredible sounding medium the new little silver discs were.
Those made from the Chuck Ainlay 2005 5.1 master only add to the wealth available on SACD and DVD-A discs
The latest 2025 ATMOS BluRay only adds to the riches.
The only clinkers were a few of the 2005 20th LW compressed Anniversary releases, do your homework and you can't get burned.

 

[Audionaut]

Great work @Jean.Francois

For the sake of completeness, here is the version available for streaming in Germany on Amazon.

In stereo

Atmos

 

[jmdesignz2]

Great work @Jean.Francois

For the sake of completeness, here is the version available for streaming in Germany on Amazon.

View attachment 483215

In stereo

View attachment 483216

Atmos

View attachment 483217

what is the DR of those tracks ?

 

[Sal1950]

what is the DR of those tracks ?

I can't test Amazons stream but if they are providing what they say and I don't believe they would be doing any compression of their own.
This is what's on the BluRay,

 

[krabapple]

Whole lotta sighted comparison judgements going in those articles, typically emerging when the 'finesse' of 'high frequencies' in SACDs are mentioned. But it's nice to have the objective data and its obvious a ton of work has gone into it.

I'd suggest instead of overlaying frequency plots, generating a difference plot, which shows differences much more clearly (and it's important to use a high FFT to measure low bass accurately)

 

[terryforsythe]

"Brothers in Arms" is the fifth studio album by Dire Straits and remains the band’s greatest commercial success, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide, including around 2 million in France.

Released in May 1985, the album received a Grammy Award in 1986 for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, recognizing its outstanding sound quality.
View attachment 460242


Pioneering for its time, Brothers in Arms was one of the very first albums to be recorded using the Sony 24-track digital tape recorder. It quickly became a reference album for promoting CD players, making full use of the format’s wide dynamic range. Its fully digital production—indicated by the DDD label, meaning digital recording, mixing, and mastering—marked a turning point in audio engineering.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of this iconic album, we’re updating our comparison with the addition of new anniversary editions released in spatial audio, available on CD, vinyl, and a limited SDE Blu-ray edition with Dolby Atmos mix. This is also the perfect opportunity to include two SACD versions (20th anniversary and SHM) in the test.

For this review, 18 versions are now tested :

Ed 1: Japanese Vinyl Vertigo ref 28PP-1005 – 1985

Ed 2: Vinyl Vertigo Back To Black 3752907 remastered – 2014

Ed 3: Vinyl MOFI MFSL 2-441 remastered – 2015

Ed 4: SACD MOFI? UDSACD2099 remastered – 2013

Ed 5: CD Vertigo 824 499-2 – 1985

Ed 6: CD Warner Bros Records? 9 477732 USA Remastered SBM – 2000

Ed 7: Vinyl Abbey Road Studio ARHSDLP004 – 2021

Ed 8: Streaming Amazon HD – 1985

Ed 9: Streaming Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2022

Ed 10: Vinyl Record 40th anniversary – 2025

Ed 11: CD 40th anniversary – 2025

Ed 12: Blu-ray 1985 CD Version Stereo Mix – 2025

Ed 13: Blu-ray 1985 Vinyl Version Stereo Mix – 2025

Ed 14: Blu-ray 2005 5.1 Mix – 2025

Ed 15: Blu-ray 2022 Dolby Atmos Mix – 2025

Ed 16: SACD 20th anniversary – 2005

Ed 17: SACD 20th anniversary 5.1 mix – 2005

Ed 18: SACD SHM – 2014



The waveform of the 40th Anniversary CD - version 2025 shows a low dynamic range for this album, as confirmed by the waveform curve.
View attachment 460243


The 40th anniversary CD edition offers little interest in this album. The only real interest lies in the second album included in the box set, “San Antonio Live in 85”, which has been remixed specifically for this release and will be the subject of a review shortly.


View attachment 460244
The SDE bluray edition is very interesting because it includes stereo CD, Stéreo Vinly, the 5.1 version corresponding to the 20th anniversary SACD, and of course the Dolby Atmos TrueHD version which offers specialization and reproduction finesse.


View attachment 460245
Average spatialization of the Dolby Atmos TrueHD version



As for the added SACDs, the 20th-anniversary version has limited dynamics, as does the 40th-anniversary CD version. It's the SHM edition of the SACD that offers the best rendering of these two SACDs.

waveform of the 20th Anniversary SACD:
View attachment 460246



Discover the full review here ([link]), featuring 18 versions analyzed and compared. Samples are also available, so you can compare the different versions as you listen.


Enjoy rediscovering this legendary album!

Jean-François



Find reviews of other Dire Straits albums:


View attachment 460247
Encores – Review (Vinyl , Download, CD)


View attachment 460248
Dire Straits – Money For Nothing – Review (Tidal Dolby Atmos, LP, CD, Qobuz, 1988, 1996 remastered 2022)


View attachment 460249
On Every Street – Review – (Test: MOFI vinyl record 45 rpm SACD and CD 1991 1996 2000, Tidal Music HD and vinyl record from Back To Black ). What’s wrong with the MOFI and Back To Black vinyl records?

Fantastic music and recordings. "Brothers in Arms" and "On Every Street" are CDs I often play. "Brothers in Arms", for a long time, was my go to recording for listening testing.
I agree with the Grammy award to "Brothers in Arms" for the best engineered album of that era. Indeed, I think it still is one of the best engineered rock albums to this day. I pull the speakers out away from the wall, place them to form somewhat of a triangle with my listening chair, and it is magic.

 

[jmdesignz2]

Fantastic music and recordings. "Brothers in Arms" and "On Every Street" are CDs I often play. "Brothers in Arms", for a long time, was my go to recording for listening testing.
I agree with the Grammy award to "Brothers in Arms" for the best engineered album of that era. Indeed, I think it still is one of the best engineered rock albums to this day. I pull the speakers out away from the wall, place them to form somewhat of a triangle with my listening chair, and it is magic.

We are brothers in ASR

 

[jmdesignz2]

Fantastic music and recordings. "Brothers in Arms" and "On Every Street" are CDs I often play. "Brothers in Arms", for a long time, was my go to recording for listening testing.
I agree with the Grammy award to "Brothers in Arms" for the best engineered album of that era. Indeed, I think it still is one of the best engineered rock albums to this day. I pull the speakers out away from the wall, place them to form somewhat of a triangle with my listening chair, and it is magic.

I have the Made in Japan pressing of Brothers in Arms in the smooth sided cd jewel case.
Ripped to ALAC since my other dbpoweramp would not process the Matsushita pressing for some reason. It sounds amazing though even at 16/44. I think I'll get the west german pressing and see if there is a difference LOL

 

[ShadowBoxer]

In my collection I can't think of any CD that gives my system higher SQ than DDD BIA.

Can anyone else think of one that equals it?

 

[jmdesignz2]

In my collection I can't think of any CD that gives my system higher SQ than DDD BIA.

Can anyone else think of one that equals it?

Which version pressing do you have?

There’s a seemingly vast number of different pressings.

Matsushita made in Japan

Matsushita, West Germany

Polydor, West Germany

W. Germany

Those are the earliest versions I’ve seen