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

[Sal1950]

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?

IMO the only way to surpass the 1985 WB release in Sound Quality is with the 2005 Chuck Ainlay 5.1 remix on DVD-A or SACD, take your choice.
Then there's the new 2025 Guy Fletcher Atmos mix on BluRay, it's incredible. Hard to chose between the two but for me the extra soundspace room the Atmos mix allows reveals a bit more detail. The good news is if you get the BluRay, it contains ALL the material mentioned above and MORE, that is if you can find it. It sold out so fast as to make your head spin.YMMV

 

[Sal1950]

IMO the only way to surpass the 1985 WB release in Sound Quality is with the 2005 Chuck Ainlay 5.1 remix on DVD-A or SACD, take your choice.
Then there's the new 2025 Guy Fletcher Atmos mix on BluRay, it's incredible. Hard to chose between the two but for me the extra soundspace room the Atmos mix allows reveals a bit more detail. The good news is if you get the BluRay, it contains ALL the material mentioned above and MORE, that is if you can find it. It sold out so fast as to make your head spin.YMMV

Dang you know your getting old when you repeat yourself twice in the same thread within 10 days. Sorry friends

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

"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...

www.audiosciencereview.com

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

"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...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Limopard]

For the CD length version the BD stereo is my favourite, followed by the 1996 remaster, Mofi and the 1985 original. The 2025 CD is quite far behind and the less it's talked about the 2005 SACD the better. Don't know the XRCD.

For the vinyl edits I only have the BD, which sounds fine.

For vinyl: The 2021 45rpm half-speed is mighty fine, better than the 2014 (which is good too but sometimes a bit shrill/biting).

 

[dlaloum]

In 85 when the CD was released I was working in a "HiFi/AV" store - the band had a promotion deal with Pioneer, and all the Pioneer dealers received the CD, LP and Cassette version...

This was used for many many demo's.

Interestingly there is one distinctive feature of the mastering, that the 1985 version we received via Pioneer had that subsequent versions (and sadly every version I own) missed out on...

On Money for nothing, there is a lengthy intro, and then a Drum solo that "kicks off" with a solid kick drum thump... on a good setup, you would crank it up so the initial intro was reasonably loud, nicely audible, when the kick drum hit, you would get a solid chest thump and almost jump out of your skin....

On all the later masterings I have heard - that kick drum THUMP! - has been sadly neutered.... toned down, you can still hear it, but it totally lacks that visceral, "WAKE UP!" Thump.

Note: From memory, that thump was present on both the LP and CD...

About 15 years ago I visited a fellow audiophile, and Vinyl collector, and mentioned this, he pulled out 3 different LP masterings, and sure enough the earliest one he had definitely had the "thump" and the other ones didn't!!!

Yes the earliest versions also had very wide dynamic range - but some of the later ones had very wide dynamic range, but still used the neutered remastered version of the bass.

 

[Descartes]

"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?

So which one is the best!

 

[BJL]

So which one is the best!

It's in the full review on his website. The Atmos blu ray.

 

[Kiko1974]

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

Even at 44.1/16? Brothers in Arms was tracked and mixed down to 44.1/16, and regardless of what you do with It, this is the resolution one is going to get out of It.

 

[krabapple]

Even at 44.1/16? Brothers in Arms was tracked and mixed down to 44.1/16, and regardless of what you do with It, this is the resolution one is going to get out of It.

Shhhh. Reason has no place in discussions like this.

 

[BJL]

Even at 44.1/16? Brothers in Arms was tracked and mixed down to 44.1/16, and regardless of what you do with It, this is the resolution one is going to get out of It.

It may not be widely known. In the liner notes for the blu ray release, Guy Fletcher (who mixed the disc and produced in collaboration with Mark Knopfler) states that the album was recorded on a Sony 3324 digital recorder. The Sony 3324 records 24 tracks at either 44.1/16 or 48/16 (witchable.) Fletcher doesn't indicate which sample rate was used, but it is limited to 16 bits resolution.

In the liner notes, Fletcher states that he was able to locate and use the original digital multitrack masters to create both the 5.1 and Atmos mixes. Atmos is always mastered at 48/24 and consequently that version can provide audio quality identical to the source multitracks regardless of whether it was recorded at 48 or 44.1 sample rate. Higher sample rate remasters (such as the SACD) cannot provide any higher quality audio (assuming that the higher sample rate would ever make an audible difference.)

The review referenced by the OP in the original post indicates that the blu ray mastering is superb, and I am certain that anyone who is able to obtain a copy and give a listen will agree. Sadly the blu ray is out of print, though I believe that the Atmos version is available from streaming services, and I presume that given the popularity of the album, eventually the blu ray will be reissued.

 

[tineared]

I have the 20th Anniversary editions in both DVD-A and SACD (just in case my Oppo should die)
The blu ray seems to be going for around $100
I will pick up the blue ray version if I can, but I won't pay anywhere near $100 for it

 

[SHB]

The best version is the one Mark Knopfler feels best portrays his artistic vision.

Knopfler, being an audio nut is going to prefer whatever release is a perfect copy of the master that he likes most. That’s quite likely going to be the latest high resolution digital release.

I’d be very interested in knowing what he thinks. I have no interest in anyone else’s opinion on the subject.

Lists like this are an idiotic waste of time.

 

[BJL]

I have the 20th Anniversary editions in both DVD-A and SACD (just in case my Oppo should die)
The blu ray seems to be going for around $100
I will pick up the blue ray version if I can, but I won't pay anywhere near $100 for it

Check ebay there are copies for under 100.

 

[tineared]

Check ebay there are copies for under 100.

Thanks, I regularly check. They need to be more under $100 than they are

 

[BJL]

The best version is the one Mark Knopfler feels best portrays his artistic vision.

Knopfler, being an audio nut is going to prefer whatever release is a perfect copy of the master that he likes most. That’s quite likely going to be the latest high resolution digital release.

I’d be very interested in knowing what he thinks. I have no interest in anyone else’s opinion on the subject.

Lists like this are an idiotic waste of time.

This is an intemperate comment.

If you look at my post above, Mark Knopfler co-produced the Atmos release. Guy Fletcher, who did the mix, has been a musical collaborator with Mark for decades. I believe that you will find that most, if not all, of the finer Atmos releases have been done with either the active collaboration of the artists, or at minimum, with their review and approval. Most, if not all, members who post here have put some thought in, so it isn't "idiot" at all, these lists are a way to learn about the quality of releases.

Thanks, I regularly check. They need to be more under $100 than they are

Unless you are in the UK, the original price in the U.S. including shipping was around $46-$50 (depending on the spot exchange rate, so I guess you will have to be satisfied with the streaming version or wait for a reissue, or someone selling a used copy at a loss!

 

[Descartes]

I have the 20th Anniversary editions in both DVD-A and SACD (just in case my Oppo should die)
The blu ray seems to be going for around $100
I will pick up the blue ray version if I can, but I won't pay anywhere near $100 for it

I have two send me a pm I will sell you a copy if you want

 

[Descartes]

The best version is the one Mark Knopfler feels best portrays his artistic vision.

Knopfler, being an audio nut is going to prefer whatever release is a perfect copy of the master that he likes most. That’s quite likely going to be the latest high resolution digital release.

I’d be very interested in knowing what he thinks. I have no interest in anyone else’s opinion on the subject.

Lists like this are an idiotic waste of time.

That’s your opinion! Thank you for sharing others might disagree!

 

[babadono]

I am wondering if the BR is so good why is it not available? I mean why don't they make more?
The only copy I have is the original CD, it sounds wonderful. Play it often when I make any change to my set up as a reference.

 

[babadono]

I found my "old" CD on the DR database...DR measures as good or better than the BR. No wonder it sounds so dynamic
As long as I'm good with only a stereo mix at 16/44.1

 

[BJL]

I am wondering if the BR is so good why is it not available? I mean why don't they make more?
The only copy I have is the original CD, it sounds wonderful. Play it often when I make any change to my set up as a reference.

Brothers in Arms blu ray was released and sold by the SDE shop aka superdeluxeedition.com. These are licensed from streaming versions or versions that were incorporated originally into elaborate (meaning, expensive) box sets, although they sometimes have exclusive features (e.g. in the case of Brothers, an instrumental version.) The market for blu ray media sadly is quite small, notwithstanding the superior audio quality, and sales are limited by the licensing agreements.

Apparently it is a combination of the labels and consumer interest that limit the sales and production of physical media. Streaming, that is, temporary rentals, of music is apparently more popular.

There is a good article profiling the proprietor of the SDE shop currently in the Financial Times here:

Sorry the link I provided won't work, it is paywall blocked, I believe. Try an internet search. The article is current as of 12/18/25

 

[dlaloum]

I found my "old" CD on the DR database...DR measures as good or better than the BR. No wonder it sounds so dynamic
As long as I'm good with only a stereo mix at 16/44.1

There are also multiple differing CD releases - the early original release was IMO the most dynamic - 2nd release about a year later already toned down some of the dynamics.

They paid a lot of attention to recording quality and mastering in the initial release - and it was before the loudness wars, at a time when dynamic range was viewed as an indicator of high fidelity quality.... they also partnered with Pioneer at the time, and the recordings were issued also by Pioneer for use in demoing their equipment.

I doubt that subsequent masterings will better the initial release originals - there will be different high quality versions potentially, but "better" I think not.