Review of the Michael Jackson's album Thriller between 21 versions including Vinyls, CDs, cassettes, SACD, Streaming, MOFI releases, 360RA

[Jean.Francois]

Hello,

After a first review of the special 40th anniversary editions, it took me some time to realize the review of the Thriller album with 21 versions including Vinyl, CD, cassette, SACD including the new versions produced by MOFI from the analog master tape recorded in DSD256.

Thriller is the best selling album in the world, with more than 600 versions available, here is an overview of some of the characteristic versions, such as the US vinyl, Japanese, MasterSound, MOFI, the first CD as well as the 2001 and Thriller 25/40 editions, and two SACD versions. All these versions are completed by the streaming and Sony 360 Reality Audio versions.

Difficult to summarize the test in a few lines, but here are some characteristics encountered on the versions tested:

• For the CD version, the CD of 1983 transcribes a very nice dynamic (DR13) unlike the special edition of 2001 and for the anniversary editions of 25 years and 40 years.
• In the continuity, the streaming versions are all compressed in dynamics that it is for the version Thriller or the anniversary versions Thriller 25 and Thriller 40. However, there is an exception, the Qobuz version of the original album in Hi-Res 24 bits 176.4 kHz is the PCM version of the SACD edition and benefits from the best streaming rendering.
• The SACD versions bring the best of the digital versions with the MOFI SACD followed by the 1999 SACD.
• To finish with the digital versions, the version in 360 (RA) Reality Audio brings a great rendering in 7.1.4 restitution, but in binaural, this version does not follow the fineness and the presence of the stereo vinyl and SACD versions.

Statialization of the Tidal 360 RA (Reality Audio) in 7.1.4

Concerning the vinyl, the great curiosity is the MOFI version, this version is very clean with a quality pressing and a fineness of the details in the top of the spectrum, this fineness is partly due to the work of mastering made on this version. The curve below compares the spectrum of the japanese vinyl and the MOFI vinyl, we can see that the detail in the upper part of the spectrum is due to an accentuation of the vinyl above 12 kHz, accentuation going up to +7 dB.

Spectrum Vinyl MOFI (white) vs Vinyl Japanese 1982 (blue)

Among the other vinyls, we note the very good rendering of the Japanese vinyl version of 1982, which in addition to a very good pressing, gives a very good result to the listening, and it is also, the vinyl of 1982 which gives the best results to the measurements in particular on the cleanliness of the response curve.

You can find here the 21 versions with all the measurements and the extracts to compare them.

Enjoy listening

 

[RayDunzl]

Thriller is the best selling album in the world, with more than 600 versions available

It strikes me that there must be someone out there with all 600 versions...

 

[bkatbamna]

That is a lot of listening to the same album. Great job on the review. Distressing to see the compression and clipping on the streaming services. And the cassette version being more dynamic is amazing given that the cassette was made for dictation and not music.

 

[MattHooper]

Thanks, that was interesting. I actually have the new Mo-Fi vinyl version. Haven't listened to it yet.

 

[DanielT]

Among the other vinyls, we note the very good rendering of the Japanese vinyl version of 1982, which in addition to a very good pressing, gives a very good result to the listening, and it is also, the vinyl of 1982 which gives the best results to the measurements in particular on the cleanliness of the response curve.

You can find here the 21 versions with all the measurements and the extracts to compare them.

Enjoy listening

Would you look at that. Then all you have to do is start the old vinyl lathe.

 

[dasdoing]

there are 3 versions on Spotify, original, 25 and 40. I only listen to Billie Jean nowadays and find myself clicking on the 25 version most of the time. the original kick is a little "boxy", which the limiting fixes. though if I could I would chose the combo of the limited kick and the original snare. the limited snare indeed lost punch

 

[JPA]

The SACD is not multi-channel, correct?

 

[GaryH]

This is why I won't pay for any streaming service that doesn't universally offer the choice of the original releases instead of forcing remasters with destroyed dynamic range down our throats. Vote with your wallets.

 

[Jean.Francois]

The SACD is not multi-channel, correct?

Hello, SACD is only stereo, multichannel is available with 360RA or Dolby Atmos

 

[Jimbob54]

This is why I won't pay for any streaming service that doesn't universally offer the choice of the original releases instead of forcing remasters with destroyed dynamic range down our throats. Vote with your wallets.

Which service is that?

 

[DanielT]

This is how I look at this with dynamics. Yes, of course I want to have good dynamic recordings to listen to BUT I don't go so far as to first check if the sound quality, dynamics are "good enough" BEFORE I listen to a song or record. It will be what it will be because, for me, the music itself trumps the sound quality.
I will never opt out of good music with bad dynamics.

The best is of course the combination of good music, good dynamics, good recordings. But everyone wants that,so that said is probably mostly a statement of the obvious.

Having said that, I would like to have this vinyl record:
The vinyl record with the highest dynamic range on the loudness wars DB range side is a record by a Danish artist, Kim Larsen. DR-21:

Album details - Dynamic Range DB

Incidentally, there is good music on that record.

 

[DanielT]

 

[Derek Ashley]

there are 3 versions on Spotify, original, 25 and 40. I only listen to Billie Jean nowadays and find myself clicking on the 25 version most of the time. the original kick is a little "boxy", which the limiting fixes. though if I could I would chose the combo of the limited kick and the original snare. the limited snare indeed lost punch

Surely the boxy kick is what the artist / producer intended? Why try to mend it?

 

[dasdoing]

Surely the boxy kick is what the artist / producer intended? Why try to mend it?

well, it was intended to be reproduced on a 70ies sound system. we don't know how Swedien heard this.
anyways, while I am not generally oposed to the "as intended" concept, I don't like dogmas. If a remaster sounds better to me, I will prefer it.

 

[Derek Ashley]

well, it was intended to be reproduced on a 70ies sound system. we don't know how Swedien heard this.
anyways, while I am not generally oposed to the "as intended" concept, I don't like dogmas. If a remaster sounds better to me, I will prefer it.

Fair enough.

 

[Descartes]

Hello,

After a first review of the special 40th anniversary editions, it took me some time to realize the review of the Thriller album with 21 versions including Vinyl, CD, cassette, SACD including the new versions produced by MOFI from the analog master tape recorded in DSD256.
View attachment 246718

Thriller is the best selling album in the world, with more than 600 versions available, here is an overview of some of the characteristic versions, such as the US vinyl, Japanese, MasterSound, MOFI, the first CD as well as the 2001 and Thriller 25/40 editions, and two SACD versions. All these versions are completed by the streaming and Sony 360 Reality Audio versions.

Difficult to summarize the test in a few lines, but here are some characteristics encountered on the versions tested:

• For the CD version, the CD of 1983 transcribes a very nice dynamic (DR13) unlike the special edition of 2001 and for the anniversary editions of 25 years and 40 years.
• In the continuity, the streaming versions are all compressed in dynamics that it is for the version Thriller or the anniversary versions Thriller 25 and Thriller 40. However, there is an exception, the Qobuz version of the original album in Hi-Res 24 bits 176.4 kHz is the PCM version of the SACD edition and benefits from the best streaming rendering.
• The SACD versions bring the best of the digital versions with the MOFI SACD followed by the 1999 SACD.
• To finish with the digital versions, the version in 360 (RA) Reality Audio brings a great rendering in 7.1.4 restitution, but in binaural, this version does not follow the fineness and the presence of the stereo vinyl and SACD versions.

View attachment 246720
Statialization of the Tidal 360 RA (Reality Audio) in 7.1.4

Concerning the vinyl, the great curiosity is the MOFI version, this version is very clean with a quality pressing and a fineness of the details in the top of the spectrum, this fineness is partly due to the work of mastering made on this version. The curve below compares the spectrum of the japanese vinyl and the MOFI vinyl, we can see that the detail in the upper part of the spectrum is due to an accentuation of the vinyl above 12 kHz, accentuation going up to +7 dB.
View attachment 246719
Spectrum Vinyl MOFI (white) vs Vinyl Japanese 1982 (blue)

Among the other vinyls, we note the very good rendering of the Japanese vinyl version of 1982, which in addition to a very good pressing, gives a very good result to the listening, and it is also, the vinyl of 1982 which gives the best results to the measurements in particular on the cleanliness of the response curve.

You can find here the 21 versions with all the measurements and the extracts to compare them.

Enjoy listening

So is the MoFi SACD worth buying, I still own the Vinyl from 1982!

 

[Head_Unit]

This is why I won't pay for any streaming service that doesn't universally offer the choice of the original releases instead of forcing remasters with destroyed dynamic range down our throats. Vote with your wallets.

That does not fit their business models, so let's not hold our breaths. It's a great and valid point though. One reason I use Apple Music is you can upload your own stuff...hence CDs I really like won't get sold just in case of what you are talking about.

 

[DJBonoBobo]

Best sounding version:

 

[dasdoing]

Best sounding version:

he doesn't like the song lol

 

[DJBonoBobo]

he doesn't like the song lol

I think he is very playful in his covers, and they are not meant very seriously, but i don't think it is disrespectful. So much effort went into this...