Search - The Beach Boys :: Pet Sounds

Regarding the Audio Fidelity version

Cabinessence | USA | 05/06/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There are some good and bad aspects of this release.



Good:

- The sound is much better than the official CD and marginally better than the bass-heavy DCC. If you like the DCC's sound, then save your $30. If you think the DCC is a little bottom-heavy, then splurge on this. It is more open and present, though one should keep in perspective the fact that we're talking about a mono recording from the '60s. It's no sonic marvel.

- That's about it. Try before you buy on your local BitTorrent tracker to see whether the sound is for you.



Bad:

- A weird tape drop-out at the beginning of "I'm Waiting for the Day" that is not present in the DCC or any other CD versions.

- A huge gap between "Sloop John B" and "God Only Knows" that supposedly mimics the time in between flipping a record. One of the nice things about listening to CDs is that you don't have to take time to get up and change sides. I have never noticed this on any other digital release and think it's annoying. Others may disagree.

- Why and how does this sound different from the DCC? Both of them say they were from the original master tapes, which is obviously false information as noted in previous reviews. I don't buy this stuff about the so-called Kensei Audio Transformer--there has been EQ tweaking on the DCC, the AF, or both. This is either a good or bad thing depending on your opinion of the results.

- The packaging, advertised as "deluxe," is embarrassing. The slipcase looks like it was printed on grandma's 10-year-old inkjet and my copy has little bubbles under the sticker on top of the CD. I have read a lot about broken teeth and cracking, which is not surprising given the flimsiness of the case. Audio Fidelity is clearly a slapdash operation skating by on Hoffman's name recognition.

- The price. Then again, it's cheaper than a used copy of the DCC.



All in all, I don't regret my purchase but I'm close. The 1970s C&TP vinyl reissue is better, but this is probably the best available digital version."

Not FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTERS!

Ashra | Canada | 04/29/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"It's now very well known that the labelling on this disc is deceptive - it was NOT taken from the original analog master tape, but from a second generation copy and DAT. Sonically, it is not bad, but not anywhere close to the earlier gold CD from the now defunct DCC. Not enough of an upgrade over the last Capitol remaster to be worthwhile."

Worst Pet Sounds version ever

Cory Geurts | Portland, OR United States | 01/06/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Read the other reviews carefully - this edition of my favorite album is a disgrace. The sound is terribly dead, has drop-outs and plenty of tape hiss, and the flimsy packaging is hopeless. I have Pet Sounds in at least a dozen different formats, and this one is the WORST sonically. The gold disc does not matter at all in this case. Stick with the DCC, the reissued vinyl LP, or the 40th Anniversary mono/stereo editions. Pet Sounds Sessions box set is also a must-have, and even the "bonus" mono-only disc in the Pet Sounds Sessions box set sounds better than this. Pass on this one and spend your money elsewhere."