The Who - By Numbers

[Mike Hunte]

What's the best version on CD?

[Leppo]

I like the original MCA.

[lukpac]

Anyone heard the Polydor?

[Leppo]

I have not, Luke. Does the mastering differ from the original MCA?

[lukpac]

I don't know. Hence my question.

[dudelsack]

I came within about a minute and a half of buying the original Polydor when I was in Europe the last time. Guess I should have splurged...

[Xenu]

I have the Polydor, but no MCA.

[Leppo]

Xenu, what peak levels does EAC display for the Polydor?

[Xenu]

I hate EAC logs.

I just have a CDR of it here. I don't think I did anything weird to it. Gimme a few and I'll check.

-D

[Xenu]

EAC extraction logfile from 4. May 2005, 18:56 for CD
Unknown Artist / Unknown Title

Used drive : _NEC NR-7800A Adapter: 1 ID: 1
Read mode : Secure with C2, accurate stream, NO disable cache
Read offset correction : 685
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No

Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo

Other options :
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Installed external ASPI interface


Track 1
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(01) Unknown Artist - Track01.wav

Peak level 99.4 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 5FD02D6D
Copy OK

Track 2
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(02) Unknown Artist - Track02.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC B4B61C18
Copy OK

Track 3
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(03) Unknown Artist - Track03.wav

Peak level 86.9 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC A6E4CCED
Copy OK

Track 4
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(04) Unknown Artist - Track04.wav

Peak level 84.0 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Copy CRC 3EA8B220
Copy OK

Track 5
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(05) Unknown Artist - Track05.wav

Peak level 90.2 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 46737B91
Copy OK

Track 6
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(06) Unknown Artist - Track06.wav

Peak level 97.1 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC ECAE6A5C
Copy OK

Track 7
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(07) Unknown Artist - Track07.wav

Peak level 80.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 2B953EB5
Copy OK

Track 8
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(08) Unknown Artist - Track08.wav

Peak level 49.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 48122C11
Copy OK

Track 9
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(09) Unknown Artist - Track09.wav

Peak level 84.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 3F53E50C
Copy OK

Track 10
Filename D:\temp\nutmeg\wbntemp\(10) Unknown Artist - Track10.wav

Peak level 81.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC B56287AE
Copy OK

No errors occured


End of status report

[Leppo]

The Polydor and original MCA appear to have the same mastering:

EAC extraction logfile from 4. May 2005, 23:45 for CD
The Who / By Numbers MCA Japan

Used drive : QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242 Adapter: 0 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure with C2, accurate stream, disable cache
Combined read/write offset correction : 0
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No

Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo

Other options :
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000


Track 1
Filename C:\By Numbers\Track01.wav

Peak level 99.4 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 2CD7337F
Copy OK

Track 2
Filename C:\Track02.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC C2949C07
Copy OK

Track 3
Filename C:\Track03.wav

Peak level 86.9 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC A6E4CCED
Copy OK

Track 4
Filename C:\Track04.wav

Peak level 84.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 3EA8B220
Copy OK

Track 5
Filename C:\Track05.wav

Peak level 90.2 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 46737B91
Copy OK

Track 6
Filename C:\Track06.wav

Peak level 97.1 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC ECAE6A5C
Copy OK

Track 7
Filename C:\Track07.wav

Peak level 80.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 0DA24EF6
Copy OK

Track 8
Filename C:\Track08.wav

Peak level 49.8 %
Track quality 99.8 %
Copy CRC 39229082
Copy OK

Track 9
Filename C:\Track09.wav

Peak level 84.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 3F53E50C
Copy OK

Track 10
Filename C:\Track10.wav

Peak level 81.0 %
Track quality 99.8 %
Copy CRC B56287AE
Copy OK

No errors occured

End of status report

[Xenu]

God, I hate Fang. Now, of course, I have to wonder about Who Are You?

That said, at least the Polydors generally *look* nicer than the MCAs. I wasn't even aware that some of the MCA CDs ever had full artwork until I stumbled across an MCA Who Are You with some back cover artwork a few weeks back (I would've grabbed it had it not been $7.99).

So Odds and Sods, Quad and WBN seem to have at least one pressing that matches. Odd that the only one I ever directly compared--The Who Sell Out--was distinctly different, as is A Quick One, obviously. Why would a different approach be taken with the 60s material? It's all the same label!

[JWB]

David -

You should REALLY start a website that CORRECTLY documents these different CD pressings. Call it the "White Fang is a moron" website or "a REAL audiophile's guide to The Who".

I have the current Canadian CD's of WBN and WAY if you want to compare those too....

[Xenu]

Right now, I just don't have time...let's wait 'til I graduate, kay? I mean, I barely have enough time to keep up with the Zappa site.

I'd be even more happy to do it if I weren't doing it alone!

[lukpac]

Who's Next is certainly different too.

Ryan already sent me a whole load of CD-Rs. I suppose some type of test is in order sometime.