Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms

Superb pressing! Vinyl is flat and quiet with absolutely no distortion. The treble and mid-range are detailed and transparent. The bass is deep and tight -- punches with authority. Of note, because the album is two records pressed on 45 rpm, the full version studio tracks are included as opposed the edited tracks on the 33 rpm single record. I remain very impressed with the Abbey Road Half-Speed Master vinyl pressings. They rank among the best pieces in my collection. Highly recommended!

It's worth noting that the original CD mix on here is a different mastering than the one on the 3CD/streaming. The 3CD is significantly more compressed/less dynamic than how it appears here.

Both stereo mixes sound fantastic.

The 1985 original LP mix would appear to be the original master with no limiting applied.

The 1985 original CD mix would appear to a remaster though and have a subtle amount of limiting applied, but it is subtle and it has an RMS that is 4 dB louder. It is still dynamic certainly by modern mastering standards and it benefits from the extra power. I understand that this is the remaster done by Miles Showell and used to cut the double 45 rpm half-speed mastered vinyl.

Here is what Miles Showell said on this

https://superdeluxeedition.com/interview/dire-straits-and-mark-knopfler-half-speed-mastering-details-revealed/

“Compression-wise I have a gorgeous Analogue Tube AT-101 which is a really faithful recreation of the legendary Fairchild 670, but without 60 years of wear and tear and indifferent maintenance. This is an all tube (valve) design and it is incredible. I should stress that at no point is the sound seriously compressed for these albums, but if you want a rock record to rock, then some subtle compression can really hit the spot.”

Blew me away from the very first listen! Multichannel mix is superb as is the stereo one.

You can still buy https://www.discogs.sitioby.com/release/34036421-Dire-Straits-Brothers-In-Arms online for £25 plus P&P.

Live album is poorly mastered. Hi Hat sound too loud..

The main album sounds super compressed and dull. The live stuff is very dynamic though.

Welp the Dire Straits box sets have been great so far but this one is a disaster on CD/streaming. This version is quite compressed and dull sounding. In fact, it's second lowest dynamic version of this album (the least dynamic being the 2005 CD).

Every other CD master of this album sounds so much better that it's comical. Which is a shame because it deserved so much more. I've never heard a bad sounding version of this album but they pulled it off... It seems to be a decision from UMG because Miles Showell also mastered the vinyl set and Blu-ray and they sound fantastic.

The snare doesn't stand out like it's supposed to and the percussion on Ride Across the River sounds unexpressive and plain. Dissapointed.

The live stuff is uncompressed but can be a bit dull at times (although still pretty good for what it is). If you want the live stuff, get this set but play a different CD for the main album.

Disappointed with the inner sleeves which are wrinkled due to the glue used to secure the inner plastic.
It’s a 130€ not a 30€ box. Please.

Why would anyone spend 120 bucks for an album we already have and a live recording is beyond me. Especially when the CD version only costs 20. I guess one could call that "money for nothing"...