Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms

Both stereo mixes on the Blu Ray sound fantastic.

The original 1985 LP mix on the Blu Ray is ever so slightly more dynamic than the original 1985 CD mix on the Blu Ray which appears to have had a subtle degree of compression/limiting applied to it and has an RMS that is circa 4 dB louder.

Both mixes sound fantastic but the CD mix has a touch more power than the LP mix but is still has good dynamics.

I am guessing the original LP mix here was the original master used to cut the original vinyl from and the waveform would corroborate this, no sign of limiting and a few isolated instantaneous peaks.

Where the original CD mix on the Blu Ray actually originates from is a mystery as I would not expect the original 1985 CD to have any limiting applied, which would suggest what we have here is a remaster of some form, but I could be wrong. However the limiting is very subtle but definitely limited nonetheless.

Paul Sinclair stated on SDE.com in the comments section to Blu Ray release that the original 1985 CD mix included was the remaster done by Miles Showell. I think the only remaster Miles did was for the half-speed 45rpm vinyl released 4 years ago which did incidentally use the full unedited CD mix. In an interview 4 years ago about this Miles did confirm that he had applied a degree of analogue compression to his digital master used to cut the vinyl from.

So unless the 40th anniversary 5LP is a new remaster again by Miles (this set includes the extended CD mix across 2 of the 5 discs) it is likely that the Blu Ray CD mix is Miles’s remaster from 4 years ago.

Either way there is no doubt that the CD mix on the Blu Ray has a subtle level of compression/limiting applied.

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.

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

You can still buy https://discogs.futbolgratis.org/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"...