Venus & Mars and Wings at the Speed of Sound: Paul McCartney Digital Sound Quality Guide
Picking the best digital versions isn't as easy as you might think
Welcome to my ongoing research on the best-sounding Paul McCartney CDs and high-resolution downloads. You will either find this a tedious journey that you wish to skip or a fascinating take on the CDs and hi-res downloads of titles in McCartney’s classic period.
I judged these different versions by comparing multiple tracks a/b to determine which sounded best. I also took dynamic range readings (DR) so that you can consider that as one factor in deciding which version you want if that matters to you.
I have only compared the digital versions I own, which is to say this is not an exhaustive list and there is a possibility that there is one or more that I haven’t heard that could be a “winner.” If you have a version that isn’t included here, I’d love your feedback if you’ve done any comparisons of your own.
Most of these are out of print. However, they can be found used on websites like Discogs, eBay, or Amazon. Some are more scarce and expensive than others, but there are surprises here: expensive doesn’t always mean better. I have linked the titles to their Discogs counterparts so you can get more information on whichever ones you like.
Venus and Mars (Wings, 1975)
Comparison of 8 Different Digital Releases of Venus and Mars (excluding bonus tracks):
Hear Music/MPL 2014 High Resolution Download 24/96; does not have distortion on Rock Show; this is the only time the first generation master has been used for a release of this title: DR10
MPL/Hear Music HRM-35652–00 2CD+DVD very little headroom, overly limited and compressed, does not have distortion on Rock Show; fatiguing DR9
Japanese Black Triangle CP32–5087; has the distortion on Rock Show (4:30); DR10
Toshiba TOCP-3129 (1993) Japanese version of the Paul McCartney Collection (4:30 into Rock Show there is distortion on the piano); DR10
Parlophone/MPL Paul McCartney Collection (4:30 into Rock Show there is distortion on the piano); DR10
CDP 7 46984 2 (UK) sounds veiled compared to download (4:30 into Rock Show there is distortion on the piano); DR10
DCC GZS-1067 more bass, kick drum more prominent (4:30 into Rock Show there is distortion on the piano); Despite Steve Hoffman/DCC’s claim that this is from the original master tapes, it isn’t, as evidenced by the common piano distortion that is on it, but not present on the high resolution download; DR10
Columbia CK 36801 (Made in Japan for US) CD DR10 (4:30 into Rock Show there is distortion on the piano)
Winner: Hear Music/MPL 2014 High Resolution Download 24/96; doesn’t have distortion on Rock Show; DR10
Note: This title has a lot of compression on the production master tapes. The relatively low DR10 is not the result of any added modern compression by the remastering engineer.
Wings at the Speed of Sound (Wings, 1976)
Comparison of 6 Different Digital Releases of Wings at the Speed of Sound (excluding bonus tracks):
DCC GZS-1096 Gold Disc Although the high-resolution download has slightly more treble than this, the 2 generally sound similar; DR12
Hear Music/MPL Archive Collection 2014 High Resolution Download 24/96 Kick drum more prominent than the UK CDP, otherwise sounds similar; DR12
HRM-35673–00 Hear Music/MPL Archive Collection CD They took the mastering of the High Resolution download and overly compressed and limited it. There is less dynamic range, and everything on it sounds loud; DR10
Capitol Records — CDP 7 48199 2 (US Silver Front CD) This features a different mastering than the UK CDP with less treble. It has less bass than the hi res download; DR12
Parlophone — CDP 7 48199 2 (UK Silver Front CD) This has a different mastering than the US CDP with more treble than that CD. It sounds thin, and the treble sounds boosted. In comparison, the hi-res has more bass without losing the treble and midrange; DR12
Parlophone — 0777 7 89140 2 0 The Paul McCartney Collection 1993 Sounds veiled, has the dreaded NR. It sounds like it has a high end roll off. This is the worst of the bunch; DR12
Winner: Hear Music/MPL Archive Collection 2014 High Resolution Download 24/96
Runner Up: DCC GZS-1096 Gold Disc
As always, your ears, and your mileage may vary (YMMV).
My $0.02 on the High-Res downloadable version's lack of distortion: that may have been digitally repaired, given every digital version of the album has the distortion, as does every vinyl version I've heard from the 1970s. That tends to point toward things being "fixed" by the folks at MPL before uploading the OGG/FLAC files. Note that I've yet to listen to the half-speed mastered vinyl from 2025 - I'd like to compare that to previously released vinyl/CD/digital sources.
Thanks for all your work on this! Sounds like you've taken up from Steve Shorten's vaunted work from "The 910," done many years ago.