Beatles Review – Abbey Road Remastered CD

posted by Rob on September 14, 2009 at 1:38 am | Comments (52)

I still have about a week to go before my Beatles boxed sets arrive, but in the meantime, I broke down and bought the remastered version of Abbey Road (originally released in 1969) for $13 at J&R Music World, just so I’ll know what to expect from this whole project and to let everyone know how it compares to the original 1987 CD.

I’ve listened to the old Abbey Road CD and this new remastered version several times on my computer through headphones (Sony MDR-CD570) and on my home stereo system through speakers (Yamaha HTR-5540 receiver, JVC XV-523 DVD/CD player, and EPI T/E 100 Series II speakers). The audio from my DVD player is connected to my receiver using an optical digital cable. My headphones and speakers are able to reproduce clean, strong low frequencies, crisp, clear high frequencies, and an even tone in between. True, this isn’t the most expensive, high-end audiophile equipment ever created, but it’s still a nice setup and allows me to study all of the details of the music I’m listening to.

With all of the hype and praise surrounding the Beatles remasters, I was expecting to be blown away by the improvement in sound quality on the 2009 CD vs. the 1987 CD. As much as I want to believe that this new version is a huge improvement, it simply isn’t. A few of the songs sound slightly better, a few of the songs sound identical, and a few of the songs sound slightly worse. Read on…

The Packaging

Abbey Road by The Beatles (1987 CD vs. 2009 remastered CD, front) – click to enlarge

I don’t know how it’s packaged in the boxed set (UPDATE September 22, 2009: the stereo CDs are packaged the same individually as they are in the boxed set), but the individual remastered Abbey Road CD comes in a foldout cardboard sleeve and features the original album artwork on the front and back. The CD that was released in 1987 features a slightly cropped version of the front of the album and a severely cropped version of the back:

Abbey Road by The Beatles (1987 CD vs. 2009 remastered CD, back) – click to enlarge

I like the cardboard sleeve because it introduces less plastic into our environment, but I know that if I handled it on a regular basis, it’d eventually get damaged and fall apart, whereas my plastic jewel cases from the 1980s are still in good shape. I don’t have to worry though because now that the CD is ripped to my computer, I’ll hardly ever touch the sleeve (or the disc) again. From now on, I’ll listen to the songs on my computer, listen to them on my portable MP3 player, or connect my MP3 player to my stereo system and listen to them that way.

Inside the sleeve are more photos of the band, plus two pockets: one to hold a booklet featuring linear notes and photos and the other to hold the CD. It also includes an advertisement for the boxed sets and The Beatles: Rock Band video game:

Abbey Road by The Beatles (2009 remastered CD, inside) – click to enlarge

Abbey Road by The Beatles (2009 remastered CD, inside) – click to enlarge

The disc itself now resembles “Side 1″ of an old Apple record label, as opposed to the 1987 disc’s no-frills treatment. Nice touch!

The Remastering

On a technical level, the remastering on this album has put my mind at ease regarding the loudness war. There’s no obvious brickwall limiting and none of the peaks reach 0.0 dB, which is great, especially in today’s world of clipped and distorted music CDs. The highest peaks on this album reach -0.24 dB, which could still introduce distortion on some devices, but this is far better mastering than any CD I’ve bought in the last decade or so. Here’s the waveform of the 2009 remastered version of “Come Together”:

The Beatles “Come Together” remastered waveform (2009) – click to enlarge

To compare, here’s the waveform of “The Fact Remains” from Juliana Hatfield’s 2008 CD How to Walk Away:

Juliana Hatfield “The Fact Remains” waveform (2008) – click to enlarge

As you can see, “Come Together” by The Beatles was properly mastered and “The Fact Remains” by Juliana Hatfield wasn’t. “The Fact Remains” is a catchy, straightforward pop rock song, not a hard-core heavy metal song, so why is it 3.26 decibels louder than “Come Together”? That extra loudness came at the expense of dynamic range and sound quality. It’s another case of a great song ruined by poor mastering.

Here’s the waveform from the digitally remastered version of “Come Together” on the Beatles 1 CD, released in 2000:

The Beatles “Come Together” 1 remastered waveform (2000) – click to enlarge

The 1 CD was definitely a victim of the loudness war. That version of “Come Together” is missing 3.57 decibels of dynamic range compared to the 2009 remastered version and the peaks reach -0.01 dB instead of -0.37 dB. It’s even slightly louder than “The Fact Remains.” Additionally, there’s a boost in the mid-range frequencies that isn’t present in the 1987 or 2009 versions. This is easily the worst sounding version of the three.

For comparison’s sake, here’s the waveform from the original Abbey Road CD, released in 1987:

The Beatles “Come Together” 1987 waveform – click to enlarge

When I adjust the peaks of the 1987 version to reach 0.0 dB, the average level is -15.36 decibels. That means the 1987 version features an additional 1.37 decibels of dynamic range vs. the 2009 remaster. In theory, this is disappointing because I wanted the remastered version to preserve even more dynamic range than the old version, not less. In reality though, the difference is so small that it isn’t noticeable.

The Songs

Here’s my rundown of the various CD versions of each song:

1. “Come Together”

The 1987 CD version features the most dynamic range and has the most even, balanced tone. The low frequencies are clear and the song sounds crisp and alive. The 2009 remastered version features almost as much dynamic range as the 1987 version and sounds nearly identical. I noticed a very slight boost in the low frequencies and a very slight cut in the high frequencies. Overall, the bass and drums are slightly less defined and the song is slightly less crisp. This version still sounds good, but it isn’t an improvement over the old version.

The 1 version from 2000 features the least dynamic range and the mid-range frequencies have been boosted. As a result, the drums and bass lack the warmth and impact from the 1987 version and the song lacks clarity overall. The bluesy, mysterious magic is gone. This is the worst sounding version of the three.

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2. “Something”

The 2009 version features just as much dynamic range as the 1987 version. I noticed a very slight boost in low frequencies, high frequencies, and overall presence, resulting in a slight improvement over the old version. The snare drum and vocals are definitely crisper now. Also, it’s barely noticeable, but the left channel is slightly louder and the right channel is slightly softer than before.

Again, the 1 version from 2000 features the least dynamic range out of the three.

Here’s an audio clip comparing the 1987 version (first) to the remastered 2009 version (second):

Listen:

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Download:
30 second MP3 file – 1.2 MB (right-click to save)

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3. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”

The 2009 and 1987 versions sound almost identical and feature nearly the same amount of dynamic range. The remaster features a slight boost in the low frequencies and a slight cut in the high frequencies.

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4. “Oh! Darling”

The remastered version features nearly as much dynamic range as the 1987 version. The tone is slightly more balanced, with a tiny boost in the low frequencies and a tiny cut in the mid-range and high frequencies. The new version is a minor improvement over the old version, but it’s barely noticeable. Here’s an audio clip comparing the 1987 version (first) to the remastered 2009 version (second):

Listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
34 second MP3 file – 1.3 MB (right-click to save)

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5. “Octopus’s Garden”

Once again, the remastered version sounds almost identical to the 1987 version and both feature the same amount of dynamic range. The remastered version features a slight boost in the high frequencies. Also, the left channel is slightly louder and the right channel is slightly softer than before, so the lead guitar is more centered now. I suppose the 2009 version is an improvement overall, but just barely.

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6. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”

Even though the remastered version is missing 1.35 dB of dynamic range compared to the 1987 version, they both sound nearly identical.

Also, one of my readers Wayne pointed out to me: from roughly 16 seconds to 17.5 seconds, the 1987 version features an extremely subtle hum in the low frequencies that was removed from the 2009 remastered version. When I listen very closely to the old version, I can hear the faint hum and Ringo keeping the beat softly in the left channel during the rest after John’s “I want you…” In the new version, the hum is gone, which is fine, but Ringo’s soft tapping has become practically inaudible. It doesn’t ruin the song at all, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway.

Here’s an audio clip comparing the 1987 version (first) to the remastered 2009 version (second). Listen closely for Ringo’s tapping around six seconds in:

Listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
27 second MP3 file – 1.0 MB (right-click to save)

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7. “Here Comes the Sun”

The remastered version is missing 2.05 dB of dynamic range compared to the 1987 version. There’s also a very slight boost in the low frequencies. Overall though, both versions sound nearly identical.

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8. “Because”

The remastered and 1987 versions feature roughly the same amount of dynamic range. Overall, both versions sound nearly identical.

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9. “You Never Give Me Your Money”

Even though the remastered version is missing 0.95 dB of dynamic range compared to the 1987 version, they both sound nearly identical.

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10. “Sun King”

In this case, the remastered version features a 0.78 dB increase in dynamic range compared to the 1987 version. Overall, both versions sound nearly identical.

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11. “Mean Mr. Mustard”

The remastered version is missing 1.48 dB of dynamic range compared to the 1987 version. There’s also a slight cut in the high frequencies. As a result, the song doesn’t sound as crisp as the old version, especially the drums. Here’s an audio clip comparing the 1987 version (first) to the remastered 2009 version (second):

Listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
32 second MP3 file – 1.3 MB (right-click to save)

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12. “Polythene Pam”

The remastered and 1987 versions feature roughly the same amount of dynamic range. There’s a very slight cut in the high frequencies, but both versions sound nearly identical.

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13. “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window”

Again, the remastered and 1987 versions feature the same amount of dynamic range. In the remastered version, there’s a slight boost in the low frequencies and a slight cut in the high frequencies. I noticed the remastered version sounds duller than the 1987 version. The old version sounds crisper and punchier, especially the drums, percussion, and vocals. Here’s an audio clip comparing the 1987 version (first) to the remastered 2009 version (second):

Listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
34 second MP3 file – 1.3 MB (right-click to save)

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14. “Golden Slumbers”

Even though the remastered version is missing 0.82 dB of dynamic range compared to the 1987 version, they sound nearly identical.

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15. “Carry That Weight”

Even though the remastered version is missing 0.7 dB of dynamic range compared to the 1987 version, they sound nearly identical.

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16. “The End”

The remastered version is missing 1.19 dB of dynamic range compared to the 1987 version. There’s also a slight boost in the low frequencies and a slight cut in the mid-range frequencies. Also, the left channel is slightly louder and the right channel is slightly softer than before.

Overall, the section with the guitar solos doesn’t sound as crisp now. The three guitars sound slightly duller and quieter, the snare drum isn’t as defined, and the hi-hats have a bit less presence. This version isn’t bad, but it isn’t quite as clear and exciting as the old one. Here’s an audio clip comparing the 1987 version (first) to the remastered 2009 version (second):

Listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
35 second MP3 file – 1.3 MB (right-click to save)

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17. “Her Majesty”

In this case, the remastered version features a 1.4 dB increase in dynamic range compared to the 1987 version. Overall, both versions sound nearly identical.

The Mini-Documentary

Abbey Road by The Beatles (2009 remastered CD, mini-documentary) – click to enlarge

Included on the remastered Abbey Road CD is a 3:53 mini-documentary that can be played on a computer. It’s comprised of film clips, moving photographs, brief studio outtakes, and comments from Paul McCartney, George Martin, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. The video can be played in a small window or in a much larger “fullscreen” mode.

For someone like me who’s a huge Beatles fan, the best part of the documentary was getting to hear outtakes I’ve never heard before. I’m fascinated by that kind of behind-the-scenes audio from their recording sessions and would love it if more was available. I know most people would find this pointless and borderline psychotic, but I bet I could listen to every Beatles tape in EMI’s vault from beginning to end, take after take, and not get bored.

Abbey Road by The Beatles (2009 remastered CD, mini-documentary) – click to enlarge

The mini-documentary is a nice inclusion, but don’t expect more than a few interesting photos and sound bites. It’s okay though, I bought the CD to listen to the music.

Closing Comments

The Beatles remasters have been praised so much these last two weeks that I was expecting to experience this album like never before. I wanted so badly for that to be true, but it just isn’t the case. I was planning on posting waveform comparison images of every song from both versions of the album, but they look so similar to each other after being normalized that there’s no point.

Yes, three songs sound slightly better now (“Something,” “Oh! Darling,” and “Octopus’s Garden”), but three songs sound slightly worse (“Mean Mr. Mustard,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” and “The End”). I’m on the fence about “Come Together.” I prefer the slightly more defined bass and drums in the 1987 version, but I know that a lot of people prefer more emphasized bass these days, even if it means sacrificing some low end clarity.

Should you drop everything, rush to the store, and immediately buy this new CD? Not necessarily. If you already own the old Abbey Road CD, you’re fine. You aren’t missing out on anything major, which means either the new CD could’ve been mastered better or the old CD was mastered almost perfectly.

The reviewers and fans who claim this new version sounds better than ever haven’t listened to the old version recently, because that version still sounds fantastic. The biggest difference between the two CDs is loudness. Most of the songs on both versions feature roughly the same amount of dynamic range, but the peaks in the remastered CD are higher than in the 1987 one. What does that mean? Basically, if you turn the volume up a notch or two while playing your 1987 Abbey Road CD, it’ll mostly sound just as good as (and in a few cases better than) the remastered version.

At first, I was disappointed that this new, hyped up version sounded almost identical to the supposedly inferior 1987 version, but then I realized the Beatles’ earlier albums probably benefited from the remastering much more than Abbey Road did. I can only assume albums like Please Please Me, With the Beatles, and Beatles for Sale were mastered more sensitively than their Capitol Albums Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 counterparts and were transferred from even better sources. I have a feeling those will be some of the real gems of this four-year-long project. I’ll find out once my boxed sets arrive.

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