The Same But Somehow Different

 

Michael Jackson - Thriller [ UD1S 1-042 USA 2022 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

A controversial release for many reasons and most who follow the quality audio forums, will know the MoFi Thriller remains the source of a few untruths and further speculation. The biggest selling album of all time was first released on November 29th 1982, therefore making this year its fortieth anniversary. Sony have chosen to repackage a compressed 2016 digitally sourced remaster for its commemoration and also allow Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab to make a DSD256 transfer from the original master recording for this nicely packaged 'limited edition' of 40,000.

Some will be up in arms believing that MoFi have remixed or eq'd the transfers (it is a known fact that you can't EQ DSD) for their one-step package, however they have not and the DSD transfer reveals how the Quincy Jones master tapes really sounded before the 1982 pop-chart compression was applied to the final mastering by Bernie Grundman for the original release. Those who know that album really well will immediately hear the difference, so this will be a matter of individual preference. 

Other mastering engineers have warned against cutting DSD files to vinyl due to the potential for sibilance, the MoFi team have done well to make the key singles sound great (but somehow different), however they have possibly taken the ears off the ball with some of the side B smoochier numbers.

Hats off to the MoFi engineers for letting us hear the original Quincy Jones production, however bad form for their last seven year of digital lies.

A1 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

A2 Baby Be Mine

A3 The Girl Is Mine

A4 Thriller

B1 Beat It

B2 Billie Jean

B3 Human Nature

B4 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

B5 The Lady In My Life