Disco de Led Zeppelin: “Definitive Collection [Box]”

For years I enjoyed the Jimmy Page box set versions of these tunes and thought the sound quality was pretty darn good. A couple years ago shortly after classic records announced they would stop pressing the catalog, I scooped up as many as the vinyl versions as I could, namely 'The Song Remains the same.' The CDs in this mini-LP set are the closest to that 'classic records' sound as I have heard thus far, and I am a vinylphile. I am fully satisfied with the sound. TSRTS is absolutely fantastic ( I haven't heard the recent warner re-issue yet ). The purposefully distorted and fat sound of the organ from No Quarter remains swirling in my mind while writing this review. This ain't the 1993 version of these songs and the packaging is an outstanding reproduction of the original. Do yourself a favor.... buy It!

I contacted Rhino and asked them point blank if these CDs are any different than the 1993 box set. I even asked for a senior person, preferably someone with expertise on this. They put me in contact with a guy who told me these are THE EXACT SAME CDs and are NOT SONICALLY DIFFERENT in any way, except for the packaging of course. So I don't understand all the confusion in these reviews, particularly those who claim it is different. I am not saying those people are lying but if the company who produces them says they are no different then it is case closed. So buy this ONLY if you want the cool packaging. I gave this three stars because it is Led Zeppelin and the packaging is phenomenal. But I detracted 2 stars because this is a deceptive cash grab. This is exactly the same as the 1993 box set.

5 stars if you don't have the '93 boxed set.

3 stars if you do--for reasons stated below.

As for this remix versus the 1993 remix, these ears--and my hearing is excellent, far better than average--there's not enough of a difference to justify spend $180 if you already have the latter. (I bought the '93 set for $78 new, from Amazon.) The only reason to buy this is the cool album art reproductions, but of course they won't, can't replace the killer album covers from my long lost LPs. But they do look cool.

If I didn't already have the '93 version, I'd probably buy this one for the reason stated. But unless money is no object, if you already have the 1993 boxed set, there's no reason to duplicate it. Pagey's got more than enough money; he's one of the richest musicians in the world.

The '93 versions are crisp, clean, beautiful--with each layer of guitar greatness easily discernible, Plant's voice sounds like he's in my living room, Jones' bass is fat and sassy, and Bonzo rattles the windows. (Just as he did when I was in high school--and the parents weren't home!)

And, frankly, I'm tired of the repreated "remixed" versions in the effort suck ever more dollars out of fans pockets--most of us over thirty have probably owned all these albums in two or even more formats. (And the '93 CDs were the second time I bought all the albums on CD!) Enough is too much!

There was, at the time of writing, one person who wrote a review of this set that claimed no sonic advantage over the previous releases. Well, I don't know what kind of 'system' he's listening through, but this is (by far)the finest-sounding version of these classic albums on the CD format. There is greater extension, improved soundfield & dynamics, greater impact & clarity, and most noticeable of all, a dramatic reduction in 'hiss' and surface noise. The sound varies slightly from album-to-album (just as it did on the original LPs), but every title sounds far superior to ANY release before these. By the way, these are NOT from Warner/Rhino, as Amazon says above. Warner/Rhino apparently HAS released a similar set; I have seen it on another site for considerably more money. These are the Japanese 'mini-LPs' (as shown in the video) - and despite what it says in another review, are re-mastered versions; some copies utilizing a process called SHM-CD (playable on any CD player and identified by those letters stamped near the center hole).

Japanese pressing plants are virtual 'clean rooms' - and these CDs reflect the greater attention to detail (smoother edges and a perfectly-round center-hole, to start), both the discs themselves as well as the superb sleeves (perfectly true to every detail; even including the 'Houses Of The Holy' paper sleeve around the original LP). Even with Page's involvement, the LZ catalog always sounded compressed and somewhat flat - this process has suceeded in breathing new life into these tracks.

P.S. I would like to add that I have now heard the "SHM" version (check out some of the blogs if you're confused) side-by-side on the same $200K system and was unable to tell them apart. Both sound outstanding, and with the apparent large difference in price, I would suggest buying these from Amazon before they're out of print (as they surely will soon be).

5 star for the material itself

3 star for the lack of SHM for North American markets

I think one reviewer talks about SHM as a remastering technique. Although most SHM titles are remastered, SHM is 'super high material' CD which is a manufacturing & materials process primarily. This results in better transparency of the coating layer and optics, which in theory results in less information loss, digital jitter, etc.. I thought any difference would be minimal but I ordered a 2 CD sampler from Japan called "Have You Ever Been Experienced" - they have a various artists SMH disc and the exact same disc on standard CD. They put their money where their mouth is - and yes, it CLEARLY sounds better on my equipment. I don't think anyone disagrees that it is audibly different. There seems to be more bass, a little more detail and a fuller overall sound. Actually, the mere existence of SHM and the audible difference is tantamount to an admission that CD technology has been fundamentally flawed because of poor materials and optics. Yes, CDs have been a very durable format (I have been buying since 1984) but they are not even doing the job of delivering on the full promise of 44.1Khz and 16 bit audio if they can clearly be improved on in this way. Audiophiles buy disc 'cutters' that render CDs perfectly round by shaving the edge, optical enhancement materials, markers, cover discs, and players with special clamping mechanisms/transports to try and reduce jitter and maximize retrieval of information from the disc.

So why do North American customers get inferior product? (like the Genesis and Depeche Mode non-SACD box sets). I think someone dropped the ball big-time here.

I don't see therefore how anyone can call this a 'definitive' collection if there is a better one elsewhere...What I saw in retail stores here in Canada is even made in Japan! So they made it there, but not in SHM for us... thanks...really... The SHM version is more than twice the price from Japan, but if you want a 'definitive' set, it's probably the way to go