To celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Pyromania”, Def Leppard is offering fans an immersive experience with the release of the album in Dolby Atmos, with mixing supervised by Giles Martin. This is the version we’ll be comparing with the stereo versions (Super Delux edition, CD 1996 and CD MFSL).
This special edition also includes a super deluxe 4-CD/Blu-Ray box set, which includes previously unreleased demos and live recordings from the era, as well as a book of rare photos and recent interviews with the band members. You can listen to an extract from the iconic hit “Photograph” to compare versions.

Should I buy the remastered version box set?
Is blu-ray the best medium for this reissue?

For this review, you will find 9 versions tested: Tidal , Tidal Super Deluxe, Tidal Dolby Atmos, CD 1986, MOFI CD MFSL and Box with CD and Blu-ray (Stereo, 5.1, Dolby Atmos TrueHD).

Below you will find the description of the different editions, as well as the measurements of each edition in the following chapters.

The album is composed of 10 tracks:

1. Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
2. Photograph
3. Stagefright
4. Too Late For Love
5. Die Hard The Hunter
6. Foolin’
7. Rock Of Ages
8. Comin’ Under Fire
9. Action! Not Words
10. Billy’s Got A Gun

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Tidal – 2024

Presentation

This is the Tidal presented in FLAC 16 bits 44.1 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR8

The Tidal Max waveform shows a low dynamic range due to the dynamic limiter used, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range from to DR8.

The spectrogram of the stereo version of Tidal shows that the signal goes down to 20 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

This Tidal edition is presented with a dynamic compression compared to the original CD versions, there is no indication of the master used for this version, which remains less pleasant and lively than the CD version.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2)

Sample : ”Photograph” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Ed 2: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2024

Presentation

This is the Tidal Dolby Atmos presented in Dolby Digital Plus or AC-4.

Below the spatialization for all tracks. Click on the images to zoom in.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR13

The waveform of the Tidal Atmos version downmixed in 2.0 shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR13.

The spectrogram of the Dolby Atmos track downmixed in stereo is limited to 20kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to Dolby Digital Plus encoding, which is a lossy encoder that limits bandwidth to optimize data size for a bit rate of 768 kbits/s.

Synthesis and listening

The Dolby Atmos mix is very successful, making good use of the different sound channels depending on the track, while retaining the energy and power of each song.
“Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)”: Channel exploitation with an elarged soundstage for the music.
“Photograph”: Very good dynamics, lots of sound power in the retranscription, extended to all channels, with choirs taking up all the space.
“Stagefright”: concert atmosphere, with all the energy of the music taking advantage of the multiplication of channels.
“Too Late For Love”: musical ambience on all channels for music and vocals.
“Die Hard The Hunter”: full use of all channels.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●●●●oooo (6)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Photograph” 7.1 Dolby Atmos (Downmixed in 7.1) :

The sample is in 7.1 wav format, if you can not play the sample in your navigator, you can save it, right button menu and “Save Audio As…” and play it with an external player.

Sample : ”Photograph” Dolby Atmos (Downmixed 2.0) :

Ed 3: Tidal Super Deluxe – 2024

Presentation

This is the Tidal Super Deluxe presented in FLAC 16 bits 44.1 kHz with 43 bonus tracks in 4 volumes corresponding to the CD box set.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR8

The Tidal Max waveform shows a low dynamic range due to the dynamic limiter used, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range from to DR8.

The spectrogram of the stereo version of Tidal Super Deluxe shows that the signal goes down to 20 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

This version is a paradox: on the one hand, the work has given greater precision to the sound rendering, with a reworked spectrum balance, while on the other, the dynamics have been compressed.
It’s a pity that the loudness war is present on the work done on this anniversary version!

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3)

Sample : ”Photograph” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Ed 4: CD – 1986

Presentation

This is the french CD (1986 ref 810 308-2) presented in FLAC 16 bits 44.1 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR12

The Tidal Max waveform shows a high dynamic range confirmed with DR12.

The spectrogram of the stereo version of CD (1986) shows that the signal goes down to 20 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

The original CD released in France is the digital stereo version closest to the album’s original mix, with all the dynamics desired at the time.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Photograph” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Ed 5: CD MOFI – 1989

Presentation

This is the MFSL CD (1989 ref UDCD520) presented in FLAC 16 bits 44.1 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR11

The Tidal Max waveform shows a high dynamic range confirmed with DR11.

The spectrogram of the stereo version of CD MFSL shows that the signal goes down to 20 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

The MOFI CD is very close to the original CD, but with a little more presence in the lower midrange. Appreciation of this difference in sound balance will depend on your tastes. The rendering remains dynamic.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Photograph” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Ed 6: CD – 2024

Presentation

The CD is part of a Box edition Super Deluxe including 4 CDs and a bluray. This is the rematered version of the album

Waveform and Spectrum: DR8

The Tidal Max waveform shows a low dynamic range due to the dynamic limiter used, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range from to DR8.

The spectrogram of the stereo version of CD (2024) shows that the signal goes down to 22 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

This CD version of the Deluxe box set features the same rendering and dynamic range limitation as the Tidal Super Deluxe version.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3)

Sample : ”Photograph” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Ed 7: Blu-ray stereo – 2024

Presentation

The blu-ray is part of a Super Deluxe Box Edition including 4 CDs and a blu-ray. The PCM stereo track is used in this new mix version.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR9

The Tidal Max waveform shows a low dynamic range due to the dynamic limiter used, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range from to DR9.

The spectrogram of the stereo version of blu-ray stereo track shows that the signal goes down to 22 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

The blu-ray’s new stereo mix offers a sound balance closer to the original version than the remastering used for the CD 2024 and Tidal Super Deluxe editions, but with dynamic compression too!

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3)

Sample : ”Photograph” 24 bits 48 kHz:

Ed 8: Blu-ray 5.1 – 2024

Presentation

The blu-ray is part of a Super Deluxe Box Edition including 4 CDs and a blu-ray. The 5.1 track encoded in DTS-HD Master Audio 24 bit 48 kHz is used in this edition.

Below the spatialization for all tracks. Click on the images to zoom in.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR12

The blu-ray 5.1 waveform shows a high dynamic range confirmed with DR12.

The spectrogram of the 5,1 version of blu-ray shows that the signal goes down to 22 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

The 5.1 version of the blu-ray brings all the dynamics of the new mix with a very nice 5.1 rendering. Even if it doesn’t bring as much spatialization as the Dolby Atmos version, this version works very well on a 5.1 system, with a first level of immersion and a beautiful sonic power of the music.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●ooo (2.6)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Photograph” 5.1 24 bits 48 kHz:

The sample is in 5.1 wav format, if you can not play the sample in your navigator, you can save it, right button menu and “Save Audio As…” and play it with an external player.

Ed 9: Blu-ray Dolby Atmos – 2024

Presentation

The blu-ray is part of a Super Deluxe Box Edition including 4 CDs and a blu-ray. The Dolby Atmos track encoded in Dolby Digital TrueHD (lossless) 24 bit 48 kHz is used in this edition.

Below the spatialization for all tracks. Click on the images to zoom in.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR13

The waveform of the blu-ray Dolby Atmos TrueHD version downmixed in 2.0 shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR13.

The spectrogram of the Atmos downmixed in 2.0 version of blu-ray shows that the signal goes down to 24 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

The Dolby Atmos version of the blu-ray is offered with a lossless encoding (Dolby Digital TrueHD) providing a more precise rendering in terms of spatialization, finesse of restitution and also in terms of sound power. This is the best version available for this reissue.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●●●●oooo (6)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)

Sample : ”Photograph” 7.1 Dolby Atmos (Downmixed in 7.1) :

The sample is in 7.1 wav format, if you can not play the sample in your navigator, you can save it, right button menu and “Save Audio As…” and play it with an external player.

Sample : ”Photograph” Dolby Atmos (Downmixed 2.0) :

Here’s another example of the damage caused by the loudness war that appeared on the album’s reissues, partly spoiling the work done on the 40th anniversary version.
It’s with the original or MOFI versions on CD that you’ll retain the original mix and dynamics.
The pleasant surprise comes from the Dolby Atmos version, which brings a beautiful spatialization and, above all, reproduces all the energy of the songs! Particularly on blu-ray, which offers lossless quality, but is unfortunately only available in a box with the 4 CDs.

Dynamic Range measurements and spectra are shown below.

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Measurements

Dynamic Range comparaisons

Dynamic represents the ability to reproduce a wide range of sounds from the softest to the loudest. The target is to compare the dynamics of the music and not of the media (CD, digital files or vinyl).

A comparison of waveforms adjusted to -14.2 LUFS integrated clearly shows the impact of limiting dynamics on the Tidal stereo version (DR8).

For our 9 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Tidal – 2024	Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2024	Tidal Super Deluxe – 2024	CD – 1986	CD MOFI – 1989	CD – 2024	Blu-ray stereo – 2024	Blu-ray 5.1 – 2024	Blu-ray Dolby Atmos – 2024
Global	DR0	DR13	DR8	DR12	DR11	DR8	DR9	DR12	DR13
Min	DR7	DR12	DR8	DR11	DR10	DR8	DR9	DR11	DR12
Max	DR9	DR15	DR8	DR13	DR12	DR8	DR9	DR13	DR14
Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)	DR7	DR13	DR8	DR12	DR11	DR8	DR9	DR11	DR13
Photograph	DR8	DR13	DR8	DR13	DR12	DR8	DR9	DR12	DR13
Stagefright	DR8	DR12	DR8	DR11	DR10	DR8	DR9	DR12	DR12
Too Late For Love	DR8	DR13	DR8	DR13	DR12	DR8	DR9	DR13	DR13
Die Hard The Hunter	DR9	DR15	DR8	DR13	DR11	DR8	DR9	DR13	DR14
Foolin’	DR8	DR13	DR8	DR13	DR12	DR8	DR9	DR13	DR13
Rock Of Ages	DR8	DR14	DR8	DR12	DR11	DR8	DR9	DR11	DR14
Comin’ Under Fire	DR8	DR13	DR8	DR12	DR11	DR8	DR9	DR13	DR13
Action! Not Words	DR8	DR13	DR8	DR13	DR11	DR8	DR9	DR13	DR13
Billy’s Got A Gun	DR9	DR14	DR8	DR13	DR11	DR8	DR9	DR13	DR14

As a reminder, the scale goes from 0 to more 20, but the dynamics are considered good from 12, quite good between 10 and 11, and deteriorate below 10.

Spectrum comparisons

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tidal – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the CD – 1986 (blue curve).The two curves overlap over almost the entire spectrum, with a very slight difference above 7 kHz (less than 1 dB).

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2024.
The spectrum of Tidal Dolby Atmos version decoded in 7.1 shows that all channels are used. The yellow arrow indicates the high-frequency limit at 20 kHz due to Dolby Digital Plus encoding. The bass channel is filtered at 120 Hz (green arrow). The Dolby Digital Plus encoding algorithm that cuts frequencies at 20 kHz to reduce data size in order to maintain the bit rate of 768 kbits/s.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tidal Super Deluxe – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the CD – 1986 (blue curve).A great deal of work has gone into the sound balance of the 2023 version, with a rise in treble (yellow zone) of up to 10 dB at 20 kHz. The bass is also impacted (green zone), with a difference of between 1 and 4 dB below 350Hz. The result should be a more physiological listening experience.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the CD MOFI – 1989 (white curve) with the spectrum of the CD – 1986 (blue curve).The MFSL CD offers a slightly different sonic balance to the 1986 CD, with the lower midrange emphasized (green zone) up to 3 dB, and a slight attenuation between 3 kHz and 7 kHz (yellow zone), which should result in a less clear version than the 1986 CD.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the CD – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Tidal Super Deluxe – 2024 (blue curve).The two versions overlap perfectly, with a maximum frequency of 22 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency used.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Blu-ray stereo – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the CD – 2024 (blue curve).Significant work has been carried out on the sound balance of the CD 2024 version, with an increase in treble (yellow zone) of up to 10 dB at 20 kHz. Bass is also impacted (green zone), with a difference of 1 to 4 dB below 350Hz. The result should be a more physiological listening experience compared to the new stereo mix on blu-ray (closer to the original version).

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Blu-ray 5.1 – 2024.
The spectrum of the blu-ray 5.1 shows that all channels are used. The yellow arrow indicates the high-frequency limit at 24 kHz due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used. The bass channel is filtered at 120 Hz (green arrow).

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Blu-ray Dolby Atmos – 2024.
The spectrum of Blu-ray Dolby Atmos TrueHD version decoded in 7.1 shows that all channels are used. The yellow arrow indicates the high-frequency limit at 24 kHz due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used. The bass channel is filtered at 120 Hz (green arrow).

Detail of the ratings :

• Dynamic :
  1. Significant dynamic compression, DR less than 7
  2. Compression of the present dynamics, DR between 7 and 9.
  3. Correct piece DR >=10
  4. No dynamic compression (DR >12), dynamic rendering
  5. No dynamic compression, high DR and very dynamic sound rendering
• Spectrum :
  1. Spectrum cut and less than 15 khz
  2. Spectrum cut at 15 khz
  3. Spectrum not conforming to the original and cut (not HD) or original but limited bandwidth (but less than 20 kHz)
  4. Spectrum conforming to the original (but not HD)
  5. Spectrum conforming to the original with HD resolution (higher than 24kHz)
• Surface noise (only for vinyl):
  1. Continuous audible noise
  2. Audible surface noise except on passages with a high level of noise
  3. Reduced surface noise, barely audible on low level crossings
  4. Low surface noise, very good quality
  5. Very low surface noise, no defects, almost inaudible on the quiet passages (exceptional disc)
• Spatialization :
  • Between 0 and 5 for 5.1 or 7.1 channels configuration
  • Between 0 and 10 for Atmos configuration (7.1.4)
  • For more information on spatialization, you can read the article describing this parameter here.
• Restitution :
  1. Low quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  2. Average quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  3. Quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Good record.
  4. High quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Very high level disc.
  5. Maximum quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Exceptional disc.

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