With Céline Dion having just kicked off her concert series in Paris, this is the perfect opportunity to rediscover Live à Paris, recorded in 1996 with Jean-Jacques Goldman as Guest. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the album is being released for the first time on vinyl.
In this review, we ll compare this new vinyl edition with the digital versions that include the concert DVD. But the comparison promises to be more complex, as the track list varies significantly depending on the edition and format, ranging from 15 to 19 songs across different versions.
So, on the 30th anniversary of this concert, can this first-ever vinyl edition be considered the definitive version of Live à Paris?

For this review, you will find 3 versions tested:

• Ed 1: Tidal – 1996
• Ed 2: Gold Vinyl – 2026
• Ed 3: DVD – 1996

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

The synthesis of the review are available here

The varsions of this album are composed with a part of the 21 tracks:

1. J’attendais [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
2. Destin [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
3. The Power Of Love [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
4. L’amour existe encore [Vinyle, DVD]
5. Regarde-moi [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
6. River Deep, Mountain High [Vinyle, Streaming]
7. Un garçon pas comme les autres (Ziggy) [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
8. Misled [DVD]
9. Love Can Move Mountains [Vinyle, DVD]
10. Calling You [Vinyle, DVD]
11. Les derniers seront les premiers [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
12. J’irai où tu iras [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
13. Je sais pas [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
14. Le ballet [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
15. Quand on n’a que l’amour [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
16. Le blues du businessman [Vinyle, DVD]
17. Priére paèenne [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
18. Pour que tu m’aimes encore [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
19. Vole [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]
20. Paris [Vinyle]
21. To Love You More [Streaming]

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Tidal – 1996

Presentation

This is the Tidal (link) presented in lossless 16 bits 44.1 kHz format. This is also available on Amazon Music an Apple Music.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR10

The waveform of the Tidal – 1996 version shows a correct dynamic range confirmed with DR10.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises to 22 kHz with no signal above this frequency due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tidal – 1996 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Gold Vinyl – 2026 (blue curve).The curves of the two spectra overlap between 600 Hz and 2 kHz. Above 2 kHz (yellow zone) and up to 15 kHz, the Tidal version has a higher level, with up to 5 dB more. Above 15 kHz, the vinyl record s level drops, falling nearly 12 dB below the Tidal version at 20 kHz. Below 600 Hz (green zone), the Tidal version s level is higher, with up to 3 dB more between 80 and 400 Hz.

Synthesis and listening

This digital version contains 15 tracks (like the CD version), but it includes only a selection of the concert tracks featured on the DVD. However, these tracks are presented with a level of sound quality that is in a league of its own. This version offers precise and detailed reproduction in the high frequencies and a wider soundstage.

Rating:

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

Ed 2: Gold Vinyl – 2026

Presentation

This album is available on vinyl for the first time. This limited edition includes two Golden Tan-colored records and a booklet. The bonus track A Paris was recorded in 2005 for Paris’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. (ref:19958456891)

Waveform and Spectrum: DR11

The waveform of the Gold Vinyl – 2026 version shows a good dynamic range confirmed with DR11.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises above 20 kHz with signal above this frequency containing musical information and distortion due to the vinyl record s operating principle.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Gold Vinyl – 2026 (white curve) with the spectrum of the DVD – 1996 (blue curve).There is a significant difference between these two versions. Below 700 Hz, the DVD s level is higher, with differences reaching up to 4 dB. Above 4 kHz (yellow zone), and particularly in the range between 6 and 10 kHz, the DVD shows a 12 dB attenuation at 8 kHz. The sound balance will therefore be very different from that of the vinyl record, which will sound less clear and detailed a finding confirmed by listening tests. However, the same attenuation is observed above 15 kHz for both media.

Synthesis and listening

This 30th anniversary edition released on vinyl for the first time offers the chance to own all the tracks featured on the DVD (except Misled ) and to enjoy a sound quality that far surpasses the DVD version. Indeed, the sound here is balanced and detailed, with a beautiful soundstage that s even slightly wider than the streaming version. This makes this edition the most comprehensive in terms of track selection, with superb sound quality.

Rating:

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

Ed 3: DVD – 1996

Presentation

DVD release featuring a stereo track encoded in Dolby Digital (ref:2022829000)

Waveform and Spectrum: DR12

The waveform of the DVD – 1996 version shows a very good dynamic range confirmed with DR12.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises to 20 kHz with no signal above. This limitation is due to Dolby Digital encoding, which is a lossy encoder that limits bandwidth to optimize data size. The sampling frequency of the DVD is 48 kHz.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the DVD – 1996 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Tidal – 1996 (blue curve).The spectral curves are very similar below 2 kHz. Above this frequency (yellow zone), there is a drop in the DVD s signal level, with a maximum difference of over 15 dB at 8 kHz, and a further decline in the DVD s signal level starting at 15 kHz. This significant difference results in the DVD lacking the openness and finesse of the streaming version.

Synthesis and listening

The DVD offers the chance to watch the concert with all the songs (except River Deep, Mountain High ). However, the sound is more muffled than in other versions, and the soundstage is narrower. This is the version to watch the concert, for high-quality sound, you’ll need to turn to the other editions.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2.5)

To the question, Is the anniversary vinyl edition the best edition of Live Paris ? the answer is clearly yes. In fact, the vinyl edition offers:

• more tracks than the stereo streaming version,
• and provides sound quality close to that of streaming but far superior to the DVD edition.

The vinyl edition is therefore the best format for enjoying the 18 songs from the concert with an bonus track.

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).

For our 3 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Tidal – 1996	Gold Vinyl – 2026	DVD – 1996
Global	DR10	DR11	DR12
Min	DR0	DR0	DR0
Max	DR0	DR0	DR0
J’attendais [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR11	DR13	DR13
Destin [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR09	DR12	DR12
The Power Of Love [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR09	DR12	DR13
L’amour existe encore [Vinyle, DVD]		DR10	DR10
Regarde-moi [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR09	DR11	DR12
River Deep, Mountain High [Vinyle, Streaming]	DR09	DR11
Un gar on pas comme les autres (Ziggy) [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR13	DR13	DR14
Misled [DVD]			DR12
Love Can Move Mountains [Vinyle, DVD]		DR11	DR12
Calling You [Vinyle, DVD]		DR09	DR09
Les derniers seront les premiers [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR10	DR11	DR11
J’irai o tu iras [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR10	DR11	DR11
Je sais pas [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR10	DR11	DR12
Le ballet [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR11	DR13	DR14
Quand on n’a que l’amour [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR09	DR12	DR12
Le blues du businessman [Vinyle, DVD]		DR11	DR11
Pri re pa enne [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR09	DR11	DR12
Pour que tu m’aimes encore [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR09	DR11	DR12
Vole [Vinyle, DVD, Streaming]	DR11	DR10	DR12
Paris [Vinyle]		DR09
To Love You More [Streaming]	DR08

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.

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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