Michael Jackson: Thriller (Hybrid-SACD)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (Hybrid-SACD)

The best-selling album of all time and firmly anchored milestone in music history celebrates its 40th birthday. If that is not a good reason to revive the thrill of "Thriller" once again. And in a breathtaking quality that allows fans and audiophile collectors to immerse themselves intensely in the brilliant music of Michael Jackson. The long-awaited reissue of the 1982 classic as a hybrid SACD surpasses the sound of previous releases and gives songs like "Billie Jean", "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney) or "Beat it" a new sonic dimension.

In contrast to the initial release with a mastering by Bernie Grundman, dynamic compression has been omitted, making the album sound much more detailed and listenable. Dancefloor fans will miss the "slam" of the initial release, but the bass is now contoured. Eddie van Halen's guitar solo for "Billy Jean" is now concise and not just kind of there. The spatial effects in "Thriller" cleverly appear outside the stereo width of the system, and Vincent Price's sepulchral voice is much more somber than previously known. Initially, one has to get used to the fact that the album now no longer "jumps out at" the listener, but captivates him. The level is much lower than on previous versions and it's worth turning up the knob once to enjoy real dynamics.

If you're now wondering how MFSL did it, here's what you need to know: The label's sound engineers went back to the master tapes with the goal of transferring their sound in the best possible way. What we hear is a mastering of the mix under producer Quincy Jones. What we knew before was the work of Bernie Grundman, who had the task of turning the mix into a hit album. The album, which at the time set musical, cultural and social standards, broke racial barriers and shaped generations of great musicians, can boast 34-times platinum. So it's safe to say that Bernie Grundman did an outstanding job. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, however, has now released this album the way owners of high-end hi-fi systems have always dreamed of.

Mastering for the hybrid SACD was done by Shawn R. Britton using a DSD256 transfer of the original tapes, played on MFSL's own tape machine with modifications by Tim de Paravicini.

We recommend the use of "L'Art du Son" CD/DVD conditioner for even more sonic improvement.


Titel auf der Hybrid-SACD:
1. Wanna Be Startin'' Somethin''
2. Baby Be Mine
3. The Girl Is Mine
4. Thriller
5. Beat It
6. Billie Jean
7. Human Nature
8. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
9. The Lady in My Life