[NIGHTFALL1970]

I just opened my new remastered CD and did an a/b comparison with my "definitive box set" and on track 2 "babe I'm gonna leave you" the vocals are on the left and the guitar is on the right.  I got out all my other CD versions and they are all the reverse.  Anyone else notice this?

[PSB Guy]

According to what I've read, the new 2014 remasters have it the channels correct, same as the original vinyl.
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/led-zeppelin-i-channel-reversal-question.65280/

Cornelis

[Larkston Zinaspic]

I haven't had a real chance to evaluate the Zep I Remaster, but the OP got me curious so I just listened to BIGLY on three different issues:

The original Diament mastering

The 1990 Page / Marino remasters from the crop circle box (the Definitive Box is also a reissue of the Page / Marino transfers, IIRC)

Recent remaster


All of them have the acoustic guitar playing the arpeggiated lines in the right channel. But I've read elsewhere that certain pressings of the older discs had the channels switched for some reason, in particular the Sidore mastering of Zep IV, which I do have.

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Mystery solved.
I just checked my original 1st pressing vinyl (turquoise logo) UK version and my 1st pressing (red logo) US vinyl and the "classic records" LP, and all of them have the guitar on the right side at the beginning.  The channels must have been switched later, so the new CD must have corrected it.

I also noticed that the word "stereo" was removed from the ULH corner.  The turquoise UK version does not have it, but the RED US version did.
For the record: the new CD is VERY good, but the classic records LP sounds more "real" and life-like.