Dead Or Alive – Still Spinnin' (The Singles Collection 1983 - 2021)

Track 3-1 "I'd Do Anything" is the 7" Version.

Track 13-6 "Then There Was You" has the stereo channels reversed versus the Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know deluxe remaster from the Sophisticated Boom Box set.

Track 14-2 "I'll Save You All My Kisses" is the 7" Version.

Track 15-4 "Baby Don't Say Goodbye (Pop Mix)" is the Alternate Mix from the Nude deluxe remaster from the Sophisticated Boom Box set.

Track 18-3 "Unhappy Birthday (Ninja Billy Mix)" is the Heavy Metal Version from the Fan The Flame (Part 1) deluxe remaster from the Sophisticated Boom Box set.

Track 21-2 "Sex Drive (Album Version)" is not the original album version. It is an edit of the Nukleopatra album version, differing at 4:30.

Many problems arose with the 2016 Sophisticated Boom Box, and several Discs were replaced by the label, but several issues remained unresolved and the label ended up addressing them.
There were two main types of problems that remained.
One was the use of mp3s. The other was a failure to digitize the master source.
The master source was apparently managed by something called DAT, but when digitizing the master source, the digitized sound sometimes has a clicking sound, similar to a scratch on a CD, when running a microwave oven or other power-hungry device at the same time. and most of the post-90s releases were laced with that clicking sound.
In this release, the label announced that "the master source was checked by independent experts," but the following tracks remained problematic.

1.Low bit rate mp3
Disc 07
06 - In Too Deep (Instrumental)

Disc 08
07 - My Heart Goes Bang (Instrumental Version)

Disc 11
02 - Hooked On Love (La Vie En Rose Mix)

Disc 14
04 - I Want You (7” Mix)

Disc 15
07 - Baby Don't Say Goodbye (The Powerful Club Twelve)

09 - Baby Don't Say Goodbye (Instrumental)

12 - Baby Don't Say Goodbye (Radio Edit)

Disc 22
09 - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) [Blue Sky Mix]

Disc 25

02 - Pop Life

2. Click sound contamination

Disc 18
02 - Total Stranger (Remix)

Disc 23
02 - Hit And Run Lover

Version Error And Sound Error

Disc 22
04 - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) ('97 Remix - Jail House Club Remix)

You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) ('97 Remix - Jail House Mix) is incorrectly included.

Additionally, the sound crashes for 1 second at 2:15.

Mega box of 27 CDs with 12" Inch reproduction. released at the time. It is easy to understand, as already mentioned by other people, how the sound has a decidedly negative impact. Strangely enough, I don't understand why the music is recorded this way. The volume is too high and sometimes even annoying. There are tracks that for a few seconds enhance the defects of the master tape. This example is to give an idea of ​​how many decibels it sounds more than the original. Probably the loudest box released in recent years. Despite this inconvenience desired by the technicians, the dynamics fortunately do not seem to have suffered "damage" even if minimally affected, the choice is inevitable in this situation. The song “Brand New Lover” in the Up ducky mix version makes Pete wonderfully unique. In the original vintage session the sound is decidedly much less incisive, giving a fantastic listening experience that is clearly superior to the latter. I'm only talking about this track released in 1986 and now remastered in 2024 because it's the one that particularly pacifies me in past memories. It is certainly a unique collector's box but also for those like me who followed the music of those carefree years by simply listening and now want to recover it in all its facets with quality that is sometimes not always optimal as in this case. The decision to turn up the volume to the limit remains in my opinion a useless, expensive job and I don't understand this technical choice...

I have to say im disappointed, the mastering is very loud, and it's not just about turning the volume down as i read somewhere else, there is no dynamic range at all. The tracks I expected to be improved from the boom box are the same mp3 quality (hooked on love la vie en rose mix, my heart goes bang instrumental...). I'm so sorry for the people who put their heart into making this box but 7 years to make the exact same mistakes is just not possible.

Some first impressions, as I'm only half way through the box set. I'll probably add a few notes later after I have time to really give everything a few good listens.

Regarding the dueling posts about the mastering, I have to say, two things CAN be true at once. Yes, the tracks ARE pretty much brick-walled. You don't have to be an audio engineer - two eyes (well, even one eye) will do the trick lol. Load any of the tracks into audio editing software and you can, literally, visually verify this. You can also visually compare these 2024 tracks to those from "...Boom Box" and see that, yes, these tracks ARE louder, but "...Boom Box" actually has VERY similar mastering; they just reduced the overall volume of the tracks afterward to make it "sound" quieter. Despite that, the general level of compression is still comparable.

Now, having said that, I can ALSO say that I am actually PLEASED, so far, with the sound quality! There does seem to be an across the board increase in "bass" frequencies, but that was actually the ONE thing I wished the "... Boom Box" set had more of. From the first listen of that 2016 set, I recall thinking, "not bad, but where is the bass?".

A reality check: Dead Or Alive's music has never had "amazing" sound engineering. I've never set up a new sound system and used Dead Or Alive songs to gauge sound quality. Not that their stuff sounds bad, it just tends to be very "full" without much "breathing room". But that's not the type of music they made anyway. Pete and Steve liked big, grandiose, in your face, Pop production. And that's perfectly fine. But even their original CD releases, while they do have more overall dynamic range, are fairly compressed recordings. Again, this can be visually verified.

My personal go-to for DOA sound quality is usually anything from the "Come Home With Me Baby" single, and here, the tracks sound REALLY good. The thoughtful increase in bass brings a warmth and "punch" that the "...Boom Box" is lacking. It's also great to have all 5 Danny Tenaglia mixes of "Baby Don't Say Goodbye" on CD (Tracks 8-12), and they ALL sound excellent! I'm pretty geeked about that! "In Too Deep (Off Yer Mong Mix)" also sounds especially good.

That's my assessment thus far. Yes, it's loud, but so far I do consider this a good, quality collection, and I'm happy to have it!

I'm listening to the box right now and the sound quality is pretty nice. I'm quite pleased with it actually.

It even manages to have some songs sound better than their original U.K. or Japanese cd singles/maxi counterparts (Turn Around And Count 2 Ten, Baby Don't Say Goodbye).

The Youthquake & Mad Bad stuff sounds almost identical to the Sophisticated Boom Box 2016. Same goes for the more recent songs (Hit And Run Lover).

I was very afraid that I'd Do Anything (dub) could have been a vinyl rip before buying the box because it was nowhere on CD before here but it's not. The source is obviously digital in this case.

The only strange thing I've noticed is that some Misty Circles (single versions) are not of the same quality depending on the CD they are on but since it's on many of the CDs you can take your pick to find your favorite one (CD 1, 3 or 5). ;)

I must admit it I'm a guy who likes more treble than bass but the Sophisticated Boom Box 2016 even though it wasn't too bassy sounded too harshed on my ears sometimes when I listen to it with headphones, this box has a softer, fuller sound than the SBB 2016 in general, a little more bass, a little less treble but a little bit louder, yes. If you think it's too loud, lower the volume and that's it. I'm not an audio engineer but this sounds good enough for me.

excelente box, qualidade boa sim !!!! amei, agora só falta lançarem um blu ray 4k com todos os clips

awfull metallic sound, mastering much too loud, a waste and a disgrace

Just got this and it's not a bad collection. I must say i'm not really a fan of the post Mad Bad and Dangerous stuff but hey kudos to the team behind the whole presentation. The discs and sleeves are well presented in detail. The sound seems loud but not unbearable. I breezed through the first batch 1983-87 cds and they sounded fine. Noticed a few vinyl rips but weren't too bad (that's the way it is).

From my experiance the tracks are loud yes but the masters themselves were loud to begin with in most cases. If you have the 2016 box set use audacity and compare in too deep. The boom box and this set are practically the same but the new one is louder obviously but the wave format is the same. I wouldnt dismiss this box set just because its loud. Its a great box with a beautiful presentation. The recreation of the sleeves are perfect. The box itself is a piece of art. If you want all the singles in one package but dont have the boom box then this is the box set for you which is the main selling point here, its meant for new fans or people who didnt have the chance to get the boom box back in the day. Dont crap on this box set due to its sound quality because you will kill the band off and most of us dont want that, we want more releases in the future, bad reviews wont do us any favours. We still have the albums to go through in deluxe format which will finally hopfully get us the demos that we would love to hear with any additional unreleased content.