Album Remasters

So, the question that comes up every few years: are the remasters of the albums worth getting if I already own the originals? This has been asked before, I know, but there are differing answers.

The first four albums due to them being older are improved apparently, although I've read they also fall victim to the loudness war.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh, and I presume the remasters issued in the late 90s / noughties are the very same versions as the 'Special Edition's released a few years back?

I've actually gone the other way around and tried to track down the original releases since I hate that those albums fell victims to the loudness war. It's down to one's personal tastes, but e.g. New Jersey has gotten much louder with every release and I lost some of its organic sound each time again.

For a long time I had the 1998 remasters of the first 4 albums. Then in early 2010 I decided to get hold of the original CD versions and have stuck to them ever since. The original discs carry much more punch.

The only remaster I picked up since was the New Jersey: Deluxe Edition for the second disc and the DVD.

As always, cheers for the advice. I forgot I actually had the New Jersey boxset.

The best album sonically I've ever heard was a vinyl New Jersey on my cousins old stack system.

You could feel the damn rhythm section in your chest, hear the guitars & keys clear and crisp and Jon's vocals were just immense. It's been said lots, but it really did "breathe" - compare that to the compressed WAN and it truly is night and day.

Here are some links to previous threads that are remasters/loudness war-related;

http://www.drycounty.com/jovitalk/ne...ession-t52312/

http://www.drycounty.com/jovitalk/ne...-worth-t52313/

http://www.drycounty.com/jovitalk/ne...itunes-t68776/

http://www.drycounty.com/jovitalk/bo...tabase-t53698/

There are several others but these are ones that I remembered better.