DRG vs. EMI - sound difference?

Hello,

a while ago I bought the wonderful EMI double feature CD of Richard Rodney Bennett's great scores LADY CAROLINE LAMB & MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (Label: EMI Classics 5 86188 2). I already owned the DRG Records 19039 MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS standalone CD, but given I just adored everything by R. R. Bennett I had picked up recently (Equus, Billion Dollar Brain), I really wanted to hear LADY as well. Last but not least, the EMI CD was and still is available very cheap.

However, when I compare the identical MURDER scores on both CDs, it sounds notably more muffled and less dynamic on the EMI CD. So what I would like to know is if any one of you noticed this, too. Maybe the DRG is a very good LP transfer and the EMI release went back to master tapes, but those were already showing signs of aging? Or is the volume level just higher on the DRG?

I would be glad if others would let me know their impressions.

Regards,

Urs

P.S.: And please...I'm asking about DRG vs. EMI, not another Japan CD.

handstand, August 10, 2007; 12:28 PM