Despite the audio fidelity debates, the 2011 Super Deluxe edition remains a "full" experience in terms of content. It isn't just about the remastered album; it’s a massive archival project. The Guardian The Devonshire Mixes
: The FLAC version (often found in 24-bit/96kHz) technically contains 3.5 times more information than a standard CD.
Listen responsibly. Play it as loud as your ears bleed.
The 2011 remaster, handled by engineer Bob Ludwig, took a fundamentally different approach compared to the original 1991 master (engineered by Howie Weinberg).
Recorded live in a rehearsal space on a boombox. This is the "Full Soup" at its grittiest. You hear Kurt warming up, laughing, and smashing through Polly (Acoustic) before the band kicks in. In FLAC, the tape hiss is authentic, not digitally scrubbed.
Tracking down the official 2011 FLAC remaster today is a challenge. It is no longer available for purchase from most major retailers. The Discogs entry for the 2011 digital files notes that "this version is currently not available anymore for purchase, and a new hi-res digital version for this 2011 remaster was released in 2021" on high-end stores like HDtracks and Qobuz. This means the original 2011 master has been superseded by a newer, likely different, high-resolution transfer.
Released to mark the 20th anniversary of the album, the 2011 remaster aimed to update the 1991 classic for modern playback equipment. Universal Music Group tasked engineer Bob Ludwig with remastering the original analog tapes. The goal was twofold: Preserve the analog warmth of the original recording.
: Early 1990 demos recorded with Butch Vig before Dave Grohl joined the band (featuring Chad Channing on drums).
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