Dr. No (1962)

1982 20th Century Fox LaserDisc [4525-80]: Quite dupey and less detailed than the later releases. The 1983 CBS/Fox LaserDisc (not pictured) shares the same mastering.

1983 CBS/Fox VHS: Unsurprisingly, it appears to be similar to the Fox LaserDisc but with more medium-related (this being a linear track) shortcomings, like less dynamic range, less information above 5 kHz, and a higher noise floor. It's the worst sounding edition that I've heard.

1988 MGM LaserDisc [ML101401] - Connery Classics: Very natural and quite detailed. It suffers a bit from being an analogue track, which introduces distortion during loud moments, but it fares well overall and is probably my second favourite release. Strangely, a 20-minute segment starting at about 17:00 has more hiss than the rest of the film, yet it doesn't possess any more or less detail.

1991 Criterion LaserDisc [CC1292L]: The best sounding edition overall, with the least (but still some) noise reduction and no problematic EQ changes.

It does have one error, though: the end music transitions into what is apparently the soundtrack version of the Bond theme. The edit isn't concealed well.

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102713] - Connery Collection: This is the first release to have an overtly cleaned up soundtrack. I hear some light-to-moderate global hiss reduction and some crackle removal, all topped with a treble boost. It manages to sound better than the blu-ray mono track usually, but it still sounds worse than the Criterion release in every conceivable way.

1992 MGM Hi-Fi VHS: Same mastering as the '92 MGM LaserDisc.

1993 MGM LaserDisc [NJEL-52726]: Like the ML102713 LaserDisc.

1995 MGM Hi-Fi VHS: Same mastering as the '92 MGM LaserDisc, but with lots of audible clipping throughout.

1998 MGM LaserDisc [ML105406] - THX: Like the ML102713 LaserDisc, but possibly with some additional noise reduction. Basically the same, though.

1998 R1 MGM DVD - THX: Like the ML105406 LaserDisc.

2000 MGM Hi-Fi VHS: Identical to the 1995 Hi-Fi VHS.

2000 R1 MGM DVD - Special Edition: Identical to the 1998 THX DVD.

2006 R1 MGM DVD - Ultimate Edition: Like the ML105406 LaserDisc.

2008 MGM Blu-ray - US: A new mastering. I suppose one small positive is that loud moments are not decrackled to the point of losing their power, but this track still has more noise reduction than any previous release - so much so that ambient sound is obliterated from dialogue-heavy scenes. It generally sounds worse than any release post-1983. The first segment of the film has a very strong treble boost that abruptly vanishes at 18:24.

12/31/2021: Added the 1983 CBS/Fox VHS.

4/1/2022: Added the 1992, 1995, and 2000 MGM Hi-Fi VHS tapes.