Mastering better or worse?

[scopus]

hey guys ive got couple tracks here i spent long time(over a year) and lots of high end gear trying to get the mixes as balanced and clear as i could, but for the third time i got them mastered i still feel the original without mastering is better. i was fed up after 2 times so the 3rd went to very expensive mastering engineer and said to preserve as much detail and dynamics as possible and he did and this is def the best of the 3, and yes they are more louder than originals but still feel originals much more crystal clear and hd like. so thinkin mayb better without mastering processing or myb its my ears/perception/monitoring..cant help being perfectionist and cant trust myself with this really need some second opinion, so really hoping you guys could help, pleasse have a listen to them and what do u think sounds better the originals or mastered versions, thnks so much

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/80928016/Masters.rar


btw on originals just raised the volumes until reached clipping

 

[analogdrone]

hey scopus,
so i only listened to one track (drifting) and i kind of think the un-mastered tracks sound better. the mastered are definitely louder but at certain points i could hear some distortion. i dont think the loudness is a huge issue with the un-mastered tracks though and they have a little more breathe-ability if you catch what i'm getting at? not really my style of music but it was an interesting listen, hope you get more feedback as well!

 

[SafeandSound]

If you are not happy with your mastering results get in contact with your mastering engineer and tell him or her why.
(especially if you paid a lot of money for it) Clear communications between you and your engineer is very important to a good result. Drop them a line, any self respecting (and client) mastering engineer will be open to their clients needs and concerns.

SafeandSound Mastering
Online mastering service

 

[Lt. Bob]

If you are not happy with your mastering results get in contact with your mastering engineer and tell him or her why.
(especially if you paid a lot of money for it) Clear communications between you and your engineer is very important to a good result. Drop them a line, any self respecting (and client) mastering engineer will be open to their clients needs and concerns.

SafeandSound Mastering
Online mastering service

and if one of the things you asked for was for it to be louder ..... that almost always screws up other areas of the sound.

 

[SafeandSound]

and if one of the things you asked for was for it to be louder ..... that almost always screws up other areas of the sound.

Spot on and a learned response... perceived volume is part of an interdependent chain of processes. No such thing as a "loud button" idependent of the realms of optimal fidelity.

SafeandSound Mastering
http://www.masteringmastering.co.uk