I prefer the original mix by a small margin but this was a seriously fresh mix to give this album a different atmosphere closer to the feel of Wish You Were Here.

Pigs is definitely improved and is the definitive version.

Dogs has elements I like and elements I don't like (I love the synths being brought up in the mix, as well as the drums and bass, but the guitars lost their bite and aggressiveness, particularly on the harmony part that is supposed to sound like dogs howling.)

I still prefer the original mix for Sheep. The beginning makes my head spin and I still don't know how I feel about being able to hear Roger's voice at the end of each line in the verses when it blends together with Rick's keyboard note. Still a good mix but like I said, I prefer the original.

There was a missed opportunity to NOT include the original 8-track version of Pigs On the Wing Parts 1&2 together with the Snowy White guitar solo bridging the two. It is a vastly superior song than the two bookending versions on the original album. However, I will say that I prefer the new mixes of both parts of Pigs On the Wing because it is a dryer mix. There was wayyy too much reverb on the original in my opinion.

*4 1/2 stars*

While these remixes likely won't replace my favorite versions of this classic album, the 5.1ch mix is absolutely worth listening to if you have the gear for it. I'd characterize it as an "immersive" mix, rather than "discrete". Perhaps they could have taken a few more chances, but the rear channels are used to good effect and this album is tailor-made for this type of treatment.
I would say that while the new hi-resolution stereo mix does offer revelations - some cleaner textures, better detail, more prominent bass - which is really cool on Pigs (Three Different Ones) - etc. - there are some things that do sound "off", which I'm sure is partly due to the fact that I've heard the original mix of this album hundreds of times and it's more or less "burned in" like that. For example, the outro solo on Pigs and the outro guitars on sheep are oddly less impactful here; Waters' vocals on both parts of Pigs on the Wing sound *too* clear now; and the "You" line in the last verse of Pigs is also a bit buried in the remix.
At any rate, this is a remix, and there are some bits that I hadn't noticed before, especially the rich texture and layering of Wright's keyboards, which have a different character on Dogs than in prior iterations; likewise for Gilmour's layered guitarwork in the same track. I will add that one refreshing thing about these mixes is that they are not brickwalled at all; they are very dynamic sounding. This is something of a rarity in this day and age.
The good news is if for some reason remixes aren't your thing (although I can't see why you'd buy this at all if that were the case) - the Blu Ray also includes a hi-resolution audio cut of the original mix. This version sounds really good to these ears. Maybe not as nice as a mint '77 UK vinyl, or the early 32DP-360 Japan CD, but really nice if you don't have access to those rare and pricey versions.

The disc contains:

-the new 5.1ch mix in PCM and DTS-HD MA (both 24bit, 96kHz)
-the new 2018 stereo remix in linear PCM (24bit, 192kHz) and DTS-HD MA (24bit, 96kHz)
-the original mix in linear PCM (24bit, 192kHz) and DTS-HD MA (24bit, 96kHz)

The packaging is not great. It's all cardboard, and the disc is sitting directly within a sleeve fashioned inside the box. The booklet contains little else aside from the lyrics and some photos. As some are no doubt already aware, the delay of this release was due to yet another childish fight between Waters and Gilmour, this time over liner notes; presumably, this is why none are included here. Luckily, these two men who made such great music together were able to put aside their petty behavior towards one another for long enough to realize that there was money to be made.
Overall, I would recommend this to fans of the band and/or fans of surround sound / hi resolution audio. The price ($20) is certainly right, particularly compared to the expensive Immersion sets. Personally speaking this is one of my favorite Floyd albums, and I am happy it is finally seeing the light of day after four years of it being locked in the vaults.

Disc does not have back channels in 5.1 but, has fronts and center. I'm not returning the disc though, the remix is incredible! My two subs really kick! Thanx

Maybe my all time favorite album . Usually I frown in remixing classic albums , and I did not like Guthrie mix of amused to death "¦ but this works as another way to hear the album "¦ first of all the drums the snare sounds equalized different and overall drums are more crisp "¦ of course mixing levels have been altered for instruments , my only complaint is the beautiful Gilmour acoustic seems mixed low at times and perhaps the sheep solo is little loud ? But it's cool to hear in a fresh way "¦ but man I'm worried about coercing the phase out of cds "¦ awful corporate stuff "¦ this was hard to find and going up to absurd prices "¦ harder to find cd recorders and players "¦. Very very sad "¦ my system works brilliant !!! Amazon keep selling cds and encourage it , we can't live by file alone and I won't purchase them !!! Floyd forever !

I am a longtime listener of Floyd and Animals is one of my favorites, so I was intrigued to get a copy of this new Guthrie remix to compare to the original mix. And I think the audio on this version is fantastic, with more lows and much clearer as well. However, there are a couple things I am either not too happy about or actually disappointed by. The "not too happy about" part, is how the bookends, "Pigs (Three Different Ones 1&2)" have changed. I think those 2 songs sound great, and are fitting here in this form, but I'm not sure how I really feel about the drastic change, especially in Waters' voice without the more "AM radio/reverb" effect in place of the original. It really stands out and I'm not sure if I will ever get past the difference when listening to it. But it is nice sounding. Lacks the sort of dreamy, inner contemplating voice I am used to hearing.
The other change (this one more disappointing to me than any other on this remix) is on "Dogs", which is one of my all-time favorite Floyd songs (like top 3). It is the part of the song (to me, the really interesting, "meat" of this song) after Gilmour sings, "Dragged down by the stone...", and it repeats "stone, stone, stone..."
That doesn't seem to fade in and out slightly, as if you were hearing it outside as the breeze carries the sound around, making it softer and louder, in and out, as it fades away. I could be imagining this, but I don't think I am. Also a huge change to my ears is when the barking and howling dogs come in. The original had more synth/vocoder layers to the dogs, where it would sometimes blend into synths and then more back to sounding like dogs, back and forth, kind of hallucinogenically morphing. It isn't that way here, which is my biggest gripe and letdown to be truthful.
The whistling (as if calling the dogs) is also VERY low in the mix. Almost inaudible. Another drag. And then the part in the background where the voice does the "prayer piece" (...The Lord is my shepherd...) is also low in the mix and sounds different.
Then, as that coolest part of this song ("Dogs") goes into the next movement, it lacks that distinct drop and clear switch. So, yeah... "Dogs" was my biggest disappointment here. And it hurts the most because I love that song so much.
"Pigs" and "Sheep" are very good. I didn't notice any unfortunate changes, and so far think they sound excellent. Not to say that "Dogs" doesn't sound excellent. It is just changed. But I guess changes were to be expected, it being a new mix. So, I suppose I can't have it without hearing differences.
Just wish more consideration and care were taken into the remix with those faults I noted. Because if those, mostly samples, were more like the originals, and mixed into the newer sonics better, I would have been the happiest of campers. Acoustic bookends and all.
That all being said, if you are a fan of this record, or of Pink Floyd in general, you should get this new mix. It is definitely a great sounding mix, even with its few shortcomings. It is worth a listen (or 93) and worth the few bucks, even in this economic downward spiral we are in. (Maybe).
At least you will find a little shelter, for a time, from pigs on the wing.