For audiophiles and collectors, accessing the original 1985 vinyl or the initial CD release is essential to hearing the album as the band intended. The format is highly sought after because:

, which was mastered using early digital technology and is often preferred by purists over later remasters. The Making of a Manifesto

Later remasters of The Smiths' catalog (notably the 2011 remasters) have been criticized by some listeners for being overly compressed or having different EQ balances compared to the original Rough Trade or Sire CD pressings from 1985. A FLAC rip of an original 1985 CD offers: