Yes, the mastering is top notch, but it's the same stereo PCM master used for the 2-CD Deluxe Edition release (from 2009), which is based on standard non-SHM CD manufactured discs.
Maybe you are thinking of the Super Audio CD (SA-CD) version of Argus? The SA-CD *will* potentially sound better than a SHM or a standard CD, because SA-CD audio is encoded in a 2.8 MHz DSD bitstream format, not in the common 16-bit / 44.1 KHz PCM format.
Unfortunately, the Wishbone Ash "Argus" SA-CD edition is not a hybrid SA-CD, meaning that you must have a SA-CD capable player to play it. Hybrid SA-CD discs have a standard CD top layer that any CD can read and a second SA-CD layer with the high quality stereo or multi-channel audio program material for SA-CD players. Also, the Wishbone Ash "Argus" SA-CD edition is manufactured with SMH media just like the standard CD edition that was released by Universal in Japan. Unfortunately (at least in my opinion), the SA-CD is stereo-only -- no quadrophonic or 5.1 mix. Maybe in the future, there will be some sort of "Deluxe" CD + DVD-A release of Argus, or a CD + BluRay Audio version.
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