I recently ripped my (very old!) CD version of Synchronicity by The Police. Listening to track 9 Wrapped Around Your Finger, I suddenly heard the bass guitar, full, meaty. I went to the Tidal version of the album and although it presents as louder overall, somehow the dynamic range is not as great.
Is this just some kind of illusion? What is going on?
PS listening on my KEF LSX desktop speakers
Let’s not open pandora’s box again 
Could be due to different masters.
It very much depends on what version is ripped from what master as the mixing can be quite different.
The discussion around all the versions of Paul Simon’s Graceland went on in different places as well around the difference in levels of loudness of each subsequent remastered version
I procrastinated and you got there first.
Hoping all well in Romania and you can still walk after all the Cake 
it’s true, my CD is a 1989 “audio master plus series” release (whatever that means) so different master
All well. I’m not even feeling guilty anymore
There you have it See if TIDAL has the original one available to compare. Some times they have several versions available.
Yes It seems ever more common.
I have a digital version and I think mine is maybe also a later version where as my CD’s for most of their albums are earlier versions.
The old AM+ is still my favorite mastering of this title, but I haven’t heard the MFSL CD. The Tidal mastering is likely the most recent 2019 remaster.
I think my favorite part about the old AM+ remaster is that it holds together very well when cranked. It just sounds really smooth! I don’t think all of The Police early CDs sound as good, but some do.
That is one of the gambles with streaming services. They usually use the most recent remaster supplied by the labels. Sometimes it works out in our favor, but I agree with you that it isn’t the case with Synchronicity.
Does your CD have “Remastered Classics” along the inner tray?
No I think mine are earlier versions from the late 80s
Though I no longer have the cases as they are all ripped and in case logic case’s.
I have this reissue from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, which sounds a bit different still.
There are a bunch of different versions listed on Discogs. Hard to say how many unique masters, but more than a few for sure.
Just buy vinyl and be done with it.
