SilverWook said:
I own nearly all of the editions mentioned.
captainsolo's referenced article is The Big Picture: 2001 on Video by Thomas E. Brown http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/brown2.html.
The Criterion CAV 3-disc Laserdisc set (1989)
http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/00997/CC1160L/2001:-A-Space-Odyssey:-Special-Edition-%281968%29
was from a 35mm scope print (due to lack of 65/70mm transfer equipment) with meticulous inspection and approval by Stanley Kubrick.
The MGM CAV 3-disc 25th Anniversary Laserdisc set (1993)
http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/04985/ML103104/2001:-A-Space-Odyssey:-25th-Anniversary-%281968%29
was from the original 65mm film, via film-to-tape, with shot-by-shot color correction (to "fix" problems like too dim to be seen stars, and brightness variations) but not in complete accord with Kubrick's color scheme.
It looks like the best color reference would be the Criterion set, but the best detail would be the later MGM set.
For best color fidelity on DVD, can we (meaning you) determine if the Criterion source was used (if at all) for the non-restored DVD releases (1998, and again in 1999 with new DD5.1 audio)?
1998 DVD R1 1999 DVD R1