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'Audiophile' records that sound particularly pleasant.


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One of the records I brought back from the KL AV show is Vanessa Fernadez' tribute to Led Zepellin - When the Levee Breaks.   The album is a 3 LP 45RPM, resented a triple gatefold cover, each LP slotting neatly in a separate compartment (unlike another record I brought back, Eva Cassidy's NightBird where the 3 LPs were fighting for space in the cover).  The first 2500 copies are numbered (I got #656).  

 

I can't confess to being LZ fan - I don't hear their music often enough.  I prefer acoustic to heavy rock as I find some of the heavy music a bit canned with a lot of post production compression and tinkering.  This album blew me away with its natural sound.  The arrangements are superb, and I can follow each instruments distinctly without any effort, harmoniously combining to surround the singer but never overwhelming her.  As Michael Fremer review said: "I’ll put it to you this way: if you play this record really loud and you don’t enjoy what you hear, blame your system!"

 http://www.analogplanet.com/content/when-levee-breaks-re-grooves-songs-led-zeppelin#dBxgDvfDzxBsFMYS.99) Actually I think this is one of the records that flatters your system no matter what it is.

 

I also have "When The Levee Breaks" by Vanessa Fernandez and agree the sound is extremely good.

Perhaps the best in my collection.

 

Shows you what can be achieved on vinyl when all the steps are done right.

I'm a LZ fan and so this album is a double treat for me. :)

I have #766.

 

I then got her previous album "Use Me" and that is excellent as well.

Ying Tan was the producer for both albums and he did all of Jacintha's albums too.

Edited by spin33
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Guest Runaway

I then got her previous album "Use Me" and that is excellent as well.

Ying Tan was the producer for both albums and he did all of Jacintha's albums too.

 

When I was at the KL AV show last week, my friend collared Ying Tan and had a discussion about this record.  He looked exactly like what you imagine a record producer would look like - long hair and intense.  We later found him in the Swedish Statement room listening to this record ...intensely.  

 

What is an audiophile record?                Only records made by MoFi and other such specialist companies?

 

 

I think that "audiophile record" is a much abused term, and there would not be a generally accepted meaning.  In the article which I set out the link above (but for some reason I cannot get links to work - so to find the article, you can google "Fremer when the levee break regrooves") Fremer makes an interesting quote:

 

This is an “audiophile†production that aims for a certain “absolute sound†of a band and a singer playing in a space and in that regard it is 100% successful but it also produces a “literalness†not found on “commercial†recordings. The result is a spectacularly natural and ultra-dynamic drum sound similar to what Glyn Johns achieved on the latest Eric Clapton album.  

........

The original plan was to mix "live to lacquer" from a remote truck parked outside Bernie Grundman Mastering but the logistics, including getting the necessary permits, proved too difficult so it was mixed down to tape. In the end that proved to be the better choice, because it didn't limit the amount of time Ross could devote to mixing down the two inch twenty four track tape.

Edited by Runaway
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  • 4 weeks later...
On 30/07/2016 at 5:50 PM, stevoz said:

Not ideal HFh, but I figure as long as the 'bottom line', the sound, is what's expected, that's all that matters. I may seek another disc one or a partial refund :unsure:, but for now, my set up (atm the DL103) tracks it fine. I do agree though......Hmmmm. ;) 

In regard to that, I contacted them and it turns out they had been getting a lot of warping complaints for 'So', and subsequently scrapped the first pressing due to a "manufacturing fault":rolleyes:, and will be doing another pressing run in late September. I have to return the two discs ( disc two was warped as well, my initial appraisal was inaccurate), and will be getting replacements........eventually. So that's good.:thumb:

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On 8/4/2016 at 3:22 PM, spin33 said:

 

I also have "When The Levee Breaks" by Vanessa Fernandez and agree the sound is extremely good.

Perhaps the best in my collection.

 

Shows you what can be achieved on vinyl when all the steps are done right.

I'm a LZ fan and so this album is a double treat for me. :)

I have #766.

 

I then got her previous album "Use Me" and that is excellent as well.

Ying Tan was the producer for both albums and he did all of Jacintha's albums too.

I have been listening to 'When The Levee Breaks' a couple weeks now and it sounds brilliant.

Last night had a few guys around from the wine group and I had Vanessa on as very low background music while we discussed :hiccup a few Yalumba's and Henschke's and it got the groups attention. These guys are a long way from audiophiles or even music lovers, but they sat through 3 shots of Kashmir and another 2 each of Whole Lotta Love and Immigrant Song.

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 30/08/2016 at 10:44 PM, stevoz said:

In regard to that, I contacted them and it turns out they had been getting a lot of warping complaints for 'So', and subsequently scrapped the first pressing due to a "manufacturing fault":rolleyes:, and will be doing another pressing run in late September. I have to return the two discs ( disc two was warped as well, my initial appraisal was inaccurate), and will be getting replacements........eventually. So that's good.:thumb:

In the end I didn't have to return the discs, and they will let me know when the new pressings are ready to ship. Not sure I want the new ones now, as my Grace F8C and Denon DL103 have no trouble handling the warpage (although the ADC XLM II bottomed out with it's light suspension), and they still sound superb, plus(and I forgot to mention this above), I got a full refund, so they ended up free anyway.....:thumb:

Edited by stevoz
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My system is currently in the middle of some changes, but a couple of days ago I was lent a 180g Tacet classical recording. I have only had the opportunity to listen to a little of it but what I did hear sounds extremely promising. Looking forward to hearing the rest of it.

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  • 1 month later...

Just arrived......a new MOFI Silver Label issue of The B52's 'Wild Planet', listening to it now. It does sound great, but it's not making me go "wow!", so I'm not totally convinced that it's any better than my original pressing.:unsure: I'll get back to you on that one......;)

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27 minutes ago, stevoz said:

Just arrived......a new MOFI Silver Label issue of The B52's 'Wild Planet', listening to it now. It does sound great, but it's not making me go "wow!", so I'm not totally convinced that it's any better than my original pressing.:unsure: I'll get back to you on that one......;)

 

Not surprised...a regular USA or UK original should outstrip it. Same for the ST debut.

 

The SILVER label MOFI's do not guarantee they are from original tapes, and indeed there are well documented cases of them freely admitting to using digital copies for their Master (plenty of info on the Net about this...if you are interested)

 

Great album though! :thumb:

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43 minutes ago, candyflip said:

 

Not surprised...a regular USA or UK original should outstrip it. Same for the ST debut.

 

The SILVER label MOFI's do not guarantee they are from original tapes, and indeed there are well documented cases of them freely admitting to using digital copies for their Master (plenty of info on the Net about this...if you are interested)

 

Great album though! :thumb:

You're right @candyflip, I'm playing the original now and while slightly 'rougher around the edges', it is instantly more dynamic, louder at the same volume setting, better highs and bassier. The MOFI version seems to be a bit 'smoother' but has lost the dynamics of the original, which is, let's face it what we all love about The B52's!!:)   *Post edit: My original is an Oz pressing., but yes, it's superior to the Mofi......;)

Edited by stevoz
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1 hour ago, stevoz said:

You're right @candyflip, I'm playing the original now and while slightly 'rougher around the edges', it is instantly more dynamic, louder at the same volume setting, better highs and bassier. The MOFI version seems to be a bit 'smoother' but has lost the dynamics of the original, which is, let's face it what we all love about The B52's!!:)   *Post edit: My original is an Oz pressing., but yes, it's superior to the Mofi......;)

 

You have just described (the MOFI) a typical second generation tape master, or worse.

The OZ is great - good news.

 

Now, for kicks, go get a US or European 1st pressing and compare to the Oz.  :popcorn:

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You know, I think my current favourite is an original pressing of Dave Brubeck's Jazz impressions of Japan. A truly wonderful album. I've three of his other albums and none match it. I pick up a reissue of Time Out tomorrow. I'm just hoping for something that can equal that. ;)

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk

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  • 3 months later...

Just a quickie and I guess this could be termed an 'audiophile' release; "Aqualung" Jethro Tull/Steve Wilson 2011 remix (2015 release). Great SQ, boosted in all the right areas over the original release, a very enjoyable listen.:thumb:

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Very interesting reading this thread and hearing what people think.

I have to admit that I like getting the so called audiophile pressings. Mostly its so that I don't have to worry about surface noise and scratches or spending the time tracking an LP down that is in good condition.

Whenever I read reviews of LP's, its either awful or drop dead spectacular, but I've found that most records are pretty similar (apart from surface noise) and the light and day comparisons are difficult to identify.

Thank goodness for @candyflip or else I would hardly get the older pressings.

Good to hear the new aqualung sounds good, I folded and got a s/h Classic Records a year ago.

 

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3 hours ago, stevoz said:

Just a quickie and I guess this could be termed an 'audiophile' release; "Aqualung" Jethro Tull/Steve Wilson 2011 remix (2015 release). Great SQ, boosted in all the right areas over the original release, a very enjoyable listen.:thumb:

 

Agree.

I got the 2011 box set (vinyl & CDs), very nice package and book.

https://www.discogs.com/Jethro-Tull-Aqualung/release/3204552

 

Aqualung never sounded quite right no matter which version I tried, but this one is s treat. Remixed to how it should have been done the first time.

In the notes Steve describes stuff he did and part of that was to alter the stereo imaging to suit modern systems with speakers in proper stereo placement.

Ian's vocals on the softer songs has never sounded this intimate and in the room.

Some may not agree, and that is just personal preference.

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@stevoz

 

Here are some of my go to Audiophile Vinyl selections.  Generally pull these out when having a GTG.  Serious bass in Ray Brown

 

https://www.discogs.com/Ray-Brown-L-Almeida-Moonlight-Serenade/release/2667445

 

https://www.discogs.com/Mighty-Sam-McClain-Give-It-Up-To-Love/release/4461803

 

Jeton are a direct to disc label that might have a few titles of interest.  Ray Brown Moonlight Serenade is on that label.

 

https://www.discogs.com/label/41997-Jeton

 

obviously Stockfisch would have a selection as well

 

https://www.discogs.com/label/126920-Stockfisch-Records

 

 

 

 

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