Definitive Audiophile pressings

I'm sure this Speakers Corner title has come up before, but having just recently received and played it, I thought it worthy of another mention.

www.discogs.com

Carly Simon - No Secrets

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2020 Vinyl release of "No Secrets" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com www.discogs.com

I think it's a great album, but then I grew up with it. I also may not be in the best position to decide whether it stands the test of time, but it does for me, at least for an occasional listen. And the sound on this thing is fantastic. Easily in MoFi territory. Carly's voice is a source of power that drives the record and has a vivid presence in the room; the vinyl is flat, clean and quiet; the mastering/pressing avoids even the hint of sibilance, and the overall sound is very dynamic. Highly recommended if you like Carly Simon.
 
Russ I said:
I'm sure this Speakers Corner title has come up before, but having just recently received and played it, I thought it worthy of another mention.

www.discogs.com

Carly Simon - No Secrets

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2020 Vinyl release of "No Secrets" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com www.discogs.com

I think it's a great album, but then I grew up with it. I also may not be in the best position to decide whether it stands the test of time, but it does for me, at least for an occasional listen. And the sound on this thing is fantastic. Easily in MoFi territory. Carly's voice is a source of power that drives the record and has a vivid presence in the room; the vinyl is flat, clean and quiet; the mastering/pressing avoids even the hint of sibilance, and the overall sound is very dynamic. Highly recommended if you like Carly Simon.
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Found one on the cogs for $32. I’ve never owned a Carly Simon album, so I may as well start with this one.
 
I received my copy of the UHQR Kind of Blue. I'm really impressed by the sound of this thing. I also own the 2013 mono reissue, the 2xLP 45rpm MoFi, the 2xLP MOV, and the stereo Sony, and this UHQR is just at another level. Granted, I really do enjoy the mono reissue which I believe was mastered by Kevin Gray. That is probably the best bang for your buck at $20.

Anyways, the UHQR...something about it, the horns just pop, the drum brushes are so clear, and well, it just seems like the mix/mastering guides your focus upon whomever is soloing. I found the MoFi to sound quite good, but it was a bit boomy and Chambers came off sounding a bit bloated.

This clarity vinyl isn't without its flaws, I'll say. There are still crackles here and there, and I had some single channel distortion on occasion. Hoping some additional cleanings will clear this up. It is pressed well though. Flat, centered, without scuffs or other nonsense.

As for the box, seems kind of overkill to me. Not sure I really need some big box that resembles an Encyclopedia Britanica. But the tip-on gatefold is nice, much like the current Tone Poets with photos from the session. Anyways, I'm really pleased with the pressing. Looking forward to cranking it tonight with a belly full of tacos and bourbon.
 
Mather said:
Soooooo, I MAY have had a few beers and I MAY have bought Live At Leeds 3LP Abbey Road, Hooker'n Heat Pure Pleasure and also a really expensive record of cat tunes.
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Funny story.

Several years ago I used to buy modern releases and reissues super cheap from a second-hand site/app here in the UK. I honestly think 90% of listings were teenagers trying to make some quick beer money. As a result, I added quite a few to my pile that ended up being worth quite a bit of money now. One time I put an order in for 2-3 records (including RTJ1) and the seller came back to me to say they have the Meow The Jewels and could add it to the order for £10. I turned it down and never thought in a million years it would jump up in value like it has!
 
Selaws said:
Funny story.

Several years ago I used to buy modern releases and reissues super cheap from a second-hand site/app here in the UK. I honestly think 90% of listings were teenagers trying to make some quick beer money. As a result, I added quite a few to my pile that ended up being worth quite a bit of money now. One time I put an order in for 2-3 records (including RTJ1) and the seller came back to me to say they have the Meow The Jewels and could add it to the order for £10. I turned it down and never thought in a million years it would jump up in value like it has!
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Yeah, the annoying part is I ordered it twice in the last two years, both times it didn't come though, @BazookaTooth helped me out by ordering from a European site and they eventually told him they didn't actually have the item, then I ordered through an Amazon seller and they claimed they sent it but it never arrived. I'm almost certain they never sent it. In both cases it was retail price. This copy I finally bought was definitely not retail price...
 
Mather said:
Yeah, the annoying part is I ordered it twice in the last two years, both times it didn't come though, @BazookaTooth helped me out by ordering from a European site and they eventually told him they didn't actually have the item, then I ordered through an Amazon seller and they claimed they sent it but it never arrived. I'm almost certain they never sent it. In both cases it was retail price. This copy I finally bought was definitely not retail price...
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You could have saved yourself some change and gone for the standard/shaved pressing....

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Selaws said:
You could have saved yourself some change and gone for the standard/shaved pressing....

View attachment 101803
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The extra funny part, I also got the Abbey Road Live at Leeds 3LP pressed at GZ, the same day. I will give you one guess which album sounds fantastic and which album sounds like absolute garbage.

hint - The cat record sounds great.
 
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I genuinely don’t believe I’m saying this, but here we go.

I grabbed discount priced copies of the Black Eyed Peas’ The E.N.D. And Monkey Business on Amazon Warehouse a couple weeks back, honestly just for a couple fun spins and they’re a bit scarce.

Monkey Business is one of the better pressings I’ve heard recently and The END blew me away, I think one of my top five non audiophile aimed pressings out of hundreds. Bellman cut with huge bass and an overall soundscape, clear as hell, just perfect for the music. Monkey Business has no credits but I wouldn’t be shocked if it were the same production folks based on the pressing,

This won’t help if you don’t like the BEP of course but on a pure sound level they’re really great.
 
Mather said:
The extra funny part, I also got the Abbey Road Live at Leeds 3LP pressed at GZ, the same day. I will give you one guess which album sounds fantastic and which album sounds like absolute garbage.

hint - The cat record sounds great.
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If it's any consolation (and it probably isn't) but there is a reason Live At Leeds was originally only a single lp. The band was not very happy with the way they sounded in the middle of the set and also were not happy with the recording quality.
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
If it's any consolation (and it probably isn't) but there is a reason Live At Leeds was originally only a single lp. The band was not very happy with the way they sounded in the middle of the set and also were not happy with the recording quality.
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Yeah it's not that actually, the quality of the recording itself I thought was pretty good in general. It's got constant low level GZ brand noise from the beginning of disc one till the end of disc 3, definitely not simply the recording, dirtiest records I've ever pulled out of a sleeve as well. Then it's got this...20210606_141225.jpg20210606_141237.jpg20210606_141315.jpg
And on top of that every single side has one spot of discolored vinyl where you get super loud pops every revolution for about 30 seconds. It's a smorgasbord of GZ fuck ups. I knew I was taking a risk but I thought MAYBE being an Abbey Road press they might have tried a tiny bit harder. NO SIR THEY DID NOT.
 
Mather said:
The extra funny part, I also got the Abbey Road Live at Leeds 3LP pressed at GZ, the same day. I will give you one guess which album sounds fantastic and which album sounds like absolute garbage.
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I stopped buying anything by GZ unless/until I see positive reviews. If I miss out on something as a result or have to pay a premium to buy it later, so be it. I’d rather stream something than be frustrated by a garbage pressing, particularly for ambient or other music with many quiet sections.
 
Portland Sheriff said:
I stopped buying anything by GZ unless/until I see positive reviews. If I miss out on something as a result or have to pay a premium to buy it later, so be it. I’d rather stream something than be frustrated by a garbage pressing, particularly for ambient or other music with many quiet sections.
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Oh I totally agree. The reviews seemed decent from what I had seen. Enough that I didn't think it was as high a risk as usual. I saw no mention of general pressing problems. But yeah no...
 
waruv said:
I genuinely don’t believe I’m saying this, but here we go.

I grabbed discount priced copies of the Black Eyed Peas’ The E.N.D. And Monkey Business on Amazon Warehouse a couple weeks back, honestly just for a couple fun spins and they’re a bit scarce.

Monkey Business is one of the better pressings I’ve heard recently and The END blew me away, I think one of my top five non audiophile aimed pressings out of hundreds. Bellman cut with huge bass and an overall soundscape, clear as hell, just perfect for the music. Monkey Business has no credits but I wouldn’t be shocked if it were the same production folks based on the pressing,

This won’t help if you don’t like the BEP of course but on a pure sound level they’re really great.
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I get it, my daughter's Trolls World Tour soundtrack LP sounds phenomenal, so deep and detailed.
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
We really need to start a giant spreadsheet to track all this. Pressings with possible issues, ones to avoid and ones with the @MikeH Boom💥Boom💥 seal of approval
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Oh, in the Boom Boom department, the 2012 New Pornographers "Mass Romantic" is Big Rig @ RTI although I'm not certain if he remastered or just cut the lacquer. I don't own it, but just noticed online.
 
Mather said:
Yeah it's not that actually, the quality of the recording itself I thought was pretty good in general. It's got constant low level GZ brand noise from the beginning of disc one till the end of disc 3, definitely not simply the recording, dirtiest records I've ever pulled out of a sleeve as well. Then it's got this...View attachment 101806View attachment 101807View attachment 101808
And on top of that every single side has one spot of discolored vinyl where you get super loud pops every revolution for about 30 seconds. It's a smorgasbord of GZ fuck ups. I knew I was taking a risk but I thought MAYBE being an Abbey Road press they might have tried a tiny bit harder. NO SIR THEY DID NOT.
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I know you have legitimate complaints and of course GZ sucks, but couldn't resist:

Screenshot_20210607-141228~2.png
 
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