I was doing some research on Alan Parson's I Robot and came across this article. It is very informative and bears out why some people pay really big bucks for UHQR.

http://www.soundstage.com/synergize/pics/199908_irobotcover.jpg

http://www.soundstage.com/synergize/synergize081999.htm

Yes, Ward, an excellent article!

I was wondering about the quality of records as I was playing some early original recordings and later re-releases last night. The quality of playback to me was noticable and I had wondered if the quality of the masters was degraded. I had not considered the materials (vynil) used for the added noise that I was hearing ( I was using headphones). or how it was mastered.

That article makes me wonder if I need to put more effort in searching out quality recordings and less on playback equipment.....

Naw!!! I'm an equipment junkie! However, I will be considering this new information for future cd and record purchases.

Thanks

JonTee:)

Thanks for the article - very interesting.

Ward

Some good reading there.

Grumpy

Thanks Ward, very interesting article about a LP I like very much.
I have a Japanese and UK pressing with the former being quiet but the latter being a warmer and a bit noisier. I like them both but usually play the Japanese issue. I've always wondered about the Mofi versions but haven't come across any here and I'm not that keen on buying off ePay. :) Favourite track - Don't let it show.

cheers
Jack

Ward,

That article gives a good overview of the influence vinyl can make on how much noise an LP may exhibit. However, there is a serious flaw with this type of listening comparison: It does not take into account the varying equipment that made the original lacquer pressings!

Let me make a simple analogy. Let's suppose you wanted to compare the sound of two power conditioners and their affect at reducing AC power noise. You use two identical amps plugged into the two line conditioners to be compared. However, one amp uses Westrex 300B tubes, and the other amp uses another brand.

You might be able to form an opinion about which line conditioner reduced AC power line noise most effectively, but you couldn't reach a meaningful conclusion about which conditioner produced the best sound. Judgments as to the widest soundstage, lowest bass, best microdynamics, etc., would be totally misleading. What was the contributing factor--the power line conditioner or the different output tubes?

In the article, "Comparing Multiple Versions of the Same Recording," the author has made exactly this mistake. Are they really the same recording? Well, we know for sure that those with different matrix numbers cannot be. Where were they mastered? On what equipment? How much feedback did the cuttterhead use? Did the mastering amplifier use tubes, ICs, or transistors? These some of the many variables that can affect the sound of the finished pressing much more so than the vinyl compound that is used.

A much more interesting comparison--especially when we're most concerned with sound--is to compare the same album or similar program material made with different cutting systems. The differences are dramatic. However, since disc mastering is often so mysterious, no one ever knowingly contributes the final sound to that aspect, including the author of the SoundStage! article.

Terry

It would be nice if he would be able to do a review on the "Dark Side" UHQR...or hell, even the "Sgt. Pepper" release.

Here's another question regarding vinyl quality: What difference is there in South American, Canadian, and European vinyl?
There are some titles I want that are only available in Canada and Europe. There are also some titles from Brazil that sound kinda neat too. Any words on non USA LPs?

I know that much of the vinyl used in the US was recycled. I do have several Albums that were pressed on Virgin Vinyl and they really sound different - more high and very crisp.

I have an import pressing of Wire - Chairs Missing - on virgin vinyl. It is a very strange album. Big World by Joe Jackson was also printed on virgin vinyl but was also recorded digitally and live at a concert.

Dave