NOT the Definitive Audiophile pressing, but the really, really nice pressing thread.

AnthonyI · Jun 17, 2021

I love the Definitive Audiophile pressing thread, its a boat load of information and testing ground as members pick up said pressings and share their opinions. Unfortunately not all albums get a AAA audiophile release, or are mastered by "Boom Boom", but that doesn't mean there aren't very good pressings out there. I'm hoping this will be the "companion guide" for the rest of the pressings available.

I'll start..........

Looking to pick up Mezzanine - Massive Attack, anyone have any opinions on the reissues, is the Abbey Road Optimal the one to go with, or is an OG worth the extra coin?

Mr Moustache · Jun 17, 2021

I have this one and it sounds very good:

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2013 Vinyl release of "Mezzanine" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

I haven't compared it with any other so I don't know if there is another issue that sounds better.

@AnthonyI Do you volunteer to put all the recs here in a google sheet? That way we would have a nice community library of the best sounding records out there. That would be amazing!

Joe Mac · Jun 17, 2021

Mr Moustache said:
I have this one and it sounds very good:

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2013 Vinyl release of "Mezzanine" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

I haven't compared it with any other so I don't know if there is another issue that sounds better.

@AnthonyI Do you volunteer to put all the recs here in a google sheet? That way we would have a nice community library of the best sounding records out there. That would be amazing!

Yeah and I have this one too and I’m really happy with it, the bass is deep!

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2017 Vinyl release of "Mezzanine" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

waruv · Jun 17, 2021

Mr Moustache said:
I have this one and it sounds very good:

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2013 Vinyl release of "Mezzanine" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

I haven't compared it with any other so I don't know if there is another issue that sounds better.

@AnthonyI Do you volunteer to put all the recs here in a google sheet? That way we would have a nice community library of the best sounding records out there. That would be amazing!

If it's anything like the Audophile thread I don't see any of us keeping up, but for those interested, I've made a Collaborative Google Sheet. Should be editable by anyone who has the link. I kept it basic: artist, title, Discogs link, and post #s to reference discussion

(working on getting the link to work)

Google Sheet

Piratenovelist · Jun 17, 2021

Thank you for this thread!

AnthonyI · Jun 17, 2021

Mr Moustache said:
I have this one and it sounds very good:

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2013 Vinyl release of "Mezzanine" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

I haven't compared it with any other so I don't know if there is another issue that sounds better.

@AnthonyI Do you volunteer to put all the recs here in a google sheet? That way we would have a nice community library of the best sounding records out there. That would be amazing!

I mean I can, but to @waruv's point, I think if someone is interested in the album in question they'll book mark it on Cogs or their own list. We can see how things go with this thread.

waruv said:
If it's anything like the Audophile thread I don't see any of us keeping up, but for those interested, I've made a Collaborative Google Sheet. Should be editable by anyone who has the link. I kept it basic: artist, title, Discogs link, and post #s to reference discussion

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_i0tXcgAh9T6bYcYO4sT0vK0SuMUsLQIRDu_9MheL60/edit?usp=sharing

Agreed, FYI the link to the doc doesn't work

waruv · Jun 17, 2021

AnthonyI said:
I mean I can, but to @waruv's point, I think if someone is interested in the album in question they'll book mark it on Cogs or their own list. We can see how things go with this thread.

Agreed, FYI the link to the doc doesn't work

That's weird. Lemme take it back and work on getting the link working.

Mr Moustache · Jun 17, 2021

waruv said:
If it's anything like the Audophile thread I don't see any of us keeping up, but for those interested, I've made a Collaborative Google Sheet. Should be editable by anyone who has the link. I kept it basic: artist, title, Discogs link, and post #s to reference discussion

(working on getting the link to work)

Awesome! thanks for taking the initiative. I'll try to commit and fill it up regularly.

waruv · Jun 17, 2021

Mr Moustache said:
Awesome! thanks for taking the initiative. I'll try to commit and fill it up regularly.

No problem! Link below the sheet should work now. I like the idea a bit more for this thread largely because a lot of the Definitive discussion does center around AAA titles that we know are good by pedigree alone. Great discussion of course but sheet wise this may be useful for picking out pressings that don't have those big names on them but still slay. We can usually safely assume MoFis or Speakers Corners or Boom Booms in the Deadwax is good news.

If it doesn't work, oh well, but I like trying it here. I put a definitive tab on there but there's like 9000 posts in there so that may not be exactly viable.

Turbo · Jun 19, 2021

I'm not sure if this one fell under the radar during RSD, but the pressing is phenomenal.

Beautiful quiet RTI pressing, mastered by JJ Golden. I wouldn't hesitate if you come across this.

Various - Penrose Showcase: Vol. 1

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2021 Vinyl release of "Penrose Showcase: Vol. 1" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

MikeH · Jun 19, 2021

Turbo said:
I'm not sure if this one fell under the radar during RSD, but the pressing is phenomenal.

Beautiful quiet RTI pressing, mastered by JJ Golden. I wouldn't hesitate if you come across this.

Various - Penrose Showcase: Vol. 1

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2021 Vinyl release of "Penrose Showcase: Vol. 1" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Nice! Glad to hear it. I’m getting this one in the mail soon. Loving what I’ve heard from the label so far

Turbo · Jun 19, 2021

MikeH said:
Nice! Glad to hear it. I’m getting this one in the mail soon. Loving what I’ve heard from the label so far

It's funny how I've learned to recognize the tell-tale signs of the top pressing plants... I was giddy when I opened the shrink and saw the record was in one of those RTI plastic pouches. LOL. Surely enough, the run-out has the standard RTI numbers.

I actually just updated the Discogs entry, so I guess the word will now be out.

Russ I · Jun 19, 2021

I don't know the recording/pressing pedigree on this one but it stands out to me as a fantastic sounding EP.

Le Ren - Morning & Melancholia

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2020 Vinyl release of "Morning & Melancholia" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

MikeH · Jun 19, 2021

Gotta recommend all of the Experience Hendrix pressings. Usually under $20 but sound amazing.

Russ I · Jun 19, 2021

Last night I read a review of Vinyl Me Please's King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West. (Here's the review and the discogs listing for this record.)

A Collection of New Vinyl for the Audiophile: June 2021 - HomeTheaterHifi.com

King Curtis - Live At Fillmore West

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2021 Vinyl release of "Live At Fillmore West" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Made me want to buy the record! But I have an original Monarch pressing that I listened to earlier and it sounds terrific. I don't doubt that the VMP pressing is a good one, but for a much more reasonable price, I'm going to suggest that a clean original pressing will suffice. This is the one I have:

King Curtis - Live At Fillmore West

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1971 Vinyl release of "Live At Fillmore West" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

MikeH · Jun 19, 2021

Russ I said:
Last night I read a review of Vinyl Me Please's King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West. (Here's the review and the discogs listing for this record.)

A Collection of New Vinyl for the Audiophile: June 2021 - HomeTheaterHifi.com

King Curtis - Live At Fillmore West

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2021 Vinyl release of "Live At Fillmore West" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Made me want to buy the record! But I have an original Monarch pressing that I listened to earlier and it sounds terrific. I don't doubt that the VMP pressing is a good one, but for a much more reasonable price, I'm going to suggest that a clean original pressing will suffice. This is the one I have:

King Curtis - Live At Fillmore West

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1971 Vinyl release of "Live At Fillmore West" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

I’ve been wanting to pick up the VMP actually but it’s been too expensive…I may check out this one!

Turbo · Jun 20, 2021

MikeH said:
I’ve been wanting to pick up the VMP actually but it’s been too expensive…I may check out this one!

I was hoping it would stick around a few months as a swap option. I'm still hoping it pops up in the coming months.

jamieanderson1968 · Jun 22, 2021

If you get a chance, I recommend picking up the 2018 reissue of Wire's Pink Flag. I think it is from a digital source but sounds amazing, pressed at Optimal. Perfectly quiet. I had it cranked with the headphones on and no distortion at all. Even 12XU sounded great and on most versions I have heard the guitar sounds like a fart through a wet towel.

Turbo · Jun 23, 2021

jamieanderson1968 said:
If you get a chance, I recommend picking up the 2018 reissue of Wire's Pink Flag. I think it is from a digital source but sounds amazing, pressed at Optimal. Perfectly quiet. I had it cranked with the headphones on and no distortion at all. Even 12XU sounded great and on most versions I have heard the guitar sounds like a fart through a wet towel.

Nice! Definitely something I should have. Love that album.

Turbo · Jun 29, 2021

Here are a couple well done new albums that should belong in this thread:

Pressed at RTI, mastered by Bernie Grundman

Various - After Dark 3

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2021 Vinyl release of "After Dark 3" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Pressed at Optimal, mastered and cut by Jason Mitchell (who did the recent PJ Harvey reissues - does he have a generally good track record?). Wide soundstage, dynamic... just great.