With the expanding appreciation for the musical quality that vinyl brings to the overall listening experience, demand for vinyl continues to increase. As such, manufacturers are trying to meet demand for some the most iconic recordings and hottest selling new music through what seems like a never-ending stream of reissues. For example, according to Discogs, an online “platform for music discovery and collection”, since 1976 there have been 182 vinyl versions of the biggest selling album of all time, The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975. Many of those versions were pressed at various manufacturing facilities across the world in 1976. Think that’s a lot? The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers has 274 versions to choose from.
Since 1976, there have been 38 reissues or repressings of the The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975. There are even more versions that do not fall into an “official” release category because of their limited production, promotional, or club status. The issue is not the number of releases. The issue is the quality of the release. Not all pressing plants are equal. Not all mastering is equal. Not all music sources are equal. Therefore, not all versions are equal.
For the average listener who just wants to appreciate a good sounding version of their favorite music on vinyl, the process of finding the best version for a fair price can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. This can be frustrating, especially when you pick up a copy of a favorite album only to find out after you drop the needle that it sounds less impressive than you expected. I had this happen with Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s (MFSL) version of Steely Dan’s Aja. Talk about disappointed!
While this is not a guarantee, the first pressing is typically the best version at the best price. However, when an album is in high demand overuse of the metal stamper in the manufacturing process can become a concern. Overuse can cause the stamping plate to effectively wear out. As such, the earlier pressings from a stamper tend to be a little better than the latter due to the “crispness” of the stamper. When a stamper wears out a new one must be made. This requires using the original analogue master tapes to do so. Each time a tape is used it wears a little as well.
Speaking of source, this is also a concern when choosing a vinyl reissue. The best reissues are typically those that use the original analog master tapes as their source for the music. Sometimes, a label will want to reissue a specific album from another label. Using The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975 example above, in 1993 Digital Compact Classics (DCC) reissued the album. DCC was an audiophile label that typically used the original analog master tapes, highest quality vinyl, and incorporated one of the most skilled engineers, Steve Hoffman, in the remastering of the record. The result was a high quality, high demand, and now high-priced reissue of the original album. This version is viewed by many to be better than most original versions. However, a good copy of the original pressing may be a better financial choice for many, as the quality differences for the price may not be appreciated.
By contrast, Rhino Records reissued The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975 in 2011. While the record is acceptable, there are noticeable differences. The Rhino reissue appears to be cut from a digital version of the master tapes. This can make a difference, as there are sound quality transfer issues that occur when an analogue master is transferred to a digital master (DM).
Many complain that the vinyl from DMs sound much like a compact disc (CD). Meaning, the low ends may be strong, but the mid-range can appear muffled, and highs can be lost or sound somewhat tinny. Some engineers try to compensate by remastering. This is what MFSL tried to do with Aja. This can help immensely if the engineer is very skilled. This was the case for the Rhino version of The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975. It has very good sound quality. However, if you are buying vinyl, other than price, one must ask why you’d buy a version from a digital master. Why not save a little money and buy a CD?
When looking for the best vinyl copy of your favorite record, try your best to find a clean original pressing. If it is an English band from the 60s and 70s (i.e., The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Elton John, etc), a UK version is probably the winner over a US version. If a first pressing is too expensive, try to find a reissue from the original analogue master tapes. Those are becoming more common and readily available at reasonable prices. A word of warning. Just because a new reissue says “Remastered” does not mean it was remastered using the original analogue master tapes. The same is true for reissues that boast “Half Speed Master”. If it is not clearly stated on the hyper sticker that the album source is from the “original analogue master tapes” it probably isn’t.
The Warped Vinyl Aficionado is dedicated to the fair assessment of vinyl music and the growth of vinyl record collections by those who appreciate quality and experience.
www.warpedvinylaficionado.com
Kommentare