Are you buying new or used?
Its been my experience that most of the new 180 gram reissues are sorely lacking in sound quality compared to original pressings. That's why I attend as many used records shows as possible and go to used records shops too. To look for pristine originals. Usually the condition of the album jacket will tell you if there is gold inside. And if the owner took the time to keep the cellophane on and sliced the jacket open with a razor, chances are it wasn't played a cheap BSR changer with a ceramic cartridge. And every now I then I find a sealed copy of an original pressing - these tend to be more common with releases from the early to mid 80's if there is music from that era that appeals to you.
Of course you can't go wrong with used Japanese pressings (my favorite for sound quality) and audiophile pressings and 1/2 speed master from Mobile Fidelity, Nautilus, CBS Master Works, etc. These types of records were all usually bought from HiFi dealers and not available to the teenagers in the local record/head shop.
Part of the fun of vinyl is the hunt too. Good luck!
Its been my experience that most of the new 180 gram reissues are sorely lacking in sound quality compared to original pressings. That's why I attend as many used records shows as possible and go to used records shops too. To look for pristine originals. Usually the condition of the album jacket will tell you if there is gold inside. And if the owner took the time to keep the cellophane on and sliced the jacket open with a razor, chances are it wasn't played a cheap BSR changer with a ceramic cartridge. And every now I then I find a sealed copy of an original pressing - these tend to be more common with releases from the early to mid 80's if there is music from that era that appeals to you.
Of course you can't go wrong with used Japanese pressings (my favorite for sound quality) and audiophile pressings and 1/2 speed master from Mobile Fidelity, Nautilus, CBS Master Works, etc. These types of records were all usually bought from HiFi dealers and not available to the teenagers in the local record/head shop.
Part of the fun of vinyl is the hunt too. Good luck!