This is ridiculous noise. Making all these corrections is the reason end-users pay more in the first place. Instead, the R&D just looks like it went into fancy packaging and it's poor quality control for the LP, plain and simple. The first red flag was the stretch marks on the label when the hole punch was made around the spindle. I'll show it in the video shortly but when you make a limited run like this, the whole purpose is to produce something nice and the mastering and mixing was poorly done in my opinion.
UHQR 45 rpm Vinyl "Kind of Blue"
I got a call from my friend saying his heart sank after hearing this. Utter sadness and disappointment. I didn’t have time to get there since it was late in the evening, so I said I’d come the following morning. Equipment used....
1.Yamaha AS3000 integrated amplifier with an amazing built in phono preamp.
2. Turntable Technics 1200GR2 new
3. Nagaoka MP500 cartridge new
4. Volti Audio Razz speakers
We also have two stereo copies of Kind of Blue on vinyl by Columbia 33 rpm and of course digital using a Denefrips Venus II.
This is the second time I’ve listened to an LP by this company and it will be the last. It amazes me this is $150 plus shipping and sounds absolutely deplorable. All this hype people have made this out to be makes me seriously question the credibility of numerous reviews. Obviously this can’t be returned but this LP isn’t even close to the stereo 33 rpm’s by Columbia when comparing them all. Even the digital was better. There is so much nonsense in this industry about promises of great things.
This was a factory sealed copy from MusicDirect. First off, the album has a grainy floor noise. This album lacks balance, placing Bill Evan’s piano to the back of the soundstage. The bass is also too much and while Jimmy Cobb’s drum symbols sound airy, the rest of the band sounds dull, lifeless and lacks proper dynamics. The ambiances are simply lacking altogether and it astonishes me anyone expresses what a great example this 45 rpm UHQR is. It’s a joke, forgive my frustration.
Both Columbia versions in just standard 33 rpm were far superior, displaying beautiful balance, airy nuances, richness and sweetness by comparison. Even the digital was superior. Huge disappointment!
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sounds like you got a lousy pressing. I would just return it for another. Listening to my KOB 45 now - it's fine, like it always has been. I have been purchasing my vinyl from Acoustic Sounds, no issues with returns. I have only returned one AP and they just told me to keep it, they would send another vinyl out. I have had terrible luck with the Optimal pressings from the Original Source series, but that is another story, but AS has been great with those returns also. |
Honestly, I'm done with Analog Productions. This is the second pressing of theirs that's been returned and I did a video about it several months ago. I just don't like the way they master their albums. I just got the MoFi 45rpm Kind of Blue today. It's Miles better pun intended. First off, the noise- floor is ultra quiet, the quality of the spindle hole is cleanly cut, the balance of the instruments and sound stage are absolutely fantastic. The air, ambiance and space around the drum cymbals are absolutely beautiful, displaying a sweet sparkle. This is a world class pressing with beautiful dynamics. There's just no comparison and it's even better than the Columbia versions. It was only $69 from Mofi. I'll be posting a video on this in a few days. Thanks for all the feedback and input guys. |
+1 @cdhumiston I had the Mofi 45 of KOB (very good) and sold it after getting the UHQR which is unbeleivable (tied with Aja for my best sounding records). Another great one - the Mofi one step of Somethin' Else, a Cannonball Adderly album which was heavily influenced by Miles (i keep it with my Miles albums because it sound a lot like them. The other Steely Dan ones I own all are (I believe) the best available pressings you can get, but vary in how great they are most likely because of the original tape condition. Pricey, yes-I'd rather they skip the boxes and cut the price in half. |
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