Led Zeppelin II on vinyl

I was going to suggest one of the Japanese releases from the 70's. I have Atlantic P-10101a, and while it may not hit you head on like an RL pressing, it does sound very musical with great soundstage. I've had my copy for many years, and slowly filled in most LZ titles under this same series.

As mentioned further upstream- I find grading from JPN ebay vendors to be vey good and consistent. Japanese vinyl is pretty quiet for the most part as well.

I did just look on ebay- and was surprised to see that prices on P-10101A have crept up pretty good on the buy it now listings. Less than a year ago- I was seeing a number of Excellent listed titles for $50 plus shipping, where now I see many $75 and up with a number of dreamers wanting $150 and up. Shipping out of Japan is typically 22 to 24 dollars.

Chris

@audphile1 

I was watching this YouTube video review of different versions of this album. He touches on key aspects of each pressing. Disclaimer: I have no idea if he’s right or wrong as I don’t have experience comparing these versions.

Just for educational purposes…https://youtu.be/7OLctnVOrPY

Thanks for the link.  I just watched it.

I have not heard most of those pressings, but he seems to know what he is talking about.

I hope that you get a chance to hear mine in the store on their amazing system.  I do not know how to grade vinyl.  But mine plays quietly, and with slam, and with spacial cues, and with great soundstaging and speakers disappearing, and all the rest.  Nothing sounds unnatural.

I was just visiting the store, at 5:30 PM, today.  They were using a Benz Micro cartridge, which I never heard.  I was not there to buy anything or listen to anything.  I wanted to take a seat on their sofa, and find out who manufactured it.  It is a firm and very comfortable sofa, and I am looking to replace mine.  But so far, every sofa I tried was too soft.  That is why I visited the store.

And the owner tried to sell me a streamer and a pre-amp.  Can’t blame him for trying.

@seymour-krelborn I was there to hear the ATC SCM40 my buddy was raving about. I liked them. John wasn’t pushy when I was there. I didn’t buy anything but I also didn’t get a chance to hear the good stuff like Audio Research with top flight speakers. Didn’t have the time. 
 

As to benz…I used to run Benz Micro Ace on pro-ject 2Xperience table long time ago. I remember really liking that cartridge and the entire setup but unfortunately I had a crappy phono stage at the time. 
Didn’t know Audio Connection carried Benz cartridges. 

@audphile1 

After watching your youtube video (meaning, your link), youtube presented me with this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUeODi_Hhls

It was very informative.

After watching it, I took a look at my pressing.  I have RL on side one, and LH on side two.  The "LH" is tiny.  I had a hard time finding it.

It is hard enough to see the scribbling in the wax, when the scribbling is large.  But with the LH being tiny, it is hard to find.  I kept looking, because my side two did not have RL.  So eventually I found the LH.