Anybody own any direct-to-disc LP's?


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I remember in the mid 70's direct-to-disc LP's were being touted. As I can remember, the concept sure sounded like a good idea. I was in college and had just bought my first receiver back then and could barely afford cut-outs or promotional LP's from my local record store. No way could I afford the premium prices for the direct to disc LP's. Decades later when I eventually found my way to high end audio, direct-to-disc had long vanished. Were they that good?
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128x128mitch4t
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In theory, it seems like it would be better than reel-to-reel because you've bypassed recording to tape before making copies to vinyl. It seems like ultra high fidelity recording for the consumer is doomed at its inception because there is no market large enough to support it.
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I still remember first hearing "the Missing Link." Later in a dealers (remember those guys), I heard it being used to wow a customer. When the dealer was called to the phone, I told the guy to play to ask for a disk that you are familiar with.

I now find most of these disks still outstanding sound but weak performances. I seldom place any of them. Many, especially Sheffields were transferred to cds. Several were, indeed, redone by FIM and are quite good soundwise. Many of the d2ds were abused using the Decca London cartridge. It was a very dynamic cartridge and sounded "real" with these disks, but it loved to mistract and damaged many. No doubt including many of mine.
My early copy of "Growing Up In Hollywood Town" came in a box. The later version was in a sleeve. They sounded different to me. Others in the series also seemed to vary in quality from copy to copy. Just saying the usual rules still apply to pressings, so just because you have heard one........
Mitch,

Vinyl, even at 45rpm, still has much higher distortion and less dynamic range than reel-to-reel. Believe it or not, back in the 70s' and 80s', vinyl was considered to be an inferior media. It was better than cassette and 8-tracks but reel-to-reel, particularly the higher speed ones, produce a kind of effortless quality that no vinyl can match.
Most all of the ones I own/have heard sound great. Al's recommendation of Sheffield Labs is a great place to start.