Sheffield Lab

Agree, Sheffield Lab made some amazing direct to disc LPs. Who can forget, Thelma Houston I've Got The Music In Me. I remember hearing this LP 30 plus years ago to demonstrate a QUAD system (ELS 53 I believe) and realized, this is it, this is what HiFi is all about.

I have about a half dozen of them, purchased back in the day, and they are indeed sonic "tours de force."

The one caveat I would cite, though, is that the Leinsdorf/LA Philharmonic classical recordings, while utterly spectacular and perhaps unparalleled with respect to dynamic range, clean transient response, powerful and accurate bass, and inner detail, were mic'd and recorded in an acoustic environment such that on some systems and to some listeners the string sound in particular will be objectionably dry, bright, and perhaps even harsh. Those expecting warm, lush acoustics may be disappointed, especially if their system tends toward brightness to begin with, and/or tends to homogenize and lose detail on massed strings.

That said, IMO both the classical and popular Sheffield D-to-D's are sonic treasures.

Best regards,
-- Al

I have most of them that I bought back in the day, but musically, the 'pop' records aren't of great interest to me. Like a lot of 'audiophile' speciality recordings, many of them sounded 'good' for demo purposes but weren't something I'd choose to listen to for musical enjoyment. Not trying to rain on your parade, though. If it is a new discovery for you, enjoy. I remember hearing The Missing Linc endlessly at Opus One in Pittsburgh -then probably the best hi-fi dealer in the area where I lived- back in the early 70's. I have piles of these things, along with M &K's, old MoFi's, the old Mark Levinson records, Dave Wilson's records, Keith Johnson's records, Nautilus, and a few other labels, the names of which escape me. Last year, I sold a pristine copy of Flamenco Direct to Disc Fever for a handsome sum- used it to fund more records, of course. (Been buying old UK Vertigos, Island, Harvest and other records from the early psych-folk-progressive era). One of my personal favs- and you may dismiss this as silly or banal, is the third Alice Cooper record "Love it to Death" on the original Zappa 'Straight' label. These early pressings- made before the album was re-pressed on Warner's 'green label' sound absolutely spectacular- whether you like Alice Cooper is of course another matter. (I dismissed him for years but that record, at least to me, is crazy good musically and sonically- very immediate sounding).

I'm especially fond of the Dave Grusin and Harry James LPs. I constantly refer back to them whenever I need a touchstone after making a system change or listening to something I think might approach that level. I also find the Drum Disk and Track Record useful, mostly for finding resonances in my listening area after moving tchotchkes and/or furniture around.

My only quibble with Sheffield Lab disks is they weren't pressed on JVC Super Vinyl. I have a few Japanese pressings of Genesis and Pink Floyd as well as a few Barking Pumpkin Zappa pressings that were, and like the early MFSLs, they are simply outstanding. Silent and resilient.

The vinyl quality made a bigger difference than the half-speed remastering in several instances, IMO. My Sheffields are still sonically superior, but have worn some with play. The Super Vinyl disks sound just as good as when they were new.

A (possibly) comparable new pressing I've heard is Chick Corea's The Vigil. My hearing may not be as acute as it once was, but I thought that record was excellent. If you like that kind of music, check it out and see if you agree.