Vinyl Reviews?

cmy330go

I've been running into a growing number of albums that are horribly mastered. One of the most recent was a Civil Wars album that is so badly compressed that it's utterly boring to listen to. It's just one of a pretty long list of albums that I've been disappointed with. So my question is; does anyone know of a good source for reviews regarding the quality of pressings? I know there are a number of personal sites/blogs that offer some reviews, but it's usually a very limited selection, and also typically hi-end reissues and such. I'm wanting something more like a audiophile friendly forum that people post reviews of everyday releases. Anyone know of such a site? Or should I look into starting one? ;-)

cmy330go

So apparently no one else is aware of any such resource. So joking aside, if I were to start such a site, is it something you guys would see yourself using, and contributing to? Interested in hearing some opinions.

Dawgfish

I'd be interested in that. Just as an aside, I've picked up two newer pressings lately with great sound quality. One is The Preservation Hall Jazz Band titled That's It. The sound quality is incredible. The other is Willie Nelson and Family's Let's Face the Music and Dance. The sq is not quite as good as the former but it's still quite good. These are two of the better newer pressings I've heard in quite a while.

nspindel

I'd also be interested in something like that. You can go to Amazon and read reviews, but generally the reviews are combined regardless of format. It's difficult if not impossible to find reviews specifically of a vinyl pressing. And generally the Amazon reviews are not geared towards sound quality. "OMG I LOVE THIS SONG. LISTEN TO IT ON MY IPOD AT THE GYM ALL THE TIME!"

dkg999

I check in regularly at Steve Hoffman's forum.

cmy330go

nspindel wrote: »

I'd also be interested in something like that. You can go to Amazon and read reviews, but generally the reviews are combined regardless of format. It's difficult if not impossible to find reviews specifically of a vinyl pressing. And generally the Amazon reviews are not geared towards sound quality. "OMG I LOVE THIS SONG. LISTEN TO IT ON MY IPOD AT THE GYM ALL THE TIME!"

Exactly! It's very rare to find someone who actually comments on the quality of the recordings. Of course if they do, it commonly consists of "IT SOUNDS AMAZING ON MY VINTAGE CROSSLY WITH ALL THE CRACKS AND POPS! RECORDS ARE THE BEST!"

dkg999 wrote: »

I check in regularly at Steve Hoffman's forum.

I have found some useful info here, but it still lacks much of what I'm looking for.

I think I may try setting something up. It really isn't much of an investment. More time than anything.

4xoddic

Acoustic Sounds might be a place to start:

http://store.acousticsounds.com/cat/5/Vinyl_Records

Top 10 sellers in the last 30 days in Vinyl Record

Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde
(Mobile Fidelity) 45 RPM Vinyl Record
AMOB 45009 - $74.98

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 4 person(s) rated this product.

Full of life! posted on 10/23/2013
5 Stars
Reviewer: Scott
I own original mono and stereo pressings plus the mono from the box set yet this release is something else. It adds a full and rich texture to the music like I've never heard. Amazing job by MFSL.


Your Grandfather's Blonde on Blonde posted on 10/11/2013
5 Stars
Start with hyperbole: It's one of the greatest albums of all time. I have (and for as many years as it has existed have routinely been listening to) vinyl first pressings, re-pressings, copies with those cover annihilating promo labels, mono, stereo, cds of various reflective layers and permutations. This set is beautiful and transparent, really luxurious. Truly, a remarkable re- creation that offers the most satisfying MUSICAL presentation of this album I have heard. I will happily listen to it in this incarnation in rotation with those others and consider the cost inconsequential. However, as satisfying as it is, the MoFi 45 RPM set is your father's (grandfather's?) Blonde on Blonde. A little sedate and complacent, it lacks the punky urgency of the early pressings. Emotional directness sacrificed for clarity, I guess. Kind of an "unplugged" version that's almost too pretty for its own good. One to sit back in comfort and enjoy. But it still gets maximum stars

Forget the Mono, Gimme stereo Dylan posted on 09/24/2013
5 Stars
Reviewer: Emmanuel
Just received my copy of this gem via Fed Ex. I was a bit skeptical about the fact that Mofi was doing the Stereo mix instead of mono. We all know how Mono Dylan eats stereo Dylan's lunch any day of the week. My fears were unfounded. This is another situation were Mofi has made the most out of a situation that would have overwhelmed less skilled, less demanding outfit. The music shines through folks with transparency, air and warmth. Sheer analog Nirvana. This B.O.B. surpasses the the Sundazed record Mono version in all respect. Talk smack now you mono fetishists. In a few days down the road somebody is gonna post a review and they will whine about how the music on this release sounds "subdued", not amped up enough...I recently read a review on this site of Mofi's Blood on the Tracks where some guy was complaining that it wasn't loud enough. All I could do was shake my head in astonishment, and wonder isn't that what the volume control on your amp is for?


Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman

Label: Analogue Productions

Customer Reviews (4.83 Stars) 59 person(s) rated this product.

"The best recording in my 4000+ collection. Full stop, period, exclamation mark...! - Atul Kanagat, Acoustic Sounds customer

"Chad, I just spent the afternoon listening to several versions of Cat Stevens' Tea For The Tillerman. My Tea For The Tillerman collection includes: Mobile Fidelity UHQR, standard MFSL, original Island, Island re-issue, A&M audiophile half-speed, standard A&M issues and a French pressing. After listening there is no question the new Analogue Productions re-issue is by far the finest. Great job!" - Jack Lind, Acoustic Sounds customer

DISCLAIMER: I live ~ 60 from Acoustic Sounds (Salina, KS). I've bought a Spin Clean from them & they discouraged me from buying a Thorns auto turntable from them in 2009. Not a Brick & Mortar store.

Sisters Of Sound Records, Aggieville, Manhattan, KS stocks new releases & used vinyl. The sisters speak highly of Chad @ Acoustic Sounds. They do NOT have a WWW page:

https://www.facebook.com/sistersofsoundrecords

I would venture a guess that you could call & ask for an opinion of the sound quality of a new release.

1972, I sold records @ Davids East, Wichita, KS. I had a customer come up to counter holding the new Alice Cooper "School's Out " and ask "Is this any good?"

My response was "Depends on what color of panties you like."

cmy330go

I'm familiar with Acoustic Sounds, and have done business with them on a number of occasions. But what I'm really looking for is reviews for somewhat less popular newer releases. I know that almost any reissue from Acoustic Sounds is going to be good to excellent, and that there will be no shortage of reviews for such albums. But where I keep running into issues is with albums like: Civil Wars - Barton Hollow, or Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More. Both albums are available from a large number of dealers including Acoustic Sounds, but none of them have reviews. Amazon of course has a slug of reviews, but they all speak to the musical content, not the quality of the recording. BTW...I would recommend steering clear of both these albums. Both suffer from extreme dynamic compression.

Dawgfish

I have the Munford & Sons Sigh No More. Sound quality is very disappointing!

hochpt21

I agree with most of what has been said here so far. I also would be interested in a site that had SQ vinyl reviews of new releases, and I would also contribute as an active purchaser.

For example, I really like the new Arcade Fire, Paul McCartney, Avett Brothers etc...but I don't know if it is worth it to buy the vinyl for $15-$20.

I've had good luck with some recent purchases like Mad Season...Above (maybe best SQ of any album I own), but I have also had some issues with quality pressings like Bon Iver.

I am active at Hoffman as well, but am always open to more avenues of information.

cmy330go

Dawgfish wrote: »

I have the Munford & Sons Sigh No More. Sound quality is very disappointing!

Yea. I had really high hopes for their albums. I had seen how energetic, and dynamic their live performances were, and even thought the stuff on Spotify sounded fairly good. But man is that LP crap. The mastering just sucked all the emotion out of it. Total waste of money.

hochpt21 wrote: »

I agree with most of what has been said here so far. I also would be interested in a site that had SQ vinyl reviews of new releases, and I would also contribute as an active purchaser.

For example, I really like the new Arcade Fire, Paul McCartney, Avett Brothers etc...but I don't know if it is worth it to buy the vinyl for $15-$20.

I've had good luck with some recent purchases like Mad Season...Above (maybe best SQ of any album I own), but I have also had some issues with quality pressings like Bon Iver.

I am active at Hoffman as well, but am always open to more avenues of information.

FWIW I've got Arcade Fire's Neon Bible album, and it is really good. If I recall it's actually 3 sides of 180g vinyl. It seems Arcade Fire takes quite a bit of pride in their recordings.

I think the wife picked up an Avett Brothers album, but I haven't listened to it yet, so can't really speak to it's sound quality.

treitz3

Instead of creating yet another forum that folks would have to visit and that you would have to maintain, would you entertain the thought of hosting a group here on the Polk forum? Simply call it the "Vinyl Review" group and with each thread, start a conversation of any particular album. The discussion of different pressings/releases/reissues and the quality thereof could all be located within each thread.

Just food for thought....the vinyl lovers here at Club Polk might like a place to relax and discuss this very thing.

Tom

dkg999

FYI - In the DSM metro there is one of the guys that works at ZZZ down on Ingersoll that is really honest about the SQ of the new vinyl they have in stock. It's not the owner, and I don't remember his name, however he knows I am a good customer of Audio Labs right down the street and always tells me if he has heard bad things about the SQ of a LP I'm looking at.

cmy330go

treitz3 wrote: »

Instead of creating yet another forum that folks would have to visit and that you would have to maintain, would you entertain the thought of hosting a group here on the Polk forum? Simply call it the "Vinyl Review" group and with each thread, start a conversation of any particular album. The discussion of different pressings/releases/reissues and the quality thereof could all be located within each thread.

Just food for thought....the vinyl lovers here at Club Polk might like a place to relax and discuss this very thing.

Tom

I have actually considered that, but then started to lean towards a non-forum site that just allows you to post a quick star-based review, and make a comment or two. Should make for a simpler, easier to navigate setup.

dkg999 wrote: »

FYI - In the DSM metro there is one of the guys that works at ZZZ down on Ingersoll that is really honest about the SQ of the new vinyl they have in stock. It's not the owner, and I don't remember his name, however he knows I am a good customer of Audio Labs right down the street and always tells me if he has heard bad things about the SQ of a LP I'm looking at.

Yea I know who you're talking about. Sadly I can't think of his name either. He has been able to offer help on a couple albums, but obviously can't keep tabs on all of them. Actually the Civil Wars albums that I'm disappointed with I bought there, but of course they weren't something they had on hand, and the had to be ordered in.

Obsession18

Use Google to do a search on the vinyl version of the album your interested in, you will be surprised what comes up. I have done this several times to find out about pressing and mixing quality. What I have discovered is there are a ton of audio oriented forums on the web that may have specifically what your looking for.