Better quality pressings...you bet!
hochpt21
Posts: 5,423
I have a few 'audiophile' pressings so I know there is better quality reflected in the higher prices being demanded. It's usually just an internal battle for me deciding if the cost is worth the reward.
That battle usually starts with me getting excited and deciding I definitely NEED this one. Followed by me putting it in my online 'cart' or carrying it around the record store for awhile. Next step is me thinking about all of the albums I have waiting in my 'to be cleaned' queue...and I should listen to the records I actually own before buying more. And then I usually put a ballpark figure together in my mind about what my total album collection is worth...and "just imagine what I could buy if I sold it all."
Next I think about what a pain in the **** it would be to sell my whole collection. Then, I convince myself that my collection is an investment and one day it will pay off. Next, I think about the fact that by the time I would need the investment to pay off....my kids will be grown and I will be lonely, and that will be the time that I actually would enjoy my collection, adding to the fact that if I sold my collection now it would be worth the most because vinyl is "super-cool" right now and if I waited...it will probably be worth pennies on the dollar.
The last step is me thinking about how life is meant to be enjoyed all the way through....not just waited to enjoy at the end. This last step is usually the one that gets me to click the button in my online cart...or take the albums to the counter.
Ok, let me take a breath....
So the other day I popped on four Analogue Production pressings of Norah Jones albums. Price I won't mention, but you can figure it would make 'regular folk' **** in their pants.
Weird thing is...I already own all of these albums!
It wasn't an easy decision, but I have a couple other AP pressings and the quality was so good...coupled with the fact that I really like Norah...and mix in my whole process outlined above...I pulled the trigger.
Guilt hung over my head like a rain cloud from the time I paid the money, through the time I received the albums (luckily intercepting them between the mail-lady and my wife getting home) to the time I put them on the shelf.
Until tonight
I put on one of the records. Immediately, the validation was there. It was ALL worth it!
Norah's voice sang like nothing I've heard, and I've heard it sing a lot.
It was just right. It was definitely worth it. And it is all good.
That battle usually starts with me getting excited and deciding I definitely NEED this one. Followed by me putting it in my online 'cart' or carrying it around the record store for awhile. Next step is me thinking about all of the albums I have waiting in my 'to be cleaned' queue...and I should listen to the records I actually own before buying more. And then I usually put a ballpark figure together in my mind about what my total album collection is worth...and "just imagine what I could buy if I sold it all."
Next I think about what a pain in the **** it would be to sell my whole collection. Then, I convince myself that my collection is an investment and one day it will pay off. Next, I think about the fact that by the time I would need the investment to pay off....my kids will be grown and I will be lonely, and that will be the time that I actually would enjoy my collection, adding to the fact that if I sold my collection now it would be worth the most because vinyl is "super-cool" right now and if I waited...it will probably be worth pennies on the dollar.
The last step is me thinking about how life is meant to be enjoyed all the way through....not just waited to enjoy at the end. This last step is usually the one that gets me to click the button in my online cart...or take the albums to the counter.
Ok, let me take a breath....
So the other day I popped on four Analogue Production pressings of Norah Jones albums. Price I won't mention, but you can figure it would make 'regular folk' **** in their pants.
Weird thing is...I already own all of these albums!
It wasn't an easy decision, but I have a couple other AP pressings and the quality was so good...coupled with the fact that I really like Norah...and mix in my whole process outlined above...I pulled the trigger.
Guilt hung over my head like a rain cloud from the time I paid the money, through the time I received the albums (luckily intercepting them between the mail-lady and my wife getting home) to the time I put them on the shelf.
Until tonight
I put on one of the records. Immediately, the validation was there. It was ALL worth it!
Norah's voice sang like nothing I've heard, and I've heard it sing a lot.
It was just right. It was definitely worth it. And it is all good.
2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
Comments
-
I have these same thought but so far I haven't pulled the trigger. The one that really ticked me off was the German import of Supertramp's COTC. I waited too long and it's no longer available. I need to figure out which ones are really better quality pressings
I would be interested to hear what others consider to be better quality pressingsHT- Samsung PN50B860/Integra DTR 30.3/Rt55 Fronts
Rt35i Surrounds/Cs1000p Center/SVS BP1000 Sub
2CH - B&K MC-101 pre/B&K EX-442 amp/NAD 2400 amp
Polk SDA1C, Polk Monitor 7, New Large Advents and Polk RTA 8T
BR - Yamaha CR800/Polk monitor 5
