07-26-2017, 09:12 AM
I feel like I'm Charlie eating a Willy Wonka chocolate -- all three LPs are beside my turntable, but I'm pacing myself in listening for the first time.
Last night I decided on LP 1 of Phantom Power. Caveat, I invested in a good table and cartridge, so results may vary depending on your own set up. The investment can make classic analog albums and well done recent pressings really standout, at the same time it can highlight deficiencies -- especially in newer releases maybe not optimized for vinyl.
LP 1 of Phantom Power really hits the mark, on first listen IMO the best of the vinyl issues (without listening yet to the other two). First, out of the package it's flat and dead quiet. Some of the older releases I have original pressings, so can't compare to the more recent remaster. DFN and Trouble, I noticed some differences in the remaster (more bottom end on DFN, for example) but nothing significant. Phantom, for lack of a better word, really comes to life with some subtle tweaks from Ludwig. It also has the benefit of being, up to the time, their best use of the studio in terms of production and performance.
Poets has way more swing than what I'm used to hearing. The drums and shakers in the intro are really sharp, much more live sound than on CD -- possibly the result of compression on the CD. The background/double track vocals are a bit more pronounced with better separation.
Bobcaygeon blew me away. One of those tracks that on vinyl really surrounds you -- the slide guitar is just floating out there. The reverb on Gord's vocal is a bit more pronounced, and it really adds that to "music is swirling around me" effect. It was like hearing the song new again.
Overall, Gord's vocals have a more "live in the studio" feel that's not quite there on CD. My only criticism so far, Something On has a thump bass line that runs through it. Less pronounced on CD, though once I hear it I can't stop listening to it. That bass is even more pronounced on the vinyl, to the point I thought I had to make a setting adjustment. But only an issue on this one track, and it could be just a case of I always hear it so Iknow hear it even more.
So far, after LP 1 a really great vinyl release that's an improvement on the CD in terms of listening experience. I'm not a big fan of comparing waveforms, as I think it can be a bit deceiving to say all compression is bad, I juts go with "does this sound better, more immersive, and more immediate to me". Hits the mark on all three.
Last night I decided on LP 1 of Phantom Power. Caveat, I invested in a good table and cartridge, so results may vary depending on your own set up. The investment can make classic analog albums and well done recent pressings really standout, at the same time it can highlight deficiencies -- especially in newer releases maybe not optimized for vinyl.
LP 1 of Phantom Power really hits the mark, on first listen IMO the best of the vinyl issues (without listening yet to the other two). First, out of the package it's flat and dead quiet. Some of the older releases I have original pressings, so can't compare to the more recent remaster. DFN and Trouble, I noticed some differences in the remaster (more bottom end on DFN, for example) but nothing significant. Phantom, for lack of a better word, really comes to life with some subtle tweaks from Ludwig. It also has the benefit of being, up to the time, their best use of the studio in terms of production and performance.
Poets has way more swing than what I'm used to hearing. The drums and shakers in the intro are really sharp, much more live sound than on CD -- possibly the result of compression on the CD. The background/double track vocals are a bit more pronounced with better separation.
Bobcaygeon blew me away. One of those tracks that on vinyl really surrounds you -- the slide guitar is just floating out there. The reverb on Gord's vocal is a bit more pronounced, and it really adds that to "music is swirling around me" effect. It was like hearing the song new again.
Overall, Gord's vocals have a more "live in the studio" feel that's not quite there on CD. My only criticism so far, Something On has a thump bass line that runs through it. Less pronounced on CD, though once I hear it I can't stop listening to it. That bass is even more pronounced on the vinyl, to the point I thought I had to make a setting adjustment. But only an issue on this one track, and it could be just a case of I always hear it so Iknow hear it even more.
So far, after LP 1 a really great vinyl release that's an improvement on the CD in terms of listening experience. I'm not a big fan of comparing waveforms, as I think it can be a bit deceiving to say all compression is bad, I juts go with "does this sound better, more immersive, and more immediate to me". Hits the mark on all three.