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It's time for another "these records suck" video.

don't get me wrong, but i think you are somehow missing a point, because your focus is on dg readiness to send you replacement...it should be the case without question... lack of qc and poor manufacturing in general should be the main story...maybe they are going to find a perfect copy for your replacement, but imagine a situation where you are going to buy the same album again through the regular channels and what to expect: better copy or dud again...?

Once again, thank you Dave for getting into the weeds here + adding your thought-process on VTA. This 2nd part seems lost on some here because, what's interesting here is, a simple review can lead to re-evaluating your gear, your process, learning things... Obviously, no one is forced to go this far but it can help others to 'light that bulb' in their head. I, for one, have been focusing on VTA recently after not caring at all for years (even though my set-up is modest, the engineers behind my SL-1200 MK2 had the great idea to add a VTA ring, which helped a lot!). It is obviously a black-hole like many other subjects when it comes to records so, to each their own!

Can't believe I missed this video. Finding the best sounding NEVERMIND has been a somewhat expensive and tedious passion of mine. Not sure if I've gone through more copies of DSOTM or NEVERMIND, but probably the latter. And we ended at the same place - the 1991 Sonopress (DE). I've never heard the US OG and, while I'd like to, I will never shell out that amount - especially when I have a Mint perfect copy of the Sonopress pressing (with the treble clef on Side B). I started out with the run of the mill pressings in the beginning and then got the ORG/BG pressing, which I had heard so much about and which really underwhelmed me (it's Mike Esposito's shootout pick, 2nd only to US OG). Somewhere along the way, I heard about the Sonopress and went through two or three copies to find a flawless pressing. It is probably my favorite record in my collection to whip out. So visceral and satisfying on my setup. I feel actually honored and fortunate to own it. It's very special. Search over. It's moments like these that makes this is such a fun hobby.

That's a great pity. Oh and I've emailed you a challenge for the New Year!

hear hear! i am not buying classical music on vinyl, but i have some problems with dg releases as well...i bought moby and roger eno on dg and they are clicks and pops fest....awful pressing...and to make things worse, i have horrible experience with almost all universal music group labels ( blue note, ecm records, universal, you name it...)....they have scratches, they clicks and pops, and with some quiet passages it is pretty bad to listen to...mine percentage of bad pressings is even higher, maybe even 80-90% of universal music group labels and sub-labels have one or another pressing problem! and no amount of cleaning helps!

Optimal press the Blue Note Classic series, of which I have almost all. About 1 in 8 of the ones I bought have had issues. Not surface noise but non-fill. Non-fill is usually visible and sounds like rice bubbles in milk. Optimal are capable of making a very good record, but often don't. They are a big plant and it seems like they pump the production volume through at times of heavy demand, at the expense of quality. If this series had been pressed at Pallas, also in Germany, I would probably have bought the entire series instead of the one that I have. What you're experiencing sounds like surface noise (dirt), I have had the experience where a new record had constant surface noise through an entire side, I thought it was sounding improved after a second and third play so kept playing it and found after about a dozen plays it became completely silent... also, do you ultrasonic clean?

My experience apart from any defects about the original source DG is that although the sound is better i.e. separation, detail etc, the music is worse. The original source lacks emotionality and is not as musically communitive as the OG and is not as natural sounding.

I’ve been loving the DG Original Source Series since right after it kicked off, and have 15 or so of them. After some initial quality issues, the pressings had gotten pretty good. Til this year. My Steinberg Box had 2 out of 3 defective. Looked like a child had scribbled on it with a razor, resulting in repetitive clicks for 10-90 rotations. Then as I was pulling one out of the inner I saw some vinyl shavings fall out of the spindle hole. I think those shavings are falling out during shipping and grinding against the good quality pressings and ruining them, so I alerted DG, and hopefully Optimal have addressed that issue. I have had 33-50% defective each batch this year, so I have decided to only buy these DG Original Source from Amazon going forward, as I don’t have the time for involving returns. It definitely sounds like your Stravinsky 2nd edition is a pressing issue. If that becomes common I will sadly be done with this incredible sounding series. Come on DG, please move the Original Source Series to a higher quality pressing plant!

Let me guess, the new B77 MKII will cost over $10K at least. I don't know of any wealthy people that will buy it. Studios have been digital since the early 1980's and more heavily by the late 1980's. So how is this hot news? Will they be made JIT for each order?

l've clicks/pops on a number of new pressings as well, even though the LPs are 180g. l also have a bunch of (supposedly inferior) thin, recycled vinyls l bought over 35 years ago in the 80s and hardly a click or tick can be heard on any of them. Obviously, vinyl pressing in the 80s was down to a science, but it looks like pressing records has to be learned all over again.

20 minutes is too much time to say that paying 59 euros for this snobbiness it's ridiculous. I bought three and I'm not buying not one more. I rather spend my money on cheaper records without the snobbiness that don't are full of dirty. This is not an audiophile series it's a money grab.

SACD 5.1 or blu-ray would be preferable formats for this type of music. This vinyl series looks beautiful but is extraordinarily over-priced. Newcomers are learning now why so many classical music lovers welcomed the CD format in the early '80s.

I bought my first DG for an X and still have it almost two years ago. Brand new and almost unplayable. Gave air a clean and it’s probably the worst playing record in my collection. The artist is Jan Lisiecki playing Chopin. It’s disgusting quality. They should be embarrassed.

Hi Dave, on the subject of re/mixes in general, there's a fascinating video on composer Samuel Andreyev's channel titled 'Beethoven’s Dazzling Orchestrations Explained', where he shows how orchestration is integral to compositions and the composer's intentions. I found everything Samuel says applies to mixes, eg. he says how Strauss used saxophones to add colour to other instruments, but the listener isn't supposed to hear the saxophones, even to the point of not knowing they're there. From what you say about 'Animals' and 'Revolver', I reckon you'll find what Samuel says upholds your point of view on these remixes and the originals. I did listen to the 'Animals' remix but never bought it. I have the same original pressing as you, bought when it was released in '77, and it's my favourite, most played, Floyd album. It's funny how, before the remix was announced, a number of Floyd ranking videos placed 'Animals' at #1, and no one complained about it being muddy or grungy, until it was announced. Then, suddenly, everyone and their dog was saying they'd always thought it was muddy. It's dark, brooding and powerful, and suits the subject matter. Muddy, it ain't.

Hi Dave, I have 8 releases of this Series, 5 of them had minor or more accentuated pressing defects, I have asked for a replacement in 4 cases...

The latest album from Max Richter was done by optimal for Decca and is one of the worst pressings I’ve ever had, just dreadful

Anybody know if the US versions are also pressed at Optimal?

Another enjoyable vid:-)

when you pay serious money for audiofile records you must get a dead silence record ( or a very few very minor pops)

There’s no excuse for this shabby production, particularly not at this price. DG needs to sort this out immediately, where’s their QC? Thank you for sharing your experience and the time taken to make this video.

Hey, thats Kind of Strange. I bought the full series so far and ita close to Perfect. Maybe you have the second pressings?

I had issues with DG. I ordered from them and received something different, not what I pre ordered from this series. Then I had to prove to them what they sent me was incorrect, so I attached the bar code. To cut a long story short after a few emails they did admit it was their error, but were now sold out. I could have a store credit !!!! but I eventually got a full refund...never bought from them again.

I love this series. My copies Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and the Debussy/Ravel were perfect. My Schubert "Trout" Quintet and the Beethoven #7 were also perfecto. Got a bunch more that I haven't listened to yet, including the massive Karajan Bruckner cycle box. Can't wait for the upcoming Tchaikovsky Symphony No.1 "Winter Dreams" release, and the Karajan Mahler 6. I had a problem with the Boem Beethoven Sym. 6 "Pastoral" release (which was sold out) with some pops that could not be cleaned away, and DG replaced it.

Dave, when the first series was announced I ordered the Beethoven Seventh Symphony from a local record shop. As with your Stravinsky, the recording was incredible, but there was a scratch that lasted for many passes of the stylus. I took the record back to the store and they ordered another copy from DG. The second copy had a scratch that lasted even more passes of the stylus. These flaws were not something that a cleaner would eliminate. I took the second one back and have refused to order any more. It is a great disappointment that such a beautiful recording was so ill-served by the pressing plant.

I buy a lot of Blue Note Classics so they are Optimal. The rock titles I buy are usually pressed at GZ. From my experience over 200 records those two are more or less the same quality. GZ pressings suffer from motocross warp but none had non fill unlike Optimal. These days even QRP and RTI are a gamble. I flatten records myself because dealing with returns is such a hassle.

The new standard, scratches and scuffs all over the NEW vinyl records. Some look worse then used. I find it funny when I read mint/sealed on discgos.

I received one that had a gouge in it!

Dave we need to encourage the krauties they've finally got their act together - all thanks to the EBS team - DG always had the best engineers and sources and worst sounding records, apparently. this series the pressing amd mastering in incredible, classical music has come alive baby! I bought many of them in the first run of limited 2-3k copies but even those I returned upto 30% of them due to surface noise. C'mon Optimal you can do it! But kudos to them for putting these out, this is remastered classical music at its best in analog (who cares about the rest anyway)

I bought all the first pressings of this series. Love the sound quality and artistically these are superb. I’ve been quite lucky I guess, had to send back just one for a replacement which was not a problem for them at all. Indeed Optimal is not the best pressing plant I would say. Would these be pressed at RTI I would be over the moon. But it is not! Cleaning the records with my Degritter mkII helps, but I need to clean them 4 to 5 times to get them almost without c&p’s in the quite passages. A pity for all the hard work done at EBS and DG and than get it pressed at Optimal. Anyway, I still get acceptable results and the music and sound quality are not to be missed. The next batch will be released in February and a Ozawa boxset (4 records) in early March. I’ve pre-ordered them and hope Optimal will get the pressing quality on top quality as would be expected for this series. Love your in depth videos, thank you!

I think it is not the fault of the labels but the pressing plants seem to be fully booked to such a degree that they neglect quality control.

I’m sorry to hear about Optimal production problems with this series. I’ve heard this from several people and it is really bad news. I’m not very much into classical music, but as a record collector I decided to pre order the first couple of sets when the series was announced, just to have some in the collection. I own 6-7 of the very first they released. Numbered copies from batch 1, produced late 2022 or early 2023, including La sacre du printemps and they are all absolutely perfectly pressed. I hope you’ll have your records replaced.

I started collecting this series from the start, but the pricing and damaged sleeves have put me off. Also, a couple of times I have ordered records, paid for them and waited, and waited, and waited. When I contacted them to ask where my record was, I have been told tough luck, they don't have any and it is sold out.

Hi, love your channel. Thank you. I have decided to spend more time listening to classical music, but I know close to nothing to the genre. Please let us know which recordings you go for and I will buy those. I start with those two. Happy New Year!

I really want this series to succeed so the other classical labels become inspired. I can't find that Abbado Debussy / Ravel here in the US and I won't pay international shipping so I keep waiting. At this point, I have the Bruckner / Karajan box set, the Steinberg box set, and about 7 other titles. I guess I am lucky so far in the pops and clicks department as my Rite of Spring did not exhibit that. I am really looking forward to the just announced Ozawa / Ravel set in March.

Hi Dave, great video Awesome job! Thank you so much Happy new year 🎆

Hi Dave, Thanks for the advice. I found a French copy from '59 on discogs, from France. This music is so intensely captivating. I've been listening to all the alternate takes on the Speakers Corner Fontana lp....wow...pure gold! I'll let you know how the sound is. I'll also be comparing with a US '59 Jazz Track. How exciting!! Take Care.

wonderful review. The most compelling of this release. At some point during the video, it came through my mind what equipment you used during testing, and then came the images... wow... your findings are absolute! fantastic equipment! the envy of any audiophile. You 've done here a public service to us all. I am happy to say that I bought Grundman's mix on the day of its release, I haven't received it yet here in Toronto thanks to the Canada Post strike... anyways thanks to your review I will get the deluxe version as my digital back up... but will purchase it after I get the vinyl... I want to savour that experience first... cheers,

Great video and review Dave. Record added to the list 😁 I too have both UHQRs and am surprised it's up to the level of the 45... great news indeed! Have a good one 🎉

I prefer the sound of the 2 track master of KOB to the session tapes. Hence the MOFI 45 rpm is the best KOB reissue imho. Just don't like the UHQR's. Never play them. Back in the day the Columbia guys did something special when they mixed down from 3 to 2 track. That's the real KOB sound.

❤ 45 ❤

Really interesting Dave. Thank you.

Nice work Dave. Despite it being well outside my choice of music I enjoy the care and attention to detail you bring in your reviews in general and this one in particular.

Hi Dave, really nice video. Thanks! I was wondering if you had heard the Sam records 10" version with the green Fontana label and compared it to your French Fontana copy? I don't remember if yours is an original or later French press. My Birth of Cool has been shipped but I haven't received it yet. Also, are you familiar with the Speakers Corner gatefold lp with the extra takes? Take Care, Michel

I slept on the blue vinyl variant, so when I finally pulled the trigger, AS cancelled my order because it was oversold. Ended up ordering it on black vinyl. Would definitely have enjoyed it on blue. But it's about the music in the end. The black should sound great (I'm still waiting on mine to arrive in Switzerland), but it's so rare that QRP presses color vinyl and that translucent blue is so nice looking that it makes a super nice collectible. Has QRP ever pressed color vinyl before? I'm only aware of black and Clarity presses.

Thank you for such an indepth reveiw and conparison. I am really looking foward to listening to my copy that I received a few days ago however have been too busy to sit down and listen too.

Next I guess we have to start restoring the Thomas Edison gramophone ,it the most original people will pay a lot to own

This isn’t normally my style of music. But, I’m always opened to listening to different kinds of music.

Hard to get that album

There are two recordings of the French film soundtrack........one with the heavy reverb like he's playing in a tunnel and one bone dry.