yes , focusing on the acoustic guitar truely shows the dmm benefit,,,the acoustic is almost buried on some of the mixes second place goes to the uk original
My favorite is the DMM pressing because it sounds like a cloud was lifted from the front of the speaker that is evident in the rest of the pressing you played. Yet, it remains punchy. The most prominent improvement is the high end of the hi hat. Some mastering engineers used to reduce the bass frequencies in order to bring out the clarity of a recording, instead of fixing the high end and leaving everything else alone. Great video!
I’m between the 1968 original pressing and the marvelous 1985 analogue DMM. Such clarity! The hi-hat sound made me feel like Ringo was playing live in my room!
It's great to actually hear audio examples instead of just the visual spectrum. The German DMM pressing is really crisp without sounding harsh and unnatural. I really must hunt down a copy.
I had a German DMM / Apple pressing of THE BEATLES 1962-1966, and it was a splendor that sounded great. It had a mix of "I Feel Fine" that I've yet to hear as good since.
Thanks Andrew ive been waiting on this video for some tome. Great to hear some comparisons. I have a few Beatles DMM i git in late 80s. Revolver sounds fantastic to my ears.
I'm also someone who likes the DMM of Revolver. I bought it by accident second hand, thinking it was an older analogue copy (I was in a hurry and wasn't paying attention - oops). My heart sank when I realised, but thankfully it sounded nice - kind of refined, but with a nice frequency balance, unlike the cd which was nothing but lifeless midrange.
I worked in a record store when I was seventeen and had come across the Beatles 1962-1966 as as a DMM pressing. I loved that album as it was like the mobile fidelity albums I had. Super clean and was pressed on red vinyl to boot. Tried to find the album 1967-1970 but never located. My boss at the time knew I was a Beatles fan so he gave me both albums from France and they sounded terrible. So yes I think DMM pressings are very good. BTW I love your channel
I LOVE DMM, such good sounding. I always go to the local record stores to find the best sounding pressings. DMM has always been one of my fabs, especially in Beatles records!! Loved the video Andrew!!
Thanks for this interesting video, Andrew. I'm glad that you are able to play short passages of the tunes/versions you compare - it's so much more informative than showing the graphs.
I’m not a vinyl guy, so the talk about equipment could’ve been in Greek and I still would’ve understood as much. But I do appreciate the history and explanation of what DMM is, and tying it to the Beatles is a bonus! Keep up the good work!
16:04 Good Morning, switching to a moving coil cartridge was a game changer for me. I prefer a high output, but a good moving coil is imho well worth it. I'd love to have the Stratos, but I'm a poor priest. It's my choice and that's just fine. Just like all Beatles albums, I tried to find the best sounding DMM pressing of the Beatles. The early German analog/DMM combination is my favorite of the DMM's. Thanks to you, I finally heard the DMM stereo Rain version from the Rarities album and I was extremely pleased. You're also correct, the earlier albums in DMM are okay, but not preferred by me. Nice video, thanks.
Hello, Andrew. A great video. I had never heard of DMM before. After so many years of being in radio, then a rewards manager with headphones pressed against my ears, my hearing is shot, and I have constant loud tinnitus. So I'm just happy that I can still hear The Beatles (and others), even if I'm unable to distinguish between a "good" recording and a "bad" recording. I none-the-less always enjoy your content and analysis of what constitutes a good and bad recording of music.
Thank you for the short needle drops! I won't be able to afford that nice of a cartridge for some amount of time (freshman in college) but the sneak peek was truly a revelation! Maybe you could rip the full tracks and keep them as unlisted videos in the description? Great video all around.
The I have the White Album DMM 1985 and it sounds fantastic. I also have some late 80s and early 90s Beatles Mono DMM pressings that sound great although not as good as the original Mono's they are a close second. Great info Thanks.
not to sound like many others here, but I'm glad you played the music. comparing even brief snippets of songs is much more easier than seeing graphs. thank you, Andrew !
I'll never be able to afford a Stratos cartridge, so I'll have to stick with my Ortofon 2M for the long and foreseeable future. I did enjoy all of the sound samples offered, but I really liked the 2018 remix.
I also have an Ortofon 2M. I have the Red. I tried the Blue, expecting an upgrade in sound, but found that the sound of the Red with my speakers gave me a richer sound. That what matters.
@@stepheng8779 no problem at all. I got what you were saying. Personally, I like more treble, because I was a drummer and love to hear the cymbals. The sound I get from my current stereo set-up is fine for my ears. That's what we all strive for.
Never? Current Stratos price is 1995 USD (2 years ago it was $1695). Even an unskilled job (e.g. fast food worker) with $15/hr wage can be had. If you take a second job working only 20 hours/week and assuming you can only save 65% of the gross pay, it'll take you about 10 weeks.
I own The GEMA "Wiese" Album DMM on white vinyl and it is hands down the best sounding pressing of it, bar none. . which is why on resale it's very expensive. However there is one version of vinyl that crushes all the rest. DBX Disc. You need a cheap piece of outboard gear but the albums sound AMAZING.
I couldn't hear any differences on my computer speakers. More importantly, I own the Stratos. I bought the Harmony turntable and it came with the Stratos. My cartridge at the time was a Lyra Kleos that I thought would win the battle and stay while I sold the Stratos. No, my nearly $4,000 Lyra has been kicked to the curb by the Startos. This is a fine cartridge and the table is fantastic.
Paul McCartney s All The Best vinyl is an awesome sounding set & is probably the best sounding solo McCartney album available & it's a DMM pressing I believe
Fantastic video Andrew,in my opinion one of the most surprising,congrats for your turnable,the change of a cartridge its very important for me, I m a cartridgemaniac😂,denon,ortofon,goldring,mofi and Hana ML...its a beautiful experience rediscobel all mynalbums collection,tomorrow,I ll listen all the whites album and I hope enjoy the experiment,thank you very much,really,great work
Well, well, well. One should point out that EMI in UK only got onto the DMM train after the German Electrola plant spearheaded the technology. They got the first DMM lathe in 1983 for classical music, and then another one in 1984 for pop music (and that's when John Cremer started recutting the Beatles). The earliest ones were actually pressed at Teldec in Nortorf (The Beatles on white vinyl, 1962-66 on red and 1967-70 on blue respectively) - that was obligatory to get the official DMM logo back then. Of the whole German DMM bunch from mid-80s, more or less WA, MMT and maybe Pepper are good (never heard Rarities, but maybe Andrew can chime in on that).
I have the U.K DMM version of the White Album from the nineties/noughties which says in the inner gatefold is direct metal mastered from a digitally remastered source👍, It certainly sounds none to shabby Andrew👍
Another terrific broadcast Andrew. I have the 1985 German DMM blue box and it has become my primary play source for most of the albums. In fact it is my most treasured purchase to date from Parlogram. The rich bass, particularly on the earlier albums, is quite an experience, perhaps not to everyone’s taste but one I found instantly seductive. I’m lucky enough to possess a huge and varied choice of Beatles cuts so consequently favour my freedom to enjoy the different sound variants at my disposal over any conc😮ept of “best”. However if exiled to a dessert island and allowed only one of each of the 13 albums then my German BC13 DMM’s modified to include my Hazel Yarwood “Rubber Soul” cut and my “Abbey Road” UK 1st. And if I could be permitted a bonus item then I’d slip my Horzu “Magical Mystery Tour” into my Japanese unreversed “Oldies” jacket.
I must of hit gold! I have the White Album, I only have one copy on vinyl and it's the 1985 DMM German pressing! The Hi-Hat cymbal gives away the superior clarity. The 1991 digital DMM comes in a close second. I'm not sure about the Stratos. I have a Rega P6 with a factory fitted Rega Ania moving coil cartridge with the Rega pre-amp in your video. It's good enough for my bat like ears!
Hi Andrew. As usual, s wonderfully presented video. I don't own any Beatles DMMs but have Elmore James' superb "Let's Cut It!" On DMM and it kicks some serious ass. One of the best Lps I've ever heard.
From what I have read, a lot of people who think they don't like DMM actually don't like the digital mastering that was often used for DMM pressings at the time.
Ooooh ... gear reviews :D Great video, Andrew! Very timely, considering that I've been doing research for a few weeks now looking for a cartridge upgrade. Of course, this MC cart would require a phono-preamp upgrade as well. Yikes! Also, I'm very happy that I was able to purchase DMM BC-13 from you a while back ... I really love the DMM White Album.
This is my area a bit. I have every UK DMM Beatles album apart from MMT and AR. Due to losing out on my deceased father in law's European DMM RS and R when a dealer took records i wanted as well as the ones i was selling to him due to a pile mix-up. So i went on a labour of love finding the whole collection in DMM. I have all the original UK 60s monos and 70s stereos too. And of course the White Album is great sounding in DMM And that is the one i pick up to listen to that album in stereo. Not the original UK stereo or the 2018. And in mono it's the original UK 68 . Let it be is pretty good on UK DMM too if you just listen in stereo but if you try to do any sound trickery with it like pressing the surround sound button or pro logic button then it gets a bit thin in the middle. Rubber Soul is mostly great too
I was intrigued, and I’m often confused; so I knew this was going to be a great video. I’ve always found DMM pressings to lack low end and nice bass, but I can see your point that this depends upon the people working on the metal master. I’ll try some other discs sometime! As for the review, I think many of us aren’t adverse to some gear porn! Isn’t it part and parcel of that to watch or read reviews of stuff we aren’t EVER likely to own? 😄 Thanks again for another interesting video!
My goodness I was not expecting that DMM pressing to bring out the clarity that it did. By far the best I’ve heard that track sound, better than the UK original and the 2018 Remix. I need to find one now! I was also actually impressed with the 90’s UK Digital pressing. It sounded fantastic! If I may suggest a new Beatles video, I am gonna ask for a look at the Beatles UK Coloured vinyl records from 1978. Magical Mystery Tour, White Album, Abbey Road, Let it Be, and Red/Blue. Would love to know your opinion on those cuttings. Ps, what on earth happened with the 2012 remaster? The drums were so far away it was like they didn’t exist.
Be prepared to shell out the money for a nice 1985 white vinyl DMM. It's worth it though! The 1988 UK or Europe Parlophone DMM isn't as good but I also like that. Also not cheap, at least not for us in Noth America, with shipping.
I have a marble-coloured Sgt. Pepper, which may have only been a Canadian release. The sound on it is not stellar though, I've kept it as a curio, but I have a UK copy that remains my go-to for vinyl Pepper.
The German DMM sounds great, very punchy and detailed, but I think I liked that 1991 UK DMM pressing the best. Not surprising though, as I very much enjoy the ‘flat’ sound of the 1987 CD. I tend to prefer flat transfers for my digital Beatles listening. I can apply my own EQ if need be. The stereo image on the 2012 pressing sounds very ‘smeared’, if that makes any sense. I don’t have the 2012 White Album, but the 2012 pressings I do have all sound like that. Rolled off highs, boomy lows, and they completely lack the vibrance and 3D soundstage that vinyl should have. And that’s not a knock against digital, because I have LPs from other artists that were cut from hi-rez digital files, and they sound excellent.
Thanks again Andrew for another very interesting and enjoyable video 👍 I honestly wasn't even aware of the DMM technique on vinyl from that time period, but I wonder if you know if it was also used in Australia 🤔 I will be pulling out my vinyl and checking! My personal fav' from the intros you played was the 2018 mix, but I am a huge fan of bass, mixed right, of course. Look forward to the next video! Cheers mate, Jase
Hi again Andrew, Just a footnote to my original comment you might be interested in! I just pulled out Paul McCartney's 1986 album 'Press To Play', which was mastered on Copper! It has 'COPPER' stamped in the run-out also. The album was made in Australia 🇦🇺 Interesting... All the best, Jase
The Beach Boys Box set I bought last year was Sounds Of Summer 6 vinyl albums and they mastered it DMM they sound wonderful with The Beach Boys Harmony’s and the music as well
The lip, or lack of one, on the outer edge of a record has nothing to do with a lacquer cut or a DMM cut. The outer lip, and the pressing rings in the label area are from contours in the pressing moulds. These are referred to as protection rings and keep the actual playing surfaces from scratching and scuffing each other while the records stack up during production. Back when most people had automatic record changers and would have a bunch of records stacking up on each other, there were serrated rings around the labels so the records would interlock and play without slipping on the record below it. As a press operator at a pressing plant, I thought I would mention this.
My local record store recently had a 1985 German DMM white album. I unfortunately had to pass since it was $300. I love my BC-13 copy but would love to eventually hear the DMM.
Something I just realized after watching Vinyl Rewind’s video is that you have the left and right channels swapped on your samples. The hi-hat should be in the right channel.
The "vinyl dam" is created when the record stamper is pressed into the form where it can be used on the presses, it does not start with the lacquer. Whether the master disc was a DMM or from a lacquer, either can have or not have a vinyl dam when the stamper is formed. The vinyl dam was created in the stereo era because using a vinyl dam created a consistently good stereo LP. As a second consideration, the vinyl dam and slightly raised label area of the LP prevented the groove surfaces from touching or rubbing against each other on a record changer, which were already popular before stereo was introduced. The 7" 45 rpm record used the raised label area to prevent rubbing or even the EMI anti-slip ring was used instead of a raised label. In the U.S., during the 80's and 90's, some 7" 45 or 33 rpm records used the vinyl dam. Again, this was especially useful for record changers so when the stylus lowered onto a record, it most probably wouldn't slide off the record. Right, even back in the Beatles' early era, DMM was around. Metal acetates were cut for the Beatles' recordings to be reviewed. The metal acetates were considered to be the closest sounding to the original master tape. Going back to record dams. In the U.S., record label, Classic Records, found that it was sonically better to have the record's grooved area the same thickness across the record , so they got rid of the vinyl dam and created a record with consistent thickness across the playing surface. Many who now make audiophile records follow this line of thinking, but they have put the vinyl dam back. A few years ago, when Atlantic Records decided to re-issue all the Led Zeppelin albums in audiophile and deluxe editions on 180g vinyl. Pallas was chosen to press these LP's. Some of my copies have the vinyl dam and some don't. I don't think that DMM was used on any of them.
Nice info. Thanks. I mentioned in another post here that my UK pressed Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head are thin vinyl and have no vinyl dam. When I found them in a record shop I immediately noticed the shard edge on the records thinking that is was a bit unusual.
@@alanrogs3990I think Paul's Boutique was specifically recorded (and also pressed without a vinyl dam) to "frisbee-slice" the heads off of reanimated corpses, should the need ever arrive...
I personally like the sound of the 1985 DMM pressing the best, since it showed the capabilities of what DMM could do with older albums. My second best would be the original 1968 pressing, and my third best would be the 2018 Giles Martin Remix, it may not be the best with the the boost in the bass mix, but I found it really enjoyable. - Luke, from Kansas.
I know it makes no big difference in the end, but why are the channels reversed in your comparison? Or was the stratos badly wired perhaps? 🤔 Great video as usual, Andrew. I'm also loving you're including track snippets now 😊
The White Album I was bought for Christmas 1988 is strange because even though the sleeve states it's Direct Metal Mastered, only Sides 1 and 3 are (and have the old labels), whereas Sides 2 and 4 are lacquer cut (but with new labels)! The DMM sides sound much much better than the lacquer sides. They must have been changing the stampers over when my copy was pressed.
I hadn't heard of Stratos cartridges, Andrew. I'm not really an audiophile but did switch cartridges about 15 years ago from an old Rega Elys 1 (purple) to a Goldring 1042. Big difference. Much warmer sounding on the Goldring with none of the brightness I found irritating on the Rega. BTW I got a Garrard 401 with an SME 3009 (non-detachable head) about 9 years ago in a charity shop for... well, I daren't say. It is a major restoration project which I really must finish one of these days.
I had a lot of DMM pressing of Baroque music from Archiv and Teldec. Sadly, I never got a DMM pressing of any pop albums. Clearly...I have missed out. Listening...a few times...to your snippets of the Beatles...I thought I detected the 1985 DMM had the high top end typical of German mixes. Very crisp, too. The 1991 UK was a bit forward sounding; maybe the noise floor had something to do with it. As you allude, I've also never heard the bass turned up so high on the bass guitar before. Having NEVER performed this test with my 1981 Blue Box discs and CDs back to back, I'm even more intrigued with my collections. I'll "Get Back" to you on that. Aloha, Andrew!
I’m not a stickler for whether there’s a digital or analog source for a vinyl cutting. Honestly, they all sounded fine, but I admit the bass sounded extra heavy on the 2012 cut while listening on my smart tv, but through my beats headphones, I couldn’t tell much difference among any of them.
Great video - I've always been curious abou DMM pressings since I never bought one. I also never bothered with those Beatle LPs that claim to be digitally remastered (years before the 09 masters were released). ALso didn't bother with the stereo vinl remasters, and I'm glad I didn't after hearing the Gently Weeps into, the cymbal was mixed too far down, but it's nice it was brought back up again for the 2018 remix. White Albums I've bought on vinyl (and still have) are the 2014 mono and the 2018 2-LP edition (as well as the 4-LP edition of '18). Yeah, I like the album pretty much. 🤣 That 2014 mono edition is classic - sound effects and guitar licks just appear left and right - it has a raw, chaotic sound to it that I prefer to the more polished stereo version of '09.
Glad to know it wasn't just me with regards to those 2012 reissues. I received a review copy of the box set, and the White Album was the first one I put on, and right off the bat I could tell there was something "off" about it. The second was A Hard Day's Night, and to me it sounded harsh and distorted. I believe in a previous video you described it as sounding like it was played back through an old sock, or words to that effect. I'll stick with my 1970s EMI pressings, although a 1985 German DMM White Album is awfully tempting...
Hi Andrew. Your first ever gear review reminded me of something I heard or read a while back that the hifi systems of the 80s and 90s were much better than those of today. Having fallen for the hype when CDs arrived I sold all my vinyl back then. I have now started buying Beatles vinyl again but need a decent system to play them on. I got hold of a second hand Technics stack recently and it’s ok but could be better. So what do you recommend? A refurbished vintage system? Or a brand new one? Hope you can help. Btw thanks for increasing my collection . I now have a German MMT and a Beatles First on Contour. Plus all bar three of the picture disc singles. I also bought Beatles Ballads just to get John Byrne’s cover art! Love your videos😀
Thanks Andrew. I felt like an old fogey from that Not The Nine O’clock News sketch when I sent that email. You’ll be telling me you don’t want slimline salad dressing next😂
The German DMM sounds very well indeed, but the cartridge used should bring this details to surface. DMM can work very well indeed, but if the sound is over compressed and the cartridge with wich it's played is in a lower price/quality range trouble can occur. A cartridge has to manage a bit more audio information when a DMM record is played and that doesn't always work well either if it's not up to standard of sorts. I agree on your comment on the Tracey Chapman album, but another DMM record I own (The Simple Minds - Sparkle In The Rain) sounds quite harsh. It lacks detail because the audio is too compressed. That's an example to me of a DMM record that gets lost in the loudness war. That's the funny thing with analogue audio: you're never finished getting it better to a certain point of personal satisfaction. As always... thanks for posting.
Andrew, this may be off track a bit, but I like the remixes Giles Mzrtin has produced with the exception of Pepper. I returned the CD set. Having remixed Revolver with the help of Peter Jackson's AI demixing technology, I would like to see Giles remix the remaining Beatles' albums that way. The Revolver remix brings The Beatles into the 2020s. Just to clarify, I would like to see Giles AI remix all Beatles albums including the ones he has remixed except for Revolver
A good show Andrew! As I mentioned on an earlier show where you featured the white Lp DMM, years ago I had the German DMM pressing. I couldn’t handle it. The one I heard was brittle and almost distorted. I was aghast. Is there any proof around that maybe some were defective pressings? Maybe a bad batch? Let me know.
Wasn’t sure. Never found out. I remember them being returned in the record store I was working in at the the time because of the audio. I wonder if it had to do with playback equipment? Mind you, it was just the White Lp. So that makes me think its a single album issue. But I am a cartridge freak too. Makes all the difference in the word…and the room…and the speakers…stop me now😅
I think you've mixed up the 2012 remaster and the 2018 remix since what I heard and what you described seemed like the exact opposite. I also noticed that the stereo channels were flipped when I compared them to other sources. By the way, the 1985 German DMM pressing sounded the best by far as they used equalization to boost the bass and the high-end to make it sound clean and live. Another reason why DMM pressings sometimes sound thin or brittle other than the nature of the cutting process is that most of them were cut from a digital source, which was usually mastered to sound good on CD.
My greatest surprise was the 2012 Remaster. The Hi-hat sounds like it is two rooms away. And the 2018 is not much better: all the high frequenciese of the hi-hat are curbed, no doubt because the total EQ was slanted towards the bass. For me, the greatest achievement of the John Cremer DMM remastering is the depth and definition of the soundstage. It's most noticeable on more acoustic songs such as Mother Nature's Son, but also Revolution 1 and, a revelation, Long Long Long. There are (as you know) two versions of the German analogue DMM, the earlier (and today more expensive) one on white vinyl and designated DMM on the label, the second one 'anonymous' (the one you played) and, even though with a different matrix number, soundwise indistinguishable from the first (at least to my and a couple of other critical listeners' ears). Sleeve quality is better on the second one. There is also a labelling crossover listed on discogs which has leftover labels from the white vinyl original Teldec pressing on record 2. But it's the Cologne black vinyl pressing all the way through.
Nice video. I’d love one of those Stratos cartridges but would have to turn to crime to raise the cash. I would be interested to know what that vinyl lp was that you briefly showed a picture of. It was in the first image with Face to Face and My Generation. It looks like the Doors Strange Days album but has Clear Lights written on the cover. Curious. Keep em’ coming Andrew.
Thanks Jesse. The album which you are referring to is the self-titled album by the band Clear Light. Here's some more information about it; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Light_(album)
I thought the 2012 wasn’t that bad. The open hats sounded more natural like the 1968 pressing, but Andrew is right in saying its not very exciting - about as straight forward as you can get. Shame Sean Magee didn’t go all out and cut the track as hot as the 1968 pressing. Both DMM pressings are very 80’s with that top end “sparkle” added. Still nice sounding. The 2018 - it is what it is. A good pressing, but with the bass and kick closer to the centre, it’s going to mask detail that the 1968 mix left open.
I recently bought an DMM german copy of Paul McCartney's All The Best compilation album, yet still waiting for it's arrival. Does have any noticeable differences with the non DMM pressings? On the other hand, one of the most iconic products of the DMM era was Def Leppard's Hysteria album from 1987 on vinyl, wich clocks for 62 minutes for the twelve songs on a single record (six per side) without any cuts or edits compared to the CD version.
Andrew! ANYTHING that had Neumann involved anywhere in the process could only benefit from it! And when DMM was invented with help from Neumann when I was spinning vinyl through a brand new Harris transmitter, boy, could you tell the difference on the big JBL studio monitors! P.S. - the plural of “stylus” is “”styli”. And I believe that most people would not know the differences between mastering methods, especially after the signal was digitally compressed by You Tube’s signal chain.
Good insight into DMM. I have only on record with the DMM-sticker on the cover. As for the gear review, I'd like that it would be done as a separate video.
I have some 85 Beatles DMM and love them, but I can see where others would have an issue with the very clean sound, best way to put it. I also have the 1985 BC13 which in some forums has been labeled as a DMM pressing, because the DMM stampers were at EMI in England at the time, but I have never been able to get a complete run down on that to verify. As far as the remixes, it's always the bass. Each one I have the bass is overpowering and not just on Beatles. I do enjoy the 1/2 speed master of The White Album. Boy your system makes my little PlaySkool look lame
Although it lacked one track. And beware: there's also a non-DMM version of that album. A Taste of Honey (Russian Melodiya compilation album) was also DMM and sounds fantastic.
It's impossible to tell whether the DMM cut is to blame for the metallic sound or not. I would say that many people assume a DMM cut will sound metallic just because the disc is shiny and, well, metal, but it's simply not the case.
@@OldGreyMulletTest Metallic sound is associated with higher tones and less "warm" lower and middle ones, so the overall effect of DMM just sounds metallic.
@@marguskiis7711 Not really. A metallic sound will usually contain a narrow bandwidth resonant fundamental frequency, often between 1kHz and 6-8kHz, or even higher, with complex harmonics, but will not be a high shelf boost and a low shelf cut. What you describe would result in a bright, thin sound. A 6 foot diameter gong is going to have plenty of very low frequencies in there. Anyway, none of this is relevant to the material that you're cutting an audio groove into. DMM does not need to sound metallic - you're not striking or bowing the copper coated plate or making it resonate.
@@marguskiis7711 Don't forget, a lacquer cut is sprayed with a thin coat of metal, and then mothers, fathers and stamper (that are created from the original lacquer) are all made of metal.
Great video! One thing - I'm not sure how DMM would eliminate end of side distortion (at an equivalent diameter to a lacquer cut) as the two causes of it remain. I did cut DMM masters for quite a few years and have never heard this mentioned as an advantage before.
DMM grooves are cut narrower than lacquer by about 20%. You'd have to cut albums with longer playing time to manifest the same inner groove distortion. Take a careful look at the images of the first two albums played. Contrast how close the end of the original pressing's last track is to the label vs. that of the German DMM. This difference is a consequence of the narrower grooves used for DMM. You threw in the "at an equivalent diameter to a lacquer cut" requirement, and indeed, under such conditions, you'd have the same distortion. But then you're not comparing apples to apples. Perhaps the last track should be repeated on each side of a DMM for those who like their distorted version.
@@keensoundguy6637 You've made a good point, but stating that DMM grooves are cut 20% narrower is not really accurate at all. For a start cutting engineers would refer to grooves being shallower or deeper rather than "narrower", but the real point is that sometimes you would cut DMM at the same depth as a lacquer cut would be, sometimes you might go a touch deeper, sometimes not as deep, depending on the material. Hi-fi fans who who don't actually cut records seem very keen on putting blanket rules on these things (DDM always sounds like this, lacquer cuts are like this, there's exactly this much distortion at this diameter etc.) but it's actually not like this at all. The material that you're cutting is really what dictates all these variables and it's about critically listening to test cuts and making adjustments from what you hear, not just looking at a calculator.
I do like that German DMM, but maybe it's just a result of the extra care taken to fit the characteristics of the new process. I think there is way more room for quality to be found that way, rather than all the obsessing over whether digital sneaks into the process. Some of my records just scream out a level of sound quality that is way better than others, and so far none of those lucky few have been DMMs. I have a Canadian DMM of Invisible Touch by Genesis, but that's the only one I know of for sure because it has the sticker on the cover. I absolutely think DMM is the way pressing should be done, but I'm not holding my breath for good repressings of all my favorites any time soon.
Great video as always. can you please provide some Discogs links to the ones to get? There is white discs and black ones. Just trying to figure out which one to get
The problems with most of the Beatles DMM pressings (except the excellent White Album and MMT which I like a lot as well) are actually results of the "fancy things" John Cremer has done to the recordings - Andrew, you've mentioned that... I have produced a few albums myself which were released as DMM pressings made at Record Industry in the Netherlands and these albums sound exactly like the masters I've delivered, with a nice added analogue touch from the mastering equipment that was used for the cutting. So I can confirm that it's absolutely possible to make DMM records that sound great and faithful to the original master - the trick is that you have to stop your cutting/mastering engineer from going berserk! 😉😅
Hey Andrew, enjoyed your video on the DMM pressings. I have the German white album DMM pressing which I bought back in ‘85. I did some comparisons with headphones with the ‘78 UK white vinyl and’85 German DMM white vinyl. IMO the ‘78 was the winner. The DMM is great but lacks the mid range that the ‘78 has. I used Savoy Truffle for track comparisons. ‘78 press was much fuller. I also have 62-66 and 67-70 German colored DMM’s. They sound amazing. I seem to be in between with MMT german pressing. It’s a A-1 B-3 matrix but it looks like a DMM cut. Bought it at Tower Records NYC ‘86. Confusing. Perhaps you can elaborate? Thought the matrices changed after DMM stepped in.
@alan Rogs I had 2 sold one and kept one because of better condition. In texas alot of people in these record stores or book stores know alot about vinyl , the reason why I got 2 for good prices lol.
Yes my vote goes to the 1985 German DMM pressing here. The acoustic guitar is very very clear and more prominent.
Mee too!
Yes! The drums sound incredible 😮
yes , focusing on the acoustic guitar truely shows the dmm benefit,,,the acoustic is almost buried on some of the mixes
second place goes to the uk original
My favorite is the DMM pressing because it sounds like a cloud was lifted from the front of the speaker that is evident in the rest of the pressing you played. Yet, it remains punchy. The most prominent improvement is the high end of the hi hat. Some mastering engineers used to reduce the bass frequencies in order to bring out the clarity of a recording, instead of fixing the high end and leaving everything else alone. Great video!
I’m between the 1968 original pressing and the marvelous 1985 analogue DMM. Such clarity! The hi-hat sound made me feel like Ringo was playing live in my room!
Yes, you are spot on!
I don't own any DMM vinyl but your description of its history and production was fascinating. Another
great video, Andrew, thank you!
Thanks as always for watching, Nick.
It's great to actually hear audio examples instead of just the visual spectrum. The German DMM pressing is really crisp without sounding harsh and unnatural. I really must hunt down a copy.
I had a German DMM / Apple pressing of THE BEATLES 1962-1966, and it was a splendor that sounded great. It had a mix of "I Feel Fine" that I've yet to hear as good since.
Thanks Andrew ive been waiting on this video for some tome. Great to hear some comparisons. I have a few Beatles DMM i git in late 80s. Revolver sounds fantastic to my ears.
Glad you enjoyed it, Paul. Revolver is one of the better DMMs.
@@Parlogram thanks Paul. Disappointed with the he white album DMM. Hit and miss I guess. 👍
I'm also someone who likes the DMM of Revolver. I bought it by accident second hand, thinking it was an older analogue copy (I was in a hurry and wasn't paying attention - oops). My heart sank when I realised, but thankfully it sounded nice - kind of refined, but with a nice frequency balance, unlike the cd which was nothing but lifeless midrange.
I worked in a record store when I was seventeen and had come across the Beatles 1962-1966 as as a DMM pressing. I loved that album as it was like the mobile fidelity albums I had. Super clean and was pressed on red vinyl to boot. Tried to find the album 1967-1970 but never located. My boss at the time knew I was a Beatles fan so he gave me both albums from France and they sounded terrible. So yes I think DMM pressings are very good. BTW I love your channel
Thanks Jeff. Finding a DMM 67-70 is tough, it seems 62-66 was more popular back then.
Love the German DMM pressing of the white album. The biggest difference I noticed was the piano in Rocky Raccoon.
I LOVE DMM, such good sounding.
I always go to the local record stores to find the best sounding pressings. DMM has always been one of my fabs, especially in Beatles records!! Loved the video Andrew!!
Thanks Mal, glad you enjoyed it!
@@Parlogram Your welcome, love the channel so much, how sad it's only 41K, after the Beatles, is my favourite channel on YT!!!
Thanks for this interesting video, Andrew.
I'm glad that you are able to play short passages of the tunes/versions you compare - it's so much more informative than showing the graphs.
I’m not a vinyl guy, so the talk about equipment could’ve been in Greek and I still would’ve understood as much. But I do appreciate the history and explanation of what DMM is, and tying it to the Beatles is a bonus! Keep up the good work!
Comment from a guy who owns cds or listens to an online streaming service where you can’t touch, feel or smell the real thing; Vinyl
Hello Andrew, great video! I prefer the german DDM pressing, sounds great, and is clear and wonderfull in every detail. Greetings from Argentina!
Thanks for watching and for you comment, Segu!
16:04 Good Morning, switching to a moving coil cartridge was a game changer for me. I prefer a high output, but a good moving coil is imho well worth it. I'd love to have the Stratos, but I'm a poor priest. It's my choice and that's just fine.
Just like all Beatles albums, I tried to find the best sounding DMM pressing of the Beatles. The early German analog/DMM combination is my favorite of the DMM's.
Thanks to you, I finally heard the DMM stereo Rain version from the Rarities album and I was extremely pleased.
You're also correct, the earlier albums in DMM are okay, but not preferred by me.
Nice video, thanks.
Thankd Paul. Glad you hear you're enjoying your DMM 'Rain'.
I've got the German DMM pressing on Red vinyl. Great video, thanks.
Thanks Shane!
Hello, Andrew. A great video. I had never heard of DMM before.
After so many years of being in radio, then a rewards manager with headphones pressed against my ears, my hearing is shot, and I have constant loud tinnitus. So I'm just happy that I can still hear The Beatles (and others), even if I'm unable to distinguish between a "good" recording and a "bad" recording. I none-the-less always enjoy your content and analysis of what constitutes a good and bad recording of music.
Thanks William. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the short needle drops! I won't be able to afford that nice of a cartridge for some amount of time (freshman in college) but the sneak peek was truly a revelation! Maybe you could rip the full tracks and keep them as unlisted videos in the description? Great video all around.
Queens 1984 UK pressing if The Works had DMM. It was my first vinyl record that I bought off ebay. I remember it sounding absolutely fantastic.
The I have the White Album DMM 1985 and it sounds fantastic. I also have some late 80s and early 90s Beatles Mono DMM pressings that sound great although not as good as the original Mono's they are a close second. Great info Thanks.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Albert.
not to sound like many others here, but I'm glad you played the music. comparing even brief snippets of songs is much more easier than seeing graphs. thank you, Andrew !
Thank you, Rob!
I've got the 1985 DMM pressing out of India and it's fantastic
My white vinyl White Album German DMM from ‘85 sounds incredible
Great stuff as always.
Dipping your toe into anything audiophile, especially turntables and cartridges is dangerous territory, brave man. 😂
Enjoyed hearing "Welcome along" 😊
Cool video and good to see the Syd Barrett albums in your collection.
Wonderful video Andrew! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it, Bill!
Oh my god he’s playing clips :D
Wow! If anyone should be allowed to, it's this guy.
I'll never be able to afford a Stratos cartridge, so I'll have to stick with my Ortofon 2M for the long and foreseeable future. I did enjoy all of the sound samples offered, but I really liked the 2018 remix.
The 2M is a great cartridge, Vince! Thanks for letting me know your favourite clip.
I also have an Ortofon 2M. I have the Red. I tried the Blue, expecting an upgrade in sound, but found that the sound of the Red with my speakers gave me a richer sound. That what matters.
@@stepheng8779 I guess everyone's ears are different.
@@stepheng8779 no problem at all. I got what you were saying. Personally, I like more treble, because I was a drummer and love to hear the cymbals. The sound I get from my current stereo set-up is fine for my ears. That's what we all strive for.
Never? Current Stratos price is 1995 USD (2 years ago it was $1695). Even an unskilled job (e.g. fast food worker) with $15/hr wage can be had. If you take a second job working only 20 hours/week and assuming you can only save 65% of the gross pay, it'll take you about 10 weeks.
DMM is a wonderful system. Sounds Amazing!
I own The GEMA "Wiese" Album DMM on white vinyl and it is hands down the best sounding pressing of it, bar none. . which is why on resale it's very expensive. However there is one version of vinyl that crushes all the rest. DBX Disc. You need a cheap piece of outboard gear but the albums sound AMAZING.
#welldone Andrew...and the comparison bit was startling! 😲
Im glad you finally touched on the DMM records. I still believe they sound better than most mediums.
I couldn't hear any differences on my computer speakers. More importantly, I own the Stratos. I bought the Harmony turntable and it came with the Stratos. My cartridge at the time was a Lyra Kleos that I thought would win the battle and stay while I sold the Stratos. No, my nearly $4,000 Lyra has been kicked to the curb by the Startos. This is a fine cartridge and the table is fantastic.
Greetings!! I voted for 1985 German DMM.. I'm a solid fans of Beatles.. sending my support here from the Philippines..Done subscribing
Now that I see the Led Zeppelin albums, you should do videos on them. Best pressing of zeppelin one through four.
Another fascinating video. Thanks Andrew.
Thank you, Simon.
Paul McCartney s All The Best vinyl is an awesome sounding set & is probably the best sounding solo McCartney album available & it's a DMM pressing I believe
Fantastic video Andrew,in my opinion one of the most surprising,congrats for your turnable,the change of a cartridge its very important for me, I m a cartridgemaniac😂,denon,ortofon,goldring,mofi and Hana ML...its a beautiful experience rediscobel all mynalbums collection,tomorrow,I ll listen all the whites album and I hope enjoy the experiment,thank you very much,really,great work
Thanks Jordi. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.
Brilliant you're now playing snippets of music. I thought the first clip was the best but it's close.
I only have a few DMM and I have that Tracy Chapman first album and Gosh that sounds great.
looking foward to that beatle review! take care
Thanks Nicholas. You too!
Well, well, well.
One should point out that EMI in UK only got onto the DMM train after the German Electrola plant spearheaded the technology. They got the first DMM lathe in 1983 for classical music, and then another one in 1984 for pop music (and that's when John Cremer started recutting the Beatles). The earliest ones were actually pressed at Teldec in Nortorf (The Beatles on white vinyl, 1962-66 on red and 1967-70 on blue respectively) - that was obligatory to get the official DMM logo back then.
Of the whole German DMM bunch from mid-80s, more or less WA, MMT and maybe Pepper are good (never heard Rarities, but maybe Andrew can chime in on that).
I have the U.K DMM version of the White Album from the nineties/noughties which says in the inner gatefold is direct metal mastered from a digitally remastered source👍,
It certainly sounds none to shabby Andrew👍
Totally agree. The White Album DMMs are all above average and definitely better than the capitol pressings.
Another terrific broadcast Andrew. I have the 1985 German DMM blue box and it has become my primary play source for most of the albums. In fact it is my most treasured purchase to date from Parlogram. The rich bass, particularly on the earlier albums, is quite an experience, perhaps not to everyone’s taste but one I found instantly seductive. I’m lucky enough to possess a huge and varied choice of Beatles cuts so consequently favour my freedom to enjoy the different sound variants at my disposal over any conc😮ept of “best”.
However if exiled to a dessert island and allowed only one of each of the 13 albums then my
German BC13 DMM’s modified to include my
Hazel Yarwood “Rubber Soul” cut and my “Abbey Road” UK 1st. And if I could be permitted a bonus item then I’d slip my Horzu “Magical Mystery Tour” into my Japanese unreversed “Oldies” jacket.
Thank Paul. Great desert island discs!
I must of hit gold! I have the White Album, I only have one copy on vinyl and it's the 1985 DMM German pressing!
The Hi-Hat cymbal gives away the superior clarity. The 1991 digital DMM comes in a close second.
I'm not sure about the Stratos. I have a Rega P6 with a factory fitted Rega Ania moving coil cartridge with the Rega pre-amp in your video. It's good enough for my bat like ears!
Hi Andrew. As usual, s wonderfully presented video. I don't own any Beatles DMMs but have Elmore James' superb "Let's Cut It!" On DMM and it kicks some serious ass. One of the best Lps I've ever heard.
Thanks Robert. Glad you enjoyed it.
From what I have read, a lot of people who think they don't like DMM actually don't like the digital mastering that was often used for DMM pressings at the time.
Ooooh ... gear reviews :D
Great video, Andrew! Very timely, considering that I've been doing research for a few weeks now looking for a cartridge upgrade. Of course, this MC cart would require a phono-preamp upgrade as well. Yikes!
Also, I'm very happy that I was able to purchase DMM BC-13 from you a while back ... I really love the DMM White Album.
This is my area a bit. I have every UK DMM Beatles album apart from MMT and AR. Due to losing out on my deceased father in law's European DMM RS and R when a dealer took records i wanted as well as the ones i was selling to him due to a pile mix-up. So i went on a labour of love finding the whole collection in DMM. I have all the original UK 60s monos and 70s stereos too. And of course the White Album is great sounding in DMM And that is the one i pick up to listen to that album in stereo. Not the original UK stereo or the 2018. And in mono it's the original UK 68 . Let it be is pretty good on UK DMM too if you just listen in stereo but if you try to do any sound trickery with it like pressing the surround sound button or pro logic button then it gets a bit thin in the middle. Rubber Soul is mostly great too
I was intrigued, and I’m often confused; so I knew this was going to be a great video.
I’ve always found DMM pressings to lack low end and nice bass, but I can see your point that this depends upon the people working on the metal master. I’ll try some other discs sometime!
As for the review, I think many of us aren’t adverse to some gear porn! Isn’t it part and parcel of that to watch or read reviews of stuff we aren’t EVER likely to own? 😄
Thanks again for another interesting video!
Thanks for watching, David. Glad you found it interesting.
I have a Buddy Holly greatest hits a DMM lp, it's beyond incredible.
My goodness I was not expecting that DMM pressing to bring out the clarity that it did. By far the best I’ve heard that track sound, better than the UK original and the 2018 Remix. I need to find one now! I was also actually impressed with the 90’s UK Digital pressing. It sounded fantastic!
If I may suggest a new Beatles video, I am gonna ask for a look at the Beatles UK Coloured vinyl records from 1978. Magical Mystery Tour, White Album, Abbey Road, Let it Be, and Red/Blue. Would love to know your opinion on those cuttings.
Ps, what on earth happened with the 2012 remaster? The drums were so far away it was like they didn’t exist.
Be prepared to shell out the money for a nice 1985 white vinyl DMM. It's worth it though! The 1988 UK or Europe Parlophone DMM isn't as good but I also like that. Also not cheap, at least not for us in Noth America, with shipping.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Alex.
I have a marble-coloured Sgt. Pepper, which may have only been a Canadian release. The sound on it is not stellar though, I've kept it as a curio, but I have a UK copy that remains my go-to for vinyl Pepper.
Andrew, fantastic information as always. I always enjoy your content.
Cheers Chris!
The German DMM sounds great, very punchy and detailed, but I think I liked that 1991 UK DMM pressing the best. Not surprising though, as I very much enjoy the ‘flat’ sound of the 1987 CD. I tend to prefer flat transfers for my digital Beatles listening. I can apply my own EQ if need be.
The stereo image on the 2012 pressing sounds very ‘smeared’, if that makes any sense. I don’t have the 2012 White Album, but the 2012 pressings I do have all sound like that. Rolled off highs, boomy lows, and they completely lack the vibrance and 3D soundstage that vinyl should have. And that’s not a knock against digital, because I have LPs from other artists that were cut from hi-rez digital files, and they sound excellent.
Thanks for your thoughts, Kale.
Thanks again Andrew for another very interesting and enjoyable video 👍
I honestly wasn't even aware of the DMM technique on vinyl from that time period, but I wonder if you know if it was also used in Australia 🤔 I will be pulling out my vinyl and checking!
My personal fav' from the intros you played was the 2018 mix, but I am a huge fan of bass, mixed right, of course.
Look forward to the next video!
Cheers mate,
Jase
Cheers Jase. Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi again Andrew,
Just a footnote to my original comment you might be interested in! I just pulled out Paul McCartney's 1986 album 'Press To Play', which was mastered on Copper! It has 'COPPER' stamped in the run-out also. The album was made in Australia 🇦🇺 Interesting...
All the best, Jase
Clear winner on these phone speakers was the 85 GE. Now I must compare on the big kit.
The Beach Boys Box set I bought last year was Sounds Of Summer 6 vinyl albums and they mastered it DMM they sound wonderful with The Beach Boys Harmony’s and the music as well
The lip, or lack of one, on the outer edge of a record has nothing to do with a lacquer cut or a DMM cut. The outer lip, and the pressing rings in the label area are from contours in the pressing moulds. These are referred to as protection rings and keep the actual playing surfaces from scratching and scuffing each other while the records stack up during production. Back when most people had automatic record changers and would have a bunch of records stacking up on each other, there were serrated rings around the labels so the records would interlock and play without slipping on the record below it. As a press operator at a pressing plant, I thought I would mention this.
My local record store recently had a 1985 German DMM white album. I unfortunately had to pass since it was $300. I love my BC-13 copy but would love to eventually hear the DMM.
Something I just realized after watching Vinyl Rewind’s video is that you have the left and right channels swapped on your samples. The hi-hat should be in the right channel.
The "vinyl dam" is created when the record stamper is pressed into the form where it can be used on the presses, it does not start with the lacquer. Whether the master disc was a DMM or from a lacquer, either can have or not have a vinyl dam when the stamper is formed.
The vinyl dam was created in the stereo era because using a vinyl dam created a consistently good stereo LP. As a second consideration, the vinyl dam and slightly raised label area of the LP prevented the groove surfaces from touching or rubbing against each other on a record changer, which were already popular before stereo was introduced. The 7" 45 rpm record used the raised label area to prevent rubbing or even the EMI anti-slip ring was used instead of a raised label. In the U.S., during the 80's and 90's, some 7" 45 or 33 rpm records used the vinyl dam. Again, this was especially useful for record changers so when the stylus lowered onto a record, it most probably wouldn't slide off the record.
Right, even back in the Beatles' early era, DMM was around. Metal acetates were cut for the Beatles' recordings to be reviewed. The metal acetates were considered to be the closest sounding to the original master tape.
Going back to record dams. In the U.S., record label, Classic Records, found that it was sonically better to have the record's grooved area the same thickness across the record , so they got rid of the vinyl dam and created a record with consistent thickness across the playing surface. Many who now make audiophile records follow this line of thinking, but they have put the vinyl dam back.
A few years ago, when Atlantic Records decided to re-issue all the Led Zeppelin albums in audiophile and deluxe editions on 180g vinyl. Pallas was chosen to press these LP's. Some of my copies have the vinyl dam and some don't. I don't think that DMM was used on any of them.
Nice info. Thanks.
I mentioned in another post here that my UK pressed Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head are thin vinyl and have no vinyl dam. When I found them in a record shop I immediately noticed the shard edge on the records thinking that is was a bit unusual.
Great info. Thanks for posting.
@@alanrogs3990I think Paul's Boutique was specifically recorded (and also pressed without a vinyl dam) to "frisbee-slice" the heads off of reanimated corpses, should the need ever arrive...
@@JasonSmith-jr7jh Nice!
I personally like the sound of the 1985 DMM pressing the best, since it showed the capabilities of what DMM could do with older albums. My second best would be the original 1968 pressing, and my third best would be the 2018 Giles Martin Remix, it may not be the best with the the boost in the bass mix, but I found it really enjoyable.
- Luke, from Kansas.
You’ve done it again 😊
Thanks
Thanks for watcing, Jeff!
I know it makes no big difference in the end, but why are the channels reversed in your comparison? Or was the stratos badly wired perhaps? 🤔 Great video as usual, Andrew. I'm also loving you're including track snippets now 😊
Thanks Victor. The Stratos was wired up correctly.
Very informative episode, Andrew!
Thanks Roger!
i got hold of both DMM cuts of please please and with the bealtes. PPM sounds a bit flat and thin, I do really like the WTB cut though.
The Japanese Toshiba EMI had DMM for Let It Be 1992 and Please Please Me Mono 2003.
The White Album I was bought for Christmas 1988 is strange because even though the sleeve states it's Direct Metal Mastered, only Sides 1 and 3 are (and have the old labels), whereas Sides 2 and 4 are lacquer cut (but with new labels)! The DMM sides sound much much better than the lacquer sides. They must have been changing the stampers over when my copy was pressed.
I have such a crossover pressing too!
I hadn't heard of Stratos cartridges, Andrew. I'm not really an audiophile but did switch cartridges about 15 years ago from an old Rega Elys 1 (purple) to a Goldring 1042. Big difference. Much warmer sounding on the Goldring with none of the brightness I found irritating on the Rega. BTW I got a Garrard 401 with an SME 3009 (non-detachable head) about 9 years ago in a charity shop for... well, I daren't say. It is a major restoration project which I really must finish one of these days.
I had a lot of DMM pressing of Baroque music from Archiv and Teldec. Sadly, I never got a DMM pressing of any pop albums. Clearly...I have missed out. Listening...a few times...to your snippets of the Beatles...I thought I detected the 1985 DMM had the high top end typical of German mixes. Very crisp, too. The 1991 UK was a bit forward sounding; maybe the noise floor had something to do with it. As you allude, I've also never heard the bass turned up so high on the bass guitar before. Having NEVER performed this test with my 1981 Blue Box discs and CDs back to back, I'm even more intrigued with my collections. I'll "Get Back" to you on that. Aloha, Andrew!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jim.
I’m not a stickler for whether there’s a digital or analog source for a vinyl cutting. Honestly, they all sounded fine, but I admit the bass sounded extra heavy on the 2012 cut while listening on my smart tv, but through my beats headphones, I couldn’t tell much difference among any of them.
Interesting !! Did not know..
I prefer Grado cartridges and stylus. Suits my ears since the 70's.
Great video - I've always been curious abou DMM pressings since I never bought one. I also never bothered with those Beatle LPs that claim to be digitally remastered (years before the 09 masters were released). ALso didn't bother with the stereo vinl remasters, and I'm glad I didn't after hearing the Gently Weeps into, the cymbal was mixed too far down, but it's nice it was brought back up again for the 2018 remix. White Albums I've bought on vinyl (and still have) are the 2014 mono and the 2018 2-LP edition (as well as the 4-LP edition of '18). Yeah, I like the album pretty much. 🤣 That 2014 mono edition is classic - sound effects and guitar licks just appear left and right - it has a raw, chaotic sound to it that I prefer to the more polished stereo version of '09.
Thanks for your thoughts, Farrell.
I think my Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head are UK DMM records. I recall they are thin vinyl with a weird edge.
Glad to know it wasn't just me with regards to those 2012 reissues. I received a review copy of the box set, and the White Album was the first one I put on, and right off the bat I could tell there was something "off" about it. The second was A Hard Day's Night, and to me it sounded harsh and distorted. I believe in a previous video you described it as sounding like it was played back through an old sock, or words to that effect. I'll stick with my 1970s EMI pressings, although a 1985 German DMM White Album is awfully tempting...
Hi Andrew. Your first ever gear review reminded me of something I heard or read a while back that the
hifi systems of the 80s and 90s were much better than those of today. Having fallen for the hype when CDs arrived I sold all my vinyl back then. I have now started buying Beatles vinyl again but need a decent system to play them on. I got hold of a second hand Technics stack recently and it’s ok but could be better.
So what do you recommend? A refurbished vintage system? Or a brand new one? Hope you can help. Btw thanks for increasing my collection . I now have a German MMT and a Beatles First on Contour. Plus all bar three of the picture disc singles. I also bought Beatles Ballads just to get John Byrne’s cover art!
Love your videos😀
Glad you enjoyed the video, Cameron. Stack sytems were always a compromise. I prefer separates, but it all depends on your budget and taste.
Thanks Andrew. I felt like an old fogey from that Not The Nine O’clock News sketch when I sent that email. You’ll be telling me you don’t want slimline salad dressing next😂
The German DMM sounds very well indeed, but the cartridge used should bring this details to surface. DMM can work very well indeed, but if the sound is over compressed and the cartridge with wich it's played is in a lower price/quality range trouble can occur.
A cartridge has to manage a bit more audio information when a DMM record is played and that doesn't always work well either if it's not up to standard of sorts.
I agree on your comment on the Tracey Chapman album, but another DMM record I own (The Simple Minds - Sparkle In The Rain) sounds quite harsh.
It lacks detail because the audio is too compressed. That's an example to me of a DMM record that gets lost in the loudness war. That's the funny thing with analogue audio: you're never finished getting it better to a certain point of personal satisfaction.
As always... thanks for posting.
Thanks for your insightful thoughts.
Andrew, this may be off track a bit, but I like the remixes Giles Mzrtin has produced with the exception of Pepper. I returned the CD set. Having remixed Revolver with the help of Peter Jackson's AI demixing technology, I would like to see Giles remix the remaining Beatles' albums that way. The Revolver remix brings The Beatles into the 2020s. Just to clarify, I would like to see Giles AI remix all Beatles albums including the ones he has remixed except for Revolver
A good show Andrew! As I mentioned on an earlier show where you featured the white Lp DMM, years ago I had the German DMM pressing. I couldn’t handle it. The one I heard was brittle and almost distorted. I was aghast. Is there any proof around that maybe some were defective pressings?
Maybe a bad batch? Let me know.
Thanks Brian. I understand that German DMM sound isn't for everyone. I've not heard of any defective pressing.
Wasn’t sure. Never found out. I remember them being returned in the record store I was working in at the the time because of the audio. I wonder if it had to do with playback equipment?
Mind you, it was just the White Lp.
So that makes me think its a single album issue.
But I am a cartridge freak too. Makes all the difference in the word…and the room…and the speakers…stop me now😅
I think you've mixed up the 2012 remaster and the 2018 remix since what I heard and what you described seemed like the exact opposite. I also noticed that the stereo channels were flipped when I compared them to other sources. By the way, the 1985 German DMM pressing sounded the best by far as they used equalization to boost the bass and the high-end to make it sound clean and live.
Another reason why DMM pressings sometimes sound thin or brittle other than the nature of the cutting process is that most of them were cut from a digital source, which was usually mastered to sound good on CD.
My greatest surprise was the 2012 Remaster. The Hi-hat sounds like it is two rooms away. And the 2018 is not much better: all the high frequenciese of the hi-hat are curbed, no doubt because the total EQ was slanted towards the bass. For me, the greatest achievement of the John Cremer DMM remastering is the depth and definition of the soundstage. It's most noticeable on more acoustic songs such as Mother Nature's Son, but also Revolution 1 and, a revelation, Long Long Long. There are (as you know) two versions of the German analogue DMM, the earlier (and today more expensive) one on white vinyl and designated DMM on the label, the second one 'anonymous' (the one you played) and, even though with a different matrix number, soundwise indistinguishable from the first (at least to my and a couple of other critical listeners' ears). Sleeve quality is better on the second one. There is also a labelling crossover listed on discogs which has leftover labels from the white vinyl original Teldec pressing on record 2. But it's the Cologne black vinyl pressing all the way through.
Nice video. I’d love one of those Stratos cartridges but would have to turn to crime to raise the cash.
I would be interested to know what that vinyl lp was that you briefly showed a picture of. It was in the first image with Face to Face and My Generation. It looks like the Doors Strange Days album but has Clear Lights written on the cover. Curious.
Keep em’ coming Andrew.
Thanks Jesse. The album which you are referring to is the self-titled album by the band Clear Light. Here's some more information about it; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Light_(album)
@@Parlogram Thanks I’ll give that a listen.
Loved the Billie Davis compilation btw, top notch stuff.
I thought the 2012 wasn’t that bad. The open hats sounded more natural like the 1968 pressing, but Andrew is right in saying its not very exciting - about as straight forward as you can get. Shame Sean Magee didn’t go all out and cut the track as hot as the 1968 pressing.
Both DMM pressings are very 80’s with that top end “sparkle” added. Still nice sounding. The 2018 - it is what it is. A good pressing, but with the bass and kick closer to the centre, it’s going to mask detail that the 1968 mix left open.
I recently bought an DMM german copy of Paul McCartney's All The Best compilation album, yet still waiting for it's arrival.
Does have any noticeable differences with the non DMM pressings?
On the other hand, one of the most iconic products of the DMM era was Def Leppard's Hysteria album from 1987 on vinyl, wich clocks for 62 minutes for the twelve songs on a single record (six per side) without any cuts or edits compared to the CD version.
excellent video will there be other videos that will talk about other audio technologies such as xdr on cassettes?
Thanks Léonard. Maybe...
Andrew! ANYTHING that had Neumann involved anywhere in the process could only benefit from it! And when DMM was invented with help from Neumann when I was spinning vinyl through a brand new Harris transmitter, boy, could you tell the difference on the big JBL studio monitors! P.S. - the plural of “stylus” is “”styli”. And I believe that most people would not know the differences between mastering methods, especially after the signal was digitally compressed by You Tube’s signal chain.
Good insight into DMM. I have only on record with the DMM-sticker on the cover.
As for the gear review, I'd like that it would be done as a separate video.
I have some 85 Beatles DMM and love them, but I can see where others would have an issue with the very clean sound, best way to put it. I also have the 1985 BC13 which in some forums has been labeled as a DMM pressing, because the DMM stampers were at EMI in England at the time, but I have never been able to get a complete run down on that to verify. As far as the remixes, it's always the bass. Each one I have the bass is overpowering and not just on Beatles. I do enjoy the 1/2 speed master of The White Album. Boy your system makes my little PlaySkool look lame
Soviet release of "Hard Days Night" (1986) was also DMM and it made the album sound really metallic.
Although it lacked one track. And beware: there's also a non-DMM version of that album. A Taste of Honey (Russian Melodiya compilation album) was also DMM and sounds fantastic.
It's impossible to tell whether the DMM cut is to blame for the metallic sound or not. I would say that many people assume a DMM cut will sound metallic just because the disc is shiny and, well, metal, but it's simply not the case.
@@OldGreyMulletTest Metallic sound is associated with higher tones and less "warm" lower and middle ones, so the overall effect of DMM just sounds metallic.
@@marguskiis7711 Not really. A metallic sound will usually contain a narrow bandwidth resonant fundamental frequency, often between 1kHz and 6-8kHz, or even higher, with complex harmonics, but will not be a high shelf boost and a low shelf cut. What you describe would result in a bright, thin sound. A 6 foot diameter gong is going to have plenty of very low frequencies in there.
Anyway, none of this is relevant to the material that you're cutting an audio groove into. DMM does not need to sound metallic - you're not striking or bowing the copper coated plate or making it resonate.
@@marguskiis7711 Don't forget, a lacquer cut is sprayed with a thin coat of metal, and then mothers, fathers and stamper (that are created from the original lacquer) are all made of metal.
Fascinating, as usual.
The 2012 sounds like it's been narrowed a bit stereo image wise.
Definitely the 1985 DMM pressing - everything is so detailed!! Agree that the 2012 pressing is the worst !!
Great video! One thing - I'm not sure how DMM would eliminate end of side distortion (at an equivalent diameter to a lacquer cut) as the two causes of it remain. I did cut DMM masters for quite a few years and have never heard this mentioned as an advantage before.
DMM grooves are cut narrower than lacquer by about 20%. You'd have to cut albums with longer playing time to manifest the same inner groove distortion.
Take a careful look at the images of the first two albums played. Contrast how close the end of the original pressing's last track is to the label vs. that of the German DMM. This difference is a consequence of the narrower grooves used for DMM. You threw in the "at an equivalent diameter to a lacquer cut" requirement, and indeed, under such conditions, you'd have the same distortion. But then you're not comparing apples to apples. Perhaps the last track should be repeated on each side of a DMM for those who like their distorted version.
@@keensoundguy6637 You've made a good point, but stating that DMM grooves are cut 20% narrower is not really accurate at all. For a start cutting engineers would refer to grooves being shallower or deeper rather than "narrower", but the real point is that sometimes you would cut DMM at the same depth as a lacquer cut would be, sometimes you might go a touch deeper, sometimes not as deep, depending on the material. Hi-fi fans who who don't actually cut records seem very keen on putting blanket rules on these things (DDM always sounds like this, lacquer cuts are like this, there's exactly this much distortion at this diameter etc.) but it's actually not like this at all. The material that you're cutting is really what dictates all these variables and it's about critically listening to test cuts and making adjustments from what you hear, not just looking at a calculator.
I do like that German DMM, but maybe it's just a result of the extra care taken to fit the characteristics of the new process. I think there is way more room for quality to be found that way, rather than all the obsessing over whether digital sneaks into the process. Some of my records just scream out a level of sound quality that is way better than others, and so far none of those lucky few have been DMMs. I have a Canadian DMM of Invisible Touch by Genesis, but that's the only one I know of for sure because it has the sticker on the cover. I absolutely think DMM is the way pressing should be done, but I'm not holding my breath for good repressings of all my favorites any time soon.
Great video as always. can you please provide some Discogs links to the ones to get? There is white discs and black ones. Just trying to figure out which one to get
The problems with most of the Beatles DMM pressings (except the excellent White Album and MMT which I like a lot as well) are actually results of the "fancy things" John Cremer has done to the recordings - Andrew, you've mentioned that... I have produced a few albums myself which were released as DMM pressings made at Record Industry in the Netherlands and these albums sound exactly like the masters I've delivered, with a nice added analogue touch from the mastering equipment that was used for the cutting. So I can confirm that it's absolutely possible to make DMM records that sound great and faithful to the original master - the trick is that you have to stop your cutting/mastering engineer from going berserk! 😉😅
I like the cleaner sound of the 1991 DMM pressing. It’s my kinda thing.
Hey Andrew, enjoyed your video on the DMM pressings. I have the German white album DMM pressing which I bought back in ‘85. I did some comparisons with headphones with the ‘78 UK white vinyl and’85 German DMM white vinyl. IMO the ‘78 was the winner. The DMM is great but lacks the mid range that the ‘78 has. I used Savoy Truffle for track comparisons. ‘78 press was much fuller. I also have 62-66 and 67-70 German colored DMM’s. They sound amazing. I seem to be in between with MMT german pressing. It’s a A-1 B-3 matrix but it looks like a DMM cut. Bought it at Tower Records NYC ‘86. Confusing. Perhaps you can elaborate? Thought the matrices changed after DMM stepped in.
The DMM MMT has +C added to the matrices on both sides.
The Tracy Chapman DMM pressing sounds fantastic
I had one but lost it over the years. Pity.
@alan Rogs I had 2 sold one and kept one because of better condition. In texas alot of people in these record stores or book stores know alot about vinyl , the reason why I got 2 for good prices lol.
@@oscar542241 Nice. I do recall my pressing sounding excellent.