Great discussion, my copy of the 2014 remaster sounds pretty good I think. The bass is very resonate, you feel it through your body with the Sub and the drums just hit you. Heartbreaker sounds so good, it's a true soundstage experience. I always play that record when I have a friend come over and starts quizzing about Vinyl and my stereo set up. They get it as soon as the JPJs bass and Bonham's drums kick in. I'm satisfied with my 2014 remaster to not justify the bucks for a nice copy of the RL hot mix.
I’m returning to vinyl, and rebuilding a collection of records. I appreciate your reviews regarding pressing quality of great albums release at different times, and such. I’ve quickly realized the importance of the many aspects, that play a part, in manufacturing a quality record of my favorite musicians. I’ll soon probably have favorite mastering engineers and companies too! Cheers again on the great videos.
The honest most faithful way to hear Zeppelin II is the RL Hot Mix. The dynamics are astounding than any other pressing. Just the bass alone with John Paul Jones comes in on Whole Lotta Love really does turn your head and grabs your attention right away. When John Bonham comes in on What Is and What Should Never Be is super aggressive. Thank You sounds like you're in a cathedral. It's worth every penny and you'll never, ever hear it the same afterwards.
Tnx for comparing Matthew. I coincidentally just purchased a '77 George Piros Zep II and '77 Bob Ludwig Houses of the Holy on discogs and waiting on arrival. I listened to the 2014 Page HoH and at first listen it didn't do much for me. I do have the Zep II page mix but haven't listened to yet. Going to wait until the '77 copy arrives. I'll likely compare to the CDs and streaming as well. Would love to stumble into a RL or Classic Records copy but not holding my breath. I just want an affordable great sounding copy of each where the drums pop because it's John Bonham!
You will like the RL a lot more than the Classic. Its got much more presence and badassness. Apparently the 77 GP cut is quite good, but I haven't heard on of those. The RL Houses of the Holy sounds truly Fabulous!!
The classic records issue is MIND BLOWING. Page remasters next. The MOFI didn't hold a candle to classic press RL are great but even within those there are variants.
You need to find the first RL pressing, not the second. You can easily tell because the first RL has a lot less deadwax. I can say that it does sound truly awesome. My copy is RL on side one and LH on side two. One can get lucky now and again in the used record bins! Happy Hunting!!
@@michaellourie4252 if you're not aware, Ludwig a few years back said that if you have a copy with RL on one side and LH on the other side, it's still his mastering. Lee would at times cut a new lacquer if Bob was not working in the studio. They both shared the same studio and would help each other out if one of them wasn't working that day. Just know your copy is a true RL mastering/cut.
There is no RL "second pressing".. There's only the original with narrow deadwax on both sides, pressed at many different pressing plants. It was soon recalled, almost immediately after release, so again, only one.
That re-EQ’d version is quite lifeless in comparison. Something sounds like it’s Missing on that press. The 2014 sounds Much better than That pressing and is quite close to the Ludwig in Punch. This album is Supposed to be HOT. Roberts voice really jumps out of the speakers on the 2014. None of these compare to the RL Hot Mix, of Course! But the 2014 comes the closest. I tried 3 different OG presses and the 2014 Reissue beats them all. I kept going back to the 2014 for my listening copy. UNTIL I finally got lucky enough to acquire the RL. And then I was shocked by how little the difference between It and the 2014 really is. I was expecting Night and Day. It’s tough with Zeppelin pressings. I’ve heard OG pressings of Zeppelin 1 that sounded unbelievably bad… and downright Weird on some, in fact. None of the other 2014 Zeppelin records sound anywhere near as good as the 2014 Zeppelin 2. If my RL got burned up in a fire, I’d be happy if the 2014 was my only surviving copy
Come on! Not to be one of those guys but let's get real here, that sounds like that's coming from someone who's trying to justify buying Vinyl in the easiest way possible by going to a generic corporate store to get them. The 2014 Vinyl is coming from a digital source that is filled with compression which makes the instruments and vocals feel relatively lifeless compared to MANY other versions. The original RL US, the George Piros version, the Classic Records version, the original UK plum version, even the MOFI version is a better experience than the 2014 remaster. Its good for people that see Vinyl as a novelty, but modern Digitally sourced remasters done by big studios and not the audiophile labels is nowhere near to making the best experience of great albums. Original pressings or all Analog reissues are the only true ways.
All the 2014 remastered Zeppelin are fantastic! Then the RL. The 1977 ones are no good, to me. I would pass on them if more than $10 no matter what condition. And I like the 1993 remastered CDs the best.
@bellisariosonic I have a Ludwig Zeppelin II Presswell that I haven't played for years. I cleaned it today and played it on my Rega Planar 3 with Ortofon Blue cartridge. With Klipsch La Scalas powered with tubes. All I can say is. Wow!! But better than 2014 remastered? I'm just happy to have both.
@@johnvincent4048 The 93 CD and 2014 remasters which were both mastered to favour loudness and compression over dynamic range and clarity and are significantly inferior ways to experience the albums and yet are the best? Only with a bottom barrel turntable and a decent CD player and those who obsess over volume can those two versions come off "better" to anyone. Much of Robert Plant's echo is missing in those versions and they are noticeably compressed and Digitally sourced which is not how listening to great music of the Analog era in the format that it was meant to be listened to should ever be experienced.
@Pete-eb3vo Hey pal, did you read what audio equipment I'm using? It's not "bottom barrel". The 1977 pressing of Led Zeppelin I is one of the worst sounding records I have in my collection. Flat, no dynamic range. The live version of Dazed and Confused on the 2014 vinyl sounds like the band is live in my living room.
@@johnvincent4048 If you think that excessive compression coming from Digital sources equals the sound of the band being live in your living room, then congrats buddy. You have given the finest insult to great recordings of what is modern music's greatest era there is. I don't care what setup you claim to have whether you have it or not, there is no possibility that the average 2014 Vinyl that is not authentically transferred from the Analog Tapes is better than all the great releases that came before. Don't confuse the 2014's compression as being dynamic range. If you want true dynamics, the original US, UK and Classic Records all Analog reissues eat the 2014 for breakfast. Even the late 70s reissues are easily better.
I have the RL and the George Piros…both are spectacular. RL is obviously the best but the Piros isn’t that far off.
The 1977 pressing you showed has a barcode on the back. That tells me it's an 80's pressing
Yes I did a second video explaining. ruclips.net/video/2UHDp3bxV6M/видео.html
Great discussion, my copy of the 2014 remaster sounds pretty good I think. The bass is very resonate, you feel it through your body with the Sub and the drums just hit you. Heartbreaker sounds so good, it's a true soundstage experience. I always play that record when I have a friend come over and starts quizzing about Vinyl and my stereo set up. They get it as soon as the JPJs bass and Bonham's drums kick in. I'm satisfied with my 2014 remaster to not justify the bucks for a nice copy of the RL hot mix.
I’m returning to vinyl, and rebuilding a collection of records. I appreciate your reviews regarding pressing quality of great albums release at different times, and such.
I’ve quickly realized the importance of the many aspects, that play a part, in manufacturing a quality record of my favorite musicians. I’ll soon probably have favorite mastering engineers and companies too!
Cheers again on the great videos.
The honest most faithful way to hear Zeppelin II is the RL Hot Mix. The dynamics are astounding than any other pressing. Just the bass alone with John Paul Jones comes in on Whole Lotta Love really does turn your head and grabs your attention right away. When John Bonham comes in on What Is and What Should Never Be is super aggressive. Thank You sounds like you're in a cathedral. It's worth every penny and you'll never, ever hear it the same afterwards.
Hot _Master_
The analog copies are all the same mix.. It's all in the mastering. ;)
the Page version all round is Great
Tnx for comparing Matthew. I coincidentally just purchased a '77 George Piros Zep II and '77 Bob Ludwig Houses of the Holy on discogs and waiting on arrival. I listened to the 2014 Page HoH and at first listen it didn't do much for me. I do have the Zep II page mix but haven't listened to yet. Going to wait until the '77 copy arrives. I'll likely compare to the CDs and streaming as well. Would love to stumble into a RL or Classic Records copy but not holding my breath. I just want an affordable great sounding copy of each where the drums pop because it's John Bonham!
You will like the RL a lot more than the Classic. Its got much more presence and badassness.
Apparently the 77 GP cut is quite good, but I haven't heard on of those.
The RL Houses of the Holy sounds truly Fabulous!!
When comparing the pressings you really need to distinguish who the mastering engineer was, the pressing plant is much less important.
I just got the 2014 reissue for $20 used but NM. Have not played because I'm between stereos.
The classic records issue is MIND BLOWING.
Page remasters next.
The MOFI didn't hold a candle to classic press
RL are great but even within those there are variants.
You need to find the first RL pressing, not the second. You can easily tell because the first
RL has a lot less deadwax. I can say that it does sound truly awesome. My copy is RL on side one and LH on side two. One can get lucky now and again in the used record bins! Happy Hunting!!
@@michaellourie4252 if you're not aware, Ludwig a few years back said that if you have a copy with RL on one side and LH on the other side, it's still his mastering. Lee would at times cut a new lacquer if Bob was not working in the studio. They both shared the same studio and would help each other out if one of them wasn't working that day. Just know your copy is a true RL mastering/cut.
I found the Classic reissue of that particular one to be very bright. I did like 1 and 111 and also IV on the classic though.
There is no RL "second pressing".. There's only the original with narrow deadwax on both sides, pressed at many different pressing plants. It was soon recalled, almost immediately after release, so again, only one.
That re-EQ’d version is quite lifeless in comparison. Something sounds like it’s Missing on that press. The 2014 sounds Much better than That pressing and is quite close to the Ludwig in Punch. This album is Supposed to be HOT. Roberts voice really jumps out of the speakers on the 2014. None of these compare to the RL Hot Mix, of Course! But the 2014 comes the closest. I tried 3 different OG presses and the 2014 Reissue beats them all. I kept going back to the 2014 for my listening copy. UNTIL I finally got lucky enough to acquire the RL. And then I was shocked by how little the difference between It and the 2014 really is. I was expecting Night and Day. It’s tough with Zeppelin pressings. I’ve heard OG pressings of Zeppelin 1 that sounded unbelievably bad… and downright Weird on some, in fact. None of the other 2014 Zeppelin records sound anywhere near as good as the 2014 Zeppelin 2. If my RL got burned up in a fire, I’d be happy if the 2014 was my only surviving copy
Come on! Not to be one of those guys but let's get real here, that sounds like that's coming from someone who's trying to justify buying Vinyl in the easiest way possible by going to a generic corporate store to get them. The 2014 Vinyl is coming from a digital source that is filled with compression which makes the instruments and vocals feel relatively lifeless compared to MANY other versions. The original RL US, the George Piros version, the Classic Records version, the original UK plum version, even the MOFI version is a better experience than the 2014 remaster. Its good for people that see Vinyl as a novelty, but modern Digitally sourced remasters done by big studios and not the audiophile labels is nowhere near to making the best experience of great albums. Original pressings or all Analog reissues are the only true ways.
I know this is mostly unrelated, but what pressings of that OG led zeppelin I did you have/try? i've been looking to get a copy myself.
Agreed 👍
I have 5 copies of that album. A record store owner told me they are worth $500 each..
Well you better cash them all in then (unless they're all RL pressings). ;)
All the 2014 remastered Zeppelin are fantastic! Then the RL. The 1977 ones are no good, to me. I would pass on them if more than $10 no matter what condition. And I like the 1993 remastered CDs the best.
I don’t see why so many people bash the 2014 remasters. Thanks for stopping by!
@bellisariosonic I have a Ludwig Zeppelin II Presswell that I haven't played for years. I cleaned it today and played it on my Rega Planar 3 with Ortofon Blue cartridge. With Klipsch La Scalas powered with tubes. All I can say is. Wow!! But better than 2014 remastered? I'm just happy to have both.
@@johnvincent4048 The 93 CD and 2014 remasters which were both mastered to favour loudness and compression over dynamic range and clarity and are significantly inferior ways to experience the albums and yet are the best? Only with a bottom barrel turntable and a decent CD player and those who obsess over volume can those two versions come off "better" to anyone. Much of Robert Plant's echo is missing in those versions and they are noticeably compressed and Digitally sourced which is not how listening to great music of the Analog era in the format that it was meant to be listened to should ever be experienced.
@Pete-eb3vo Hey pal, did you read what audio equipment I'm using? It's not "bottom barrel". The 1977 pressing of Led Zeppelin I is one of the worst sounding records I have in my collection. Flat, no dynamic range. The live version of Dazed and Confused on the 2014 vinyl sounds like the band is live in my living room.
@@johnvincent4048 If you think that excessive compression coming from Digital sources equals the sound of the band being live in your living room, then congrats buddy. You have given the finest insult to great recordings of what is modern music's greatest era there is. I don't care what setup you claim to have whether you have it or not, there is no possibility that the average 2014 Vinyl that is not authentically transferred from the Analog Tapes is better than all the great releases that came before. Don't confuse the 2014's compression as being dynamic range. If you want true dynamics, the original US, UK and Classic Records all Analog reissues eat the 2014 for breakfast. Even the late 70s reissues are easily better.