John William Coltrane is my favorite musician in the known universe. I’m honoring him by proudly displaying my UHQR. Thank you for the informative video. I’m surprised I got a lower edition than you! 😊
Have the acoustic sounds already and have run out of shelf space. The Fomo is gone so time to enjoy what we have already . My Chet Baker Sings Tone Poet arrived and it sounds like a keeper. Thanks for the thorough review.
Good call on selling the laquer given it will wear out after a handfull of plays. Thanks for the video, very informative and covering some comparisons that other youtubers didn't include.
The ridiculous UHQR boxes are deterring a lot of record buyers from getting these releases , as they take up too much space . We don't all live in mansions . Thanks for the info .
I live in a tiny apartment and I have no problem housing the UHQR boxes. This is a ridiculous attack on the boxes. There are more reasonable gripes to make about the boxes than “space.”
I like the AS 33 well enough. I was tempted by the UHQR because I have a couple UHQRs and they sound extremely good to me. I think I'll stick with the AS 33 and kick myself in a couple years when I have the urge to hear this and people are trying to sell it for a grand.
Another greta video, thank you! The Acoustic Sounds 33 RPM and the UHQR 45 RPM are cut from the same second-generation tape copy, by the same mastering engineer. This info from the Acoustic Sounds website.
Nice analysis. I am not one who obsesses about sound quality, but by far my favourite version of A Love Supreme is a UK HMV mono release from 1965 which I obtained from a swap with a friend for a Sonny Boy Williamson album in the late 1960s. Maybe it is the well known 'first hearing' effect but no version I have heard since comes close. I was somewhat disappointed with the Acoustic Sounds issue which I purchased some years ago. I am finding the same with some other re-issues and re-masterings, particularly of recordings from the Blue Note and Impulse labels. Maybe it is that old 'first hearing' effect.
Another Great video as usual , however nooo Audiophile version is worth $209.00 Canadain for where I live and I have the Accoustic version which is Awesome.
The AS33 also uses the UK tape just like the UHQR, both were likely cut at the same time with the same mastering by RKS. Both of these sound about the same, what youre hearing is probably just a louder signal on the UHQR.
I share the same impression with you, UHQR is my first choice and I don’t care about getting up. My only problem was that I didn’t want the music to end and wished Coltrane extended the tracks more or added more!
The UHQR boxes were modeled after the RCA Soria boxes from back in the 50s. So yeah, they are definitely dated looking. The AP and the AP UHQR were mastered from the same copy tape. Those lacquers were cut from a copy of the original master tapes. They did not run the original master tape over 100 times.
As far as the box, it certainly looks great on the shelf with another five or six UHQR albums. I appreciate the boxes in general. I've got 172.76 with tax and shipping, I'l take a great box.
Like you, I'm also not a fan of the big boxes. They're taller than an LP and therefore can't fit in my LP storage shelves. Also, a box isn't needed for a single album (even a 2x45rpm album). The box takes up a lot more space than a gatefold, which is all you need for this release. I really appreciate your detailed description of how the UHQR sounds. I haven't heard it, but what you describe is what I've experienced when comparing other UHQRs that I own to regular pressings. I have the 33rpm Acoustic Sounds series pressing from 2020 that's still widely available for $40, and I think it sounds terrific. I can totally enjoy and immerse myself in the music with the 2020 33rpm AS/QRP version. Your conclusions and pros/cons seem very reasonable and thoughtful, and that's good advice for those of us still making purchase decisions. For me, my decision is to pass on the UHQR and save my money for other UHQRs. Very helpful video, thank you!
Thanks for the detailed review. if the supersence was not in your collection, I wouldn't make this comment, but at $500, it feels getting a R2R tape from AP for the same price would be a better way to go and would be sonically the best "IF" you have a R2R setup.
On the issue of left right for the two modern pressings, have you tried a little balance shift to the right? I'll have to try that on my 33 later, but I have other Coltrane recordings where he is super loud in one channel, and the balance knob evens it out very nicely.
I read many complaints about the 33 stereo Acoustic Sounds version regarding the hard panning and especially the left channel sax emphasis. Does not bother me but is definitely part of the learning curve that early stereo was going through. I don't understand why this album is so popular though. Definitely not one of my favorite jazz albums although I love the drums on the album. The 33 version for this definitely suffices.
Great video as usual!! I sometimes wonder if we turned up the bass and treble on our stereo and played it loud would that give us the “detail”. I kind of want this UHQR but it’s just too expensive for me so I’ll stick with the AS 33
It can work sometimes - generally I think my speakers “awaken” more when turned up. But I don’t know that blasting music is going to improve stereo separation or add clarity as much as just introduce the potential for distortion
Hi, thanks for this video. About spending 500$ on an album, I would suggest to buy the Acoustic Sound Tape release of ALS. It is great and dont cost more than the lacquer from Vienna... tape is (almost) always a winner... good copies of good original tapes always top notch as far as sound goes. Now you need a tape deck !!! J. from Paris.
Regarding the flipping, in this case, it's not the mere case of flipping, it's that movement 3 is meant to segue immediately into movement 4. The bass solo ends 3, but it's more of a pause than an end. The bass solo actually ends on the 5th of the key, with the resolving to the relative minor literally just a couple of seconds afterward with the start of movement 4. So to me, these two movements were intentionally designed to hear together with pretty much no space between them. With most albums, tunes aren't so integrally connected with those around them. I'm on the fence with regard to getting the UHQR. And having intently compared the Speakers Corner (mastered and cut by Kevin Gray) and the AS 33 (cut and mastered by RK Smith), I can hear what you're talking about with the way Coltrane's sax seems isolated and far away from the rest of the group. Whether intentionally or not, Kevin Gray's mastering on the Speakers Corner leaves Coltrane's sax more integrated with the rest of the group, less isolated and outward in the soundstage, making the group seem more coherent. There's not as much harmonic detail in the Speakers Corner reissue, so you might find that it suffers from images not being quite as individually tactile. But the SC is equally if not more dynamic than the AS 33. The SC is still VERY musical and emotionally impactful.
what i'm hearing from a lot of folks is that it was recorded in stereo and the mono is simply a fold-down. If that's the case, I suppose we could just flip the mono switch (for those of us with one)
My original is really good. The UHQR is really really good. However my limited edition (laminated jacket) Japanese pressing sounds the best to me. Not by much over the UHQR but the very best version to my ears.
Now having listened to the UHQR and vs. the 45 by Kevin Gray from 2010, it is very clear that I have wasted some money here. Admittedly, the UHQR has more detail and the vinyl and pressing quality is second to none, impo the loudness and brightness of Coltrane in the left channel is partially unbearable. I rather let some detail and noisefloor improvement go, and enjoy the much warmer sound of the 2010. Maybe it is just „the emperor’s new clothes“. In any case, Mr. Kassem is the sure winner.
That’s a great way to go. I. e. I store all my KoBs in the UHQR box, all my Holly Cole‘s in the huge Temptation box by AP. If I cannot do something similar with other (wasteful) box releases I keep the album out of the box and either store the box in a dry place or throw it away.
Hi there! Very interesting review. Thank you. I happen to own the AP 2010 45rpm rem and cut by KG @ ATM pressed by Pallas in Germany. Does a great job for me, but! First of all, it is kind of difficult to make an over ruling evaluation on the entire album. Impo, one has to go track by track because each is somewhat different and I guess this is by the recording/mixing and/or KGs mastering choices. On some tracks, e.g. track 1, Coltrane is so hot on the left side that a) it is distracting and even bothering and b) killing the drum sound on the right side. Crazy, but sometimes it is pleasing when he is off for a while and one can better hear the other instruments. E. g. Track 4 is far better balanced and much more enjoyable. If the mastering by RKS @ Sterling and esp. the UHQR treatment cannot make significant improvements to those of my issues, I am happy enough with what I got now. Admittedly I have not listened to any other version so far.
Enough of these stereo reissues: it's time they reissues a MONO version, which is superior. Yes, the mono is a fold-down but who cares. Any insights whether a Mono release is in our future?
My man, if the differences between the Lacquer and UHQR are too small to hear then the AS33 and UHQR differences would be 0. This doesnt make any sense. You dont need a quarter million dollar setup to hear differences. Ive heard these lacquers and can do so on any system that isnt bottom of the barrel.
Does the world need another Love Supreme release???? 160 bucks???? There have been wonderful releases of this record over the years so why buy this?? I think FOMO comes into play here!!!
Yea a good bit of FOMO for sure. One thing at play is that this kind of release doesn't purely appeal to jazz fans, and instead I think invites a lot of the audiophile community, SOME of whom don't care as much what they're listening to as long as it sounds really really good on their setups.
Silly. That recording does not warrant anything like 45 RPM on several disks. Most of the Coltrane recordings are pretty lousy - in the audiophile ear.
Unfortunately I'd get a copyright strike on the video if I included any audio clips and RUclips would pull it. If you're talking just generally that I should spend time listening to it, don't worry about that, it's getting plenty of spins!
No interest in this whatsoever , tye AS 33RPM is more than good enough and of a high standard ..... only top end hi fi nuts where money is no object would want/ need this to improve their ego .
Each to their own. I guess some very enthusiastic collectors just want every edition. I'm also from UK. Checked price before I watched this £198. I could buy it but would never spend that on an album. Would need an expensive hi Fi system to justify outlay. Also as I like such a wide range of music how many times would I actually play it ? 🎶
John William Coltrane is my favorite musician in the known universe. I’m honoring him by proudly displaying my UHQR. Thank you for the informative video. I’m surprised I got a lower edition than you!
😊
Have the acoustic sounds already and have run out of shelf space. The Fomo is gone so time to enjoy what we have already . My Chet Baker Sings Tone Poet arrived and it sounds like a keeper. Thanks for the thorough review.
Good call on selling the laquer given it will wear out after a handfull of plays. Thanks for the video, very informative and covering some comparisons that other youtubers didn't include.
Always nice to hear a review from a music man rather than a Hifi man.
I 💯 agree
The ridiculous UHQR boxes are deterring a lot of record buyers from getting these releases , as they take up too much space . We don't all live in mansions .
Thanks for the info .
I live in a tiny apartment and I have no problem housing the UHQR boxes. This is a ridiculous attack on the boxes. There are more reasonable gripes to make about the boxes than “space.”
I like the AS 33 well enough. I was tempted by the UHQR because I have a couple UHQRs and they sound extremely good to me. I think I'll stick with the AS 33 and kick myself in a couple years when I have the urge to hear this and people are trying to sell it for a grand.
Get the UHQR.
Thx for the review. I'm completely happy with my AS copy and with all the other records I'd love to have, I'm not spending $150 on another version.
Always great info.!
Another greta video, thank you!
The Acoustic Sounds 33 RPM and the UHQR 45 RPM are cut from the same second-generation tape copy, by the same mastering engineer. This info from the Acoustic Sounds website.
great breakdown.. i bought it.. it sat in sun all day.. haven't opened it yet. crossing fingers all is good.
Nice analysis. I am not one who obsesses about sound quality, but by far my favourite version of A Love Supreme is a UK HMV mono release from 1965 which I obtained from a swap with a friend for a Sonny Boy Williamson album in the late 1960s. Maybe it is the well known 'first hearing' effect but no version I have heard since comes close. I was somewhat disappointed with the Acoustic Sounds issue which I purchased some years ago. I am finding the same with some other re-issues and re-masterings, particularly of recordings from the Blue Note and Impulse labels. Maybe it is that old 'first hearing' effect.
Another Great video as usual , however nooo Audiophile version is worth $209.00 Canadain for where I live and I have the Accoustic version which is Awesome.
The AS33 also uses the UK tape just like the UHQR, both were likely cut at the same time with the same mastering by RKS.
Both of these sound about the same, what youre hearing is probably just a louder signal on the UHQR.
I share the same impression with you, UHQR is my first choice and I don’t care about getting up. My only problem was that I didn’t want the music to end and wished Coltrane extended the tracks more or added more!
On the Acoustic Sounds website, it states that the AS 33 version was cut from the copy tape. The tape was untouched from 1965-2002.
The UHQR boxes were modeled after the RCA Soria boxes from back in the 50s. So yeah, they are definitely dated looking. The AP and the AP UHQR were mastered from the same copy tape. Those lacquers were cut from a copy of the original master tapes. They did not run the original master tape over 100 times.
@@methimpikehose But what they are selling are lacquers. So 100 Lacquers would require 100 uses of the tape.
Love the box myself !
Thanks a lot for the a review with good useful info 👌
As far as the box, it certainly looks great on the shelf with another five or six UHQR albums. I appreciate the boxes in general. I've got 172.76 with tax and shipping, I'l take a great box.
Like you, I'm also not a fan of the big boxes. They're taller than an LP and therefore can't fit in my LP storage shelves. Also, a box isn't needed for a single album (even a 2x45rpm album). The box takes up a lot more space than a gatefold, which is all you need for this release.
I really appreciate your detailed description of how the UHQR sounds. I haven't heard it, but what you describe is what I've experienced when comparing other UHQRs that I own to regular pressings.
I have the 33rpm Acoustic Sounds series pressing from 2020 that's still widely available for $40, and I think it sounds terrific. I can totally enjoy and immerse myself in the music with the 2020 33rpm AS/QRP version.
Your conclusions and pros/cons seem very reasonable and thoughtful, and that's good advice for those of us still making purchase decisions.
For me, my decision is to pass on the UHQR and save my money for other UHQRs.
Very helpful video, thank you!
Thanks for the detailed review. if the supersence was not in your collection, I wouldn't make this comment, but at $500, it feels getting a R2R tape from AP for the same price would be a better way to go and would be sonically the best "IF" you have a R2R setup.
I have heard it confirmed that the Acoustic Sounds 33 and the UHQR are from the same tape
correct
Same
I happy for you!!!!
Original stereos were cut from a copy tape that had a substantial 60 hz hum running through the entire LP
Waiting for the 33 UHQR which you know will be coming
On the issue of left right for the two modern pressings, have you tried a little balance shift to the right? I'll have to try that on my 33 later, but I have other Coltrane recordings where he is super loud in one channel, and the balance knob evens it out very nicely.
I read many complaints about the 33 stereo Acoustic Sounds version regarding the hard panning and especially the left channel sax emphasis. Does not bother me but is definitely part of the learning curve that early stereo was going through. I don't understand why this album is so popular though. Definitely not one of my favorite jazz albums although I love the drums on the album. The 33 version for this definitely suffices.
good plan lol
Great video as usual!!
I sometimes wonder if we turned up the bass and treble on our stereo and played it loud would that give us the “detail”. I kind of want this UHQR but it’s just too expensive for me so I’ll stick with the AS 33
It can work sometimes - generally I think my speakers “awaken” more when turned up. But I don’t know that blasting music is going to improve stereo separation or add clarity as much as just introduce the potential for distortion
Hi, thanks for this video. About spending 500$ on an album, I would suggest to buy the Acoustic Sound Tape release of ALS. It is great and dont
cost more than the lacquer from Vienna... tape is (almost) always a winner... good copies of good original tapes always top notch as far as sound goes. Now you need a tape deck !!! J. from Paris.
Regarding the flipping, in this case, it's not the mere case of flipping, it's that movement 3 is meant to segue immediately into movement 4. The bass solo ends 3, but it's more of a pause than an end. The bass solo actually ends on the 5th of the key, with the resolving to the relative minor literally just a couple of seconds afterward with the start of movement 4. So to me, these two movements were intentionally designed to hear together with pretty much no space between them. With most albums, tunes aren't so integrally connected with those around them.
I'm on the fence with regard to getting the UHQR. And having intently compared the Speakers Corner (mastered and cut by Kevin Gray) and the AS 33 (cut and mastered by RK Smith), I can hear what you're talking about with the way Coltrane's sax seems isolated and far away from the rest of the group. Whether intentionally or not, Kevin Gray's mastering on the Speakers Corner leaves Coltrane's sax more integrated with the rest of the group, less isolated and outward in the soundstage, making the group seem more coherent. There's not as much harmonic detail in the Speakers Corner reissue, so you might find that it suffers from images not being quite as individually tactile. But the SC is equally if not more dynamic than the AS 33. The SC is still VERY musical and emotionally impactful.
I’d prefer to see a mono reissue ……. I suppose that could be the next UHQR😉
what i'm hearing from a lot of folks is that it was recorded in stereo and the mono is simply a fold-down. If that's the case, I suppose we could just flip the mono switch (for those of us with one)
100% agree. 👍🏻
Does it have a flats profile?
My original is really good.
The UHQR is really really good. However my limited edition (laminated jacket) Japanese pressing sounds the best to me. Not by much over the UHQR but the very best version to my ears.
I wonder what master they used.
Hello Robert! Wich japanese is? I would like to take a look :)
Thanks
@@cleese74 I forget the year. Maybe 1977? Limited Edition with the laminated cover.
Now having listened to the UHQR and vs. the 45 by Kevin Gray from 2010, it is very clear that I have wasted some money here. Admittedly, the UHQR has more detail and the vinyl and pressing quality is second to none, impo the loudness and brightness of Coltrane in the left channel is partially unbearable. I rather let some detail and noisefloor improvement go, and enjoy the much warmer sound of the 2010. Maybe it is just „the emperor’s new clothes“. In any case, Mr. Kassem is the sure winner.
I hate the big ol ugly box but as someone on another channel pointed out, I can use the box to store my AP 33 copy of ALS.
That’s a great way to go. I. e. I store all my KoBs in the UHQR box, all my Holly Cole‘s in the huge Temptation box by AP. If I cannot do something similar with other (wasteful) box releases I keep the album out of the box and either store the box in a dry place or throw it away.
Hi there! Very interesting review. Thank you. I happen to own the AP 2010 45rpm rem and cut by KG @ ATM pressed by Pallas in Germany. Does a great job for me, but! First of all, it is kind of difficult to make an over ruling evaluation on the entire album. Impo, one has to go track by track because each is somewhat different and I guess this is by the recording/mixing and/or KGs mastering choices. On some tracks, e.g. track 1, Coltrane is so hot on the left side that a) it is distracting and even bothering and b) killing the drum sound on the right side. Crazy, but sometimes it is pleasing when he is off for a while and one can better hear the other instruments. E. g. Track 4 is far better balanced and much more enjoyable. If the mastering by RKS @ Sterling and esp. the UHQR treatment cannot make significant improvements to those of my issues, I am happy enough with what I got now. Admittedly I have not listened to any other version so far.
Mine UHQR is detailed but also hot and distorted unlike my AS version which sounds overall better.
I have the AP 33. I held out on the UHQR for as long as I could. Then I caved. FOMO is a BTCH!!!!
haha yes indeed
Enough of these stereo reissues: it's time they reissues a MONO version, which is superior. Yes, the mono is a fold-down but who cares. Any insights whether a Mono release is in our future?
The 45rpm is problematic for me because each side of that record is 1 track, the flip interrupts the bass solo :(
They will keep breaking into your bank acct if you let them😂
My man, if the differences between the Lacquer and UHQR are too small to hear then the AS33 and UHQR differences would be 0. This doesnt make any sense.
You dont need a quarter million dollar setup to hear differences. Ive heard these lacquers and can do so on any system that isnt bottom of the barrel.
Does the world need another Love Supreme release???? 160 bucks???? There have been wonderful releases of this record over the years so why buy this?? I think FOMO comes into play here!!!
Yea a good bit of FOMO for sure. One thing at play is that this kind of release doesn't purely appeal to jazz fans, and instead I think invites a lot of the audiophile community, SOME of whom don't care as much what they're listening to as long as it sounds really really good on their setups.
Silly. That recording does not warrant anything like 45 RPM on several disks. Most of the Coltrane recordings are pretty lousy - in the audiophile ear.
Chad sells the cardboard box for $100.😁
These titles would be $50 cheaper if they lost the box!
5% Better for 500% the cost. Alot of vinyl collectors really are mugs!
Why didnt you just PLAY THE THE RECORD instead of trying to describe it!???
Unfortunately I'd get a copyright strike on the video if I included any audio clips and RUclips would pull it. If you're talking just generally that I should spend time listening to it, don't worry about that, it's getting plenty of spins!
Coltrane overdubbed the vocal
No interest in this whatsoever , tye AS 33RPM is more than good enough and of a high standard ..... only top end hi fi nuts where money is no object would want/ need this to improve their ego .
250 bucks in the U.K., I must be the only person who doesn’t like this album and has no wish to buy 🫣
Nah. A lot of people don’t like/get ALS. I’m a Coltrane fan and I don’t love ALS but I still got the UHQR.
Nope I'm with you, prefer to collect originals
Each to their own. I guess some very enthusiastic collectors just want every edition. I'm also from UK. Checked price before I watched this £198. I could buy it but would never spend that on an album.
Would need an expensive hi Fi system to justify outlay.
Also as I like such a wide range of music how many times would I actually play it ? 🎶