The 2016 reissue was cut to lacquer by Bernie but the actual remastering was done by Guthrie and Plante, and then Bernie used their hi-Rez digital file they originally made for the 2011 CD.
I’m not surprised to hear your verdict. I’ve never heard the Japanese edition you have but I always thought the WYWH mix/master sounded ‘sanitised’ the way that 80s production became, mainly on the 3 songs, not as much on Shine On. (I’m talking comparatively against Meddle, Dark Side & Animals) It’s fascinating to hear that there’s an alternative master out there that brought out a different level of sound experience out of the raw material.
I was super lucky to get a copy of the japanese half speed for only $80 shipped. The seller didnt know how to grade so no one else bid. The vinyl is completely mint besides one small inaudible factory surface scratch, no spindle wear, even the sleeve smells new. Just is missing the obi unfortunately but i cant complain, i was hoping to just find a US version of the hald speed so was incredibly happy to get the japanese, and was shocked no one else bid. It sounds so amazing its suprising. I didnt expect it to sound that much noticeably better than my 1st uk. But it trounces it. Its the example i give when telling people a digital step vinyl can still sound amazing. The channel in groove did a huge shootout and similarily vastly prefers the japanese half speed. And hes on record usually hating japanese mastering choices. Many people on hoffman forums choose it as well. Im very happy to own it. Best score ive had in a loooong time and i consider it one of my best sounding records. Its funny how alot of the mastersounds sucked, but a few ended up the best the albums ever sounded, with this one being the crown jewel.
Great that you got it for so much less than it's worth.... oh, and it's not digital... It's all analogue, which is even better in my book The Japanese hadn't started using digital remastering at this point, it was, after all, only 1980 and digital wasn't a thing then.
I'll have to check and let you know.... its my sons so not actually in my collection... I think I mention the matrix numbers in the video... I know the 76 reissue my son has is A4/B13 or A5/B13... there may be others, check discogs
So you have a copy of WYWH on vinyl that nobody could really afford that sounds better than any other pressing. You also just helped push the price up. Thanks a lot!
Glad I could help.... and I hardly think my little video will influence the value... it's already on Discogs for around £600 so I'm glad I bought it when I did.
@Robin Large flac.... hmmmmm.... I'll be honest. About 3 years ago I bought a really good pressing of bridge over troubled water by Simon and garfunkel... my sister in law came around on a visit and we got onto the subject of flac files etc, and how good they are. I too have the rip of Bridge over troubled water on my PC, which I have plugged into my hifi system to enable me to play files on my hifi. I played bridge over troubled water from my PC and it sounded as expected... good. Then I played the record.... her jaw dropped as she couldn't believe the difference between them. On the record the piano is loud and dynamic with a wide sound stage... the flac was awful in comparison. I suppose what I'm trying to say, is sometimes you desensitise yourself and take the quality of flac et al for granted. I know I did...... that was until I got back into vinyl. Thanks for your comments, always look forward to them 😊
The CBS Mastersound half-speed master pressing of this album (Columbia HAL 43453) is absolutely sublime! (-:
The 2016 reissue was cut to lacquer by Bernie but the actual remastering was done by Guthrie and Plante, and then Bernie used their hi-Rez digital file they originally made for the 2011 CD.
I’m not surprised to hear your verdict. I’ve never heard the Japanese edition you have but I always thought the WYWH mix/master sounded ‘sanitised’ the way that 80s production became, mainly on the 3 songs, not as much on Shine On. (I’m talking comparatively against Meddle, Dark Side & Animals) It’s fascinating to hear that there’s an alternative master out there that brought out a different level of sound experience out of the raw material.
I was super lucky to get a copy of the japanese half speed for only $80 shipped. The seller didnt know how to grade so no one else bid. The vinyl is completely mint besides one small inaudible factory surface scratch, no spindle wear, even the sleeve smells new. Just is missing the obi unfortunately but i cant complain, i was hoping to just find a US version of the hald speed so was incredibly happy to get the japanese, and was shocked no one else bid.
It sounds so amazing its suprising. I didnt expect it to sound that much noticeably better than my 1st uk. But it trounces it. Its the example i give when telling people a digital step vinyl can still sound amazing. The channel in groove did a huge shootout and similarily vastly prefers the japanese half speed. And hes on record usually hating japanese mastering choices. Many people on hoffman forums choose it as well.
Im very happy to own it. Best score ive had in a loooong time and i consider it one of my best sounding records. Its funny how alot of the mastersounds sucked, but a few ended up the best the albums ever sounded, with this one being the crown jewel.
Great that you got it for so much less than it's worth.... oh, and it's not digital... It's all analogue, which is even better in my book The Japanese hadn't started using digital remastering at this point, it was, after all, only 1980 and digital wasn't a thing then.
Has anybody had a chance of comparing it to Nimbus Supercut WYWH?
Not that I know of... Historically, even according to Mike at The in Groove, this version smokes the OG, but can't comment on the Nimbus
Think mine might be the 76 one you have there, but I haven’t checked the matrix’s on it yet! What was the 76 repress run out matrix??
I'll have to check and let you know.... its my sons so not actually in my collection... I think I mention the matrix numbers in the video... I know the 76 reissue my son has is A4/B13 or A5/B13... there may be others, check discogs
So you have a copy of WYWH on vinyl that nobody could really afford that sounds better than any other pressing. You also just helped push the price up. Thanks a lot!
Glad I could help.... and I hardly think my little video will influence the value... it's already on Discogs for around £600 so I'm glad I bought it when I did.
@Robin Large flac.... hmmmmm.... I'll be honest. About 3 years ago I bought a really good pressing of bridge over troubled water by Simon and garfunkel... my sister in law came around on a visit and we got onto the subject of flac files etc, and how good they are. I too have the rip of Bridge over troubled water on my PC, which I have plugged into my hifi system to enable me to play files on my hifi. I played bridge over troubled water from my PC and it sounded as expected... good. Then I played the record.... her jaw dropped as she couldn't believe the difference between them. On the record the piano is loud and dynamic with a wide sound stage... the flac was awful in comparison. I suppose what I'm trying to say, is sometimes you desensitise yourself and take the quality of flac et al for granted. I know I did...... that was until I got back into vinyl. Thanks for your comments, always look forward to them 😊