I thought I might add that I bought an Audio technica LP30TK table just to see what $210 could buy in 2023, bought right before Christmas. I have a number of friends who don't want to spend crazy money to get into vinyl. It just like their LP30W that has the walnut plinth. It comes with a AT-95VM-C cartridge with the conical stylus which can be easily upgraded. I use it with a Schiit Mani phono stage, a Schiit Magni headphone amp, with my AKG K612 headphones. Muddy still sounds great as I upgraded the stylus to an "E". The table runs just slightly slow and is not nearly as quiet as my old Dual 502 with the REGA RB 250 arm, and certainly no where near my new Technics SL-100C. It is only an 8.5 inch arm so the geometry is not perfect. For only $200 it is a good buy and will not damage your LPs. It sounds very good for nearly no money. It was an easy recommendation for my penny pinching friends to get them started.
I'm glad you shared this and it's nice to hear from you here because it brought me back to why I've never really needed to spend thousands of dollars. My AT-120 sounds every bit as great as my custom Thorens TD165. Below is a link I think you may appreciate and this video inspired me to remove the phono stage from my AT120. Once it was removes, the music could finally breath openly and free. If you skip to 20 minutes into the video below, you can see the measurements before and after the internal phono stage is removed, then he does a sound demo before and after and the results are stunningly obvious even when you close your eyes and hear it. www.google.com/search?q=audio+technica+phono+stage+removal&oq=audio+technica+phono+stage+removal&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCTE0NjQ5ajFqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5221ec6d,vid:4NT67ii04uQ,st:0
I have a number of DOL Pressings. I bought them without knowing anything about them. First (Blue Train) on Amazon a couple of yrs ago, then others on ebay. Recently, I started reading all the hubub and Dol and others too like Waxtime, NotNow ect. and how they are inferior. So I bought Blue Note's Somethin Else BN1595 audiophile vinyl reissue and compared it to my Dol pressing. You can barely tell the difference maybe the Blue Note was a little brighter. But I don't think I could tell on a blind test.
B sounds more natural, clear, dynamic, and balanced. A sounds muddy and veiled with too much emphasis in the bass and mids with treble rolled off. Switching back between both demos, Muddy's vocals sounds like he's singing in a box on A vs singing in front of you on demo B. B is more crisp, airy, balanced with natural acoustic bass; A is more compressed, stuffed up, and drowned by the unnaturally boomy bass. Even listening to the instruments, you get more separation and more clarity in the transients and decay. I'm using Woo WA8 and Audeze LCD-X (2021).
To my ear, listening via Apple ear buds, Demo A was the better of the two. It sounded richer, a little more meaty, and had none of the harshness that some of the louder vocals had in Demo B. Overall Demo B sounded slightly tinny in comparison.
Sean, your chair video is fantastic. Sometime We should do a review of your beautiful Maggies at your place for my channel. Curious to learn more about your crossover.
I like the qrp because it sounded clearer,and if it has more bass it sacrificed the high clarity, and its authentic and is from SME records. What does each demo a and b represent? Its confusing! And i f*****g hate grey market vinyls!
I thought I might add that I bought an Audio technica LP30TK table just to see what $210 could buy in 2023, bought right before Christmas. I have a number of friends who don't want to spend crazy money to get into vinyl. It just like their LP30W that has the walnut plinth. It comes with a AT-95VM-C cartridge with the conical stylus which can be easily upgraded. I use it with a Schiit Mani phono stage, a Schiit Magni headphone amp, with my AKG K612 headphones. Muddy still sounds great as I upgraded the stylus to an "E". The table runs just slightly slow and is not nearly as quiet as my old Dual 502 with the REGA RB 250 arm, and certainly no where near my new Technics SL-100C. It is only an 8.5 inch arm so the geometry is not perfect. For only $200 it is a good buy and will not damage your LPs. It sounds very good for nearly no money. It was an easy recommendation for my penny pinching friends to get them started.
I'm glad you shared this and it's nice to hear from you here because it brought me back to why I've never really needed to spend thousands of dollars. My AT-120 sounds every bit as great as my custom Thorens TD165. Below is a link I think you may appreciate and this video inspired me to remove the phono stage from my AT120. Once it was removes, the music could finally breath openly and free. If you skip to 20 minutes into the video below, you can see the measurements before and after the internal phono stage is removed, then he does a sound demo before and after and the results are stunningly obvious even when you close your eyes and hear it.
www.google.com/search?q=audio+technica+phono+stage+removal&oq=audio+technica+phono+stage+removal&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCTE0NjQ5ajFqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5221ec6d,vid:4NT67ii04uQ,st:0
I have a number of DOL Pressings. I bought them without knowing anything about them. First (Blue Train) on Amazon a couple of yrs ago, then others on ebay. Recently, I started reading all the hubub and Dol and others too like Waxtime, NotNow ect. and how they are inferior. So I bought Blue Note's Somethin Else BN1595 audiophile vinyl reissue and compared it to my Dol pressing. You can barely tell the difference maybe the Blue Note was a little brighter. But I don't think I could tell on a blind test.
Hello
In my opinion, version A is definitely better than B - it has a more open and natural sound
B sounds more natural, clear, dynamic, and balanced. A sounds muddy and veiled with too much emphasis in the bass and mids with treble rolled off. Switching back between both demos, Muddy's vocals sounds like he's singing in a box on A vs singing in front of you on demo B. B is more crisp, airy, balanced with natural acoustic bass; A is more compressed, stuffed up, and drowned by the unnaturally boomy bass. Even listening to the instruments, you get more separation and more clarity in the transients and decay. I'm using Woo WA8 and Audeze LCD-X (2021).
Slightly less Bass in B but I will keep listening. More mids & bass with A. Both are clear. Using my AKG K612s through 4th Gen Focusrite.
I should have added that I'll bet the extra tracks in DOL is the B version as with more tracks you need more space and that means less bass.
To my ear, listening via Apple ear buds, Demo A was the better of the two. It sounded richer, a little more meaty, and had none of the harshness that some of the louder vocals had in Demo B. Overall Demo B sounded slightly tinny in comparison.
I have 2 copies of analogue productions. I should have given you one copy. I bought them twice by mistake.
Sean, your chair video is fantastic. Sometime We should do a review of your beautiful Maggies at your place for my channel. Curious to learn more about your crossover.
B sounds more natural to me. A has boomy bass and a little bright.
I like the qrp because it sounded clearer,and if it has more bass it sacrificed the high clarity, and its authentic and is from SME records.
What does each demo a and b represent? Its confusing! And i f*****g hate grey market vinyls!
@@notmanatee2445 somebody’s gotta hate something. There’s another video after this that gives the results of the test comparison.
On the phone… I prefer A but I think B is the Analogue Productions Quality Record Pressings
A is superior in all parameters. B has a false sound
A on phone speaker. What’s the answer key?
Demo A - 2:18
Demo B - 3:47
A. Sound better.
B all the way. Way more open. A is 2d
You and another are the only ones so far who like B. Everyone else, by far myself included picked A. B sounds shrill, flat and lifeless with no bass.
I'm still sticking with b though 😂.
A
A. Sound better.