Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 11, 2020 18:59:44 GMT
I was given my very first MFSL vinyl yesterday. A copy of Love Over Gold by Dire Straits.
Brand new, with a scuff over the run in groove on one side of LP1
Quite rightly they replaced it but didn't want this one back. Obliviously there is a little scratch as the needle passes over it but its pretty much over before the intro gets started.
Bit of damage to the jacket too, so totally understandable, especially at £65 a pop!
So, is it worth £65 from a SQ perspective?
I have here the remastered version from the 2010's sometime and i also had for a while, an original 10" 45rpm version of Telegraph road from when it was released i presume.
Having listened to it a few times today, it's quite obviously not the same mix. The MFSL has a bit less roughness than the Remaster. Its super smooth and the needle is absolutely silent in the groove.
It doesn't sound as dynamic as the remaster and bass has definitely been pulled up in volume but you know what, it does seem like a much more listenable Album. Like sometime said, lets make this sound like it was really well mastered and engineered. It's worked.
I am really enjoying it but £65 is a hell of a price for an LP.
Looking round, i see a plethora of bad reviews over quality control and a mixed bag of comments over the benefits over the original recording/pressing.
I can definitely hear why people would pay for this type of pressing but i am heavily conflicted on the huge price tag. That and the fact that on Digital, id take the original CD release over the MFSL version of NOTW - Queen. I have loads on file and i find i avoid some and gravitate towards others.
I presume the vinyl is no different. £150 is a lot of money to spend only to discover the original you already have sounds better.
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Post by electronumpty on Mar 11, 2020 19:31:35 GMT
I have 1 of these , Rush, Permanent Waves , only cost £35 a few years back. Sounds great, but I don't compare my vinyl to cd equivalents. I use cds for background music when I'm doing other things and thats fine for me.
I would buy more as i find the quality good but the price has gone up a huge amount in the last 5 years so don't bother. Cant speak to QC issues though.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2020 21:29:07 GMT
The Dire Straits 45 rpm titles I can say are the first reissues that beat original UK pressings. I did find QC spoty on these and had to exchange several, though Diverse told me they had very few returns out of the many sold. Are they worth it? I think that's up to the individual. They are among my favourite albums so for me the price isn't so big an issue. If you are going to spend £65 obviously it is on music you really like and want the best sounding version. Plenty Mo-Fi titles I wouldn't buy even if they are the best sounding. Anyway these are cheap compared with their one step pressings. The biggest upgrade is Communique which knocks the original out of the park soundwise. Making Movies does sound a step down from the other three.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 11, 2020 21:55:01 GMT
The Dire Straits 45 rpm titles I can say are the first reissues that beat original UK pressings. I did find QC spoty on these and had to exchange several, though Diverse told me they had very few returns out of the many sold. Are they worth it? I think that's up to the individual. They are among my favourite albums so for me the price isn't so big an issue. If you are going to spend £65 obviously it is on music you really like and want the best sounding version. Plenty Mo-Fi titles I wouldn't buy even if they are the best sounding. Anyway these are cheap compared with their one step pressings. The biggest upgrade is Communique which knocks the original out of the park soundwise. Making Movies does sound a step down from the other three. Thanks for the insight. I do like Making Movies, so that's disappointing that it spinds a step behind. I may keep my eyes open for a few choice titles as I too have been thoroughly impressed. I'm not into much on the LP after Private investigations usually, but I have been listening to it all day, bar a break to listen to Ben Howard- Every Kingdom in between. |
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Post by alit on Mar 12, 2020 6:20:24 GMT
The One Step pressings are very good indeed, the Hendrix in particular is amazingly good. I have several others that I’ve not yet listened to. I’m lucky in being able to get them for trade prices.
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Post by macca on Mar 12, 2020 8:17:43 GMT
Knopfler was not happy with the recording quality of 'Making Movies', I think that's always going to be the problem, you can't make a silk purse and so on.
Love Over Gold I have on UK first pressing, bought it when it came out. Can't fault it even after 35 years still plays flawlessly and sounds excellent. Also got the Sony SBM CD version, also sounds excellent. Possibly the best analogue recording ever? Or is that 'Gaucho'?
Would not dream of paying £65, that's just ridiculous, especially when there's no shortage of decent copies on the s/h market.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2020 8:24:49 GMT
If you like Jazz try some of the Tone Poet Blue Note releases, real quality there and cheaper than MoFi :-)
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 12, 2020 9:55:38 GMT
If you like Jazz try some of the Tone Poet Blue Note releases, real quality there and cheaper than MoFi :-) I'll have a look...not huge on Jazz though |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2020 11:55:12 GMT
Quite, sort of takes the edge off if you don't like the music  |
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Post by sq225917 on Mar 12, 2020 14:11:03 GMT
Some are ok, better pressings always exist though
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2020 19:45:23 GMT
Knopfler was not happy with the recording quality of 'Making Movies', I think that's always going to be the problem, you can't make a silk purse and so on. Love Over Gold I have on UK first pressing, bought it when it came out. Can't fault it even after 35 years still plays flawlessly and sounds excellent. Also got the Sony SBM CD version, also sounds excellent. Possibly the best analogue recording ever? Or is that 'Gaucho'? Would not dream of paying £65, that's just ridiculous, especially when there's no shortage of decent copies on the s/h market. If you have a flawless original pressing of LOG you lucked out. I remember taking several back on release and eventually bought it on CD when I got a player. Since then I purchased a couple of close to flaw free vinyl copies but I also buy every analogue reissue that comes out. The only one I ever got rid off was the Simply Vinyl. For me the flawless sound and genuine audio upgrade of the MFSL 45 rpm is worth it (even if the price is excessive). It's one of those albums that sound great on any format and probably my most played title. |
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Post by macca on Mar 14, 2020 20:35:15 GMT
You're right I am just too tight-fisted.
It is a great album.
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Post by sq225917 on Mar 14, 2020 21:23:46 GMT
Private investigations is my go to test track for setting up phonostages and carts.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 14, 2020 21:33:29 GMT
Private investigations is my go to test track for setting up phonostages and carts. Yep. it's good for that. Good track though in general |
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Post by rexton on Mar 15, 2020 8:03:11 GMT
I bought the latest YES MoFi release, expensive, but probably a lot cheaper than a R2R copy. Absolutely silent and more palpable. Only the owner can judge if its worth it.
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Post by rexton on Mar 15, 2020 8:03:53 GMT
I bought the latest YES MoFi release, expensive, but probably a lot cheaper than a R2R copy. Absolutely silent and more palpable. Only the owner can judge if its worth it.
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Post by rexton on Mar 15, 2020 8:04:57 GMT
Miles Davis Nefertiti and Kind of Blue sound excellent as well. The Tone Poet pressings are all AAA and half price of a MoFi release.
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