off the top of my head cannot say about the sonic differences, but i'll try to do a quick compare and let you know when i can do it.
listening is never work.
I have it. A sonic favourite and a demonstration disc. The recording engineers nailed it to four track and the mixing and cutting by Rainier and Sidney is excellent. It is AAA or maybe just AA. it's downmixed without a 2 ch tape step.
Most of these were 4 channel quadrophonic recordings that are now mixed to two channel stereo. All are AAA with the exception of some of the Bruckner in the box set, as noted on the web site.
I'll look forward to ordering this one as well, as soon as it becomes available via preorder at on of our US Online Stores
Just got this one delivered, looking forward to playing it this weekend!
That's disappointing.
I recently bought a double-length 7.5 ips, 4-track, Dolby B encoded tape of the Pollini Chopin Preludes and Polonaises, manufactured by Stereotape in the early 1970s. The grand price was $10 on Ebay, and the tape and box look new. I bought the LPs when they were released (I used to buy any Pollini LPs when they were released), and didn't think much of the sound. Typical DGG sound of the era, which was tipped up and thin. I was pleasantly surprised by this tape, which sounds warmer, with more body and better microdynamics. And of course, there are no pops and clicks or wow, but there is some crosstalk on silent sections. I also bought a tape of the Chopin Etudes, manufactured by Ampex, but there is obvious pumping on the quieter passages due to poor Dolby mastering. The louder pieces sound great. I am interested to see what they can do with these recordings now.
I cleaned the records with KL ultrasonic cleaner before first listen. The second side of Symphony 7 had noise in 2 spots. The noise was a brief crackling on two revolutions. I cleaned them again and most of the crackling is now gone. It is so brief, I will keep this set. All pressings are very quiet for groove or background noise. The sound is very similar to the TOS pressings - lots of hall ambiance, natural sound of instruments. And fantastic performance! I always liked Symphony 9; these recordings have given me a better appreciation of 7 & 8.
