Many of the LP reissues from "Audio Fidelity" have been given high praise. But there's rarely, if ever, is there any mention of whether the LP's are analog or digitally sourced. They don't mention it at all on their own web site. Does anyone know?
Yeah, that's my feeling as well. What's funny is Fremer has reviewed at least two of their LP's and he's usually pretty good at mentioning whether an analog or digital source was used and then he doesn't say it only infers it. For example, he reviewed the AF reissues of "TRON" and Kate Bush's "The Sensual Word". He mentions that both were originally recorded on tape but then doesn't say anything more other than whether it was mastered by Steve Hoffman and/or Kevin Gray. Maybe I'm missing something, but why not spell it out plainly rather than just infer it?
I asked Audio Fidelity and their response was they don't go into mentioning sources since it's the mastering that makes the biggest difference.
Hmmm. That might be true to an extent but not when you're paying $30+ for an LP. If the original is on tape and it's being re-mastered to digital then onto an LP I think I have a right to know what I'm buying. Thank God it's not a $2 bag of fries cooked in questionable oil!
Q?
Would the mention of digital intervention factor in your LP buying decision?
Q?
Would the mention of digital intervention factor in your LP buying decision?
Oh Yes! It would. The issue is definitely very deeply emotional. The sound is secondary in this particular instance. I have seen here on WBF people backtracking from their own glorious reports on how great an LP was once it is simply suggested, let alone proved that the masters or source could have been digital. Suddenly what they heard as being great on retrospect and with the new Knowledge is no longer great sounding ... this Mantra of :"Let your ears be the judge", suddenly sounds (pun intended) weak.
I agree. I have a few digitally mastered LP's that sound wonderful. Though, I will admit when coming across them in a "used" record bin I don't seek them out unless it's really a title I'm after. I can't say it would keep me from buying a new title BUT it would certainly depend upon the label issuing it. What gripes me is I specifically asked what the source was for an up coming release and he would not tell me. He's afraid, to that's all there is to it. If he's so confident in their mastering process and their final product then he should have nothing to worry about and the LP should sell itself. But to deny access to the information because you don't want to make it public knowledge is really just plain arrogant not to mention what it really says about how you view your customers..... "like cattle" comes to mind. The more I think about it the more PO'd I get.
if you sit down and speak to Chad from Acoustic Sounds/Analog Productions/QRP pressings he is very passionate about the provenance of recordings and giving his customers what they want and being honest about it. he gets frustrated about his competitors who play fast and loose with the sources of recordings.....or simply avoid the subject of source and leave customers guessing.
inconsistent information castes a dark cloud over all reissues and even all analog and dsd recordings.
Q?
Would the mention of digital intervention factor in your LP buying decision?
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