My system is too accurate
- Thread starter taters
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I didn't check the catalog number, but if that is the Rhino version that came out after the RSD release, it is supposed to have been remastered (or mastered) by Chris Bellman, who usually does a very good job (his version of Neil Young's Harvest compares favorably to the original first pressing, and I think he did a great job on the EU pressing of Alice Cooper's 'Killer.') Though I am a big fan of The Band, and went to see The Last Waltz at the theatre when it was released, I never bought the album as far as I know. From what I've read, it was never a sonic masterpiece; according to mixed reviews on the Hoffman website, the older Rhino 'handmade' version was not very good, and a number of folks thought the 2013 RSD release was an improvement, both over the original and the 'handmade.' I'm wondering if that record, simply because of the original master, may not be the best 'test' subject.
My confusion only stemmed from "superior compressional tendencies". I would have thought that compression is never superior. Maybe I'm not reading your entire post correctly.
I hadn't really focused on your thoughts about Aqualung and LZ pressings. None of the Aqualungs are great, and i have almost all of the 'great ones.' Re LZ, I have the Classic 33s of 1 and III. My experience, so far, is that the best is the Monarch pressing from 69 (which I just purchased, we'll see if my sonic memory holds up to the reality) and the 74 Piros remaster pressed at Monarch. On LZII, I never heard the Classic- I have a couple of the 'grail' 'RL'/SS/narrow side 2 deadwax copies (one somewhat noisy, and one, which I recently got is probably as good as it is going to get- the thing punches hard). I've asked Christian to compare his 'RL' to the 45 Classic, since the latter is really hard to find short of buying the roadcase, which i don't really want (especially at today's prices). My LZ III 'go to' is the Classic 33 which is pretty open sounding, considering that none of the LZ records are audiophile quality. (I think my LZ IV is a Porky/Pecko, my HOTH is the 'RL' and my Physical Graffiti is a really early UK first press). I did manage to get a 45 test pressing of Stairway to Heaven which is pretty excellent if you are in a Wayne's World kinda mood. 
No, but I don't think that decent turntables have "compressional tendencies" let alone "superior compressional tendencies."
Yes, I believe that's the correct LP pressing.
Recently purchased Audio Fidelity (mastered by SH) HDCD versions of Killer and LITD, although I've been looking for audiophile LP versions. Thanks for that info.
I only have this one LP version so I can't compare. My friend has the original, but I've not heard it in my system. Supposedly (I'm not entirely certain) this particular version was based on analog tape, although I'm not certain if it was the original master; some prior reissues were supposedly based on a digital transfer.
Indeed, it may not be the best benchmark, but it's the only one I have at present.
tb1
Well, I'm not surprised.
Obviously we live in very different audiophile worlds ... because this is one characteristic - to my ears - which truly represents a turntables overall performance. Look, I don't know what you define as a "decent" turntable, only to say that I can safely claim that in my experience, 'decent' turntables don't all sound alike in terms of compressional tendencies. The best remain fully composed and resolute during difficult passages while others show OBVIOUS signs of flattening much like compression sounds. And no, this isn't necessarily related to tracking.
tb1
K, I get your confusion. What I meant by superior in this case ... is that some turntables demonstrate "superior" compressional tendencies ... superior meaning they demonstrate less compression during higher gain. Perhaps I should have worded it more appropriately.
tb1
I hadn't really focused on your thoughts about Aqualung and LZ pressings. None of the Aqualungs are great, and i have almost all of the 'great ones.' Re LZ, I have the Classic 33s of 1 and III. My experience, so far, is that the best is the Monarch pressing from 69 (which I just purchased, we'll see if my sonic memory holds up to the reality) and the 74 Piros remaster pressed at Monarch. On LZII, I never heard the Classic- I have a couple of the 'grail' 'RL'/SS/narrow side 2 deadwax copies (one somewhat noisy, and one, which I recently got is probably as good as it is going to get- the thing punches hard). I've asked Christian to compare his 'RL' to the 45 Classic, since the latter is really hard to find short of buying the roadcase, which i don't really want (especially at today's prices). My LZ III 'go to' is the Classic 33 which is pretty open sounding, considering that none of the LZ records are audiophile quality. (I think my LZ IV is a Porky/Pecko, my HOTH is the 'RL' and my Physical Graffiti is a really early UK first press). I did manage to get a 45 test pressing of Stairway to Heaven which is pretty excellent if you are in a Wayne's World kinda mood.
Very interesting post ... I also have that STH 45 although I've never played it, because, I guess, I now consider STH much like Purple's SOTW ... I've heard it once too often.
I'd really like to hear the difference that your originals offer ... this is the very reason why I indulge, appreciate and champion LP-CDR sharing ... the ability to hear different pressings via other audiophile systems can indeed be very educational. I've posted some of my LZ 'rips' online for audiophiles to share, but that was before Mediafire frowned on such activity. We are now using snail mail again ...
tb1
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