Just read this opinion written by Patrick Cleasby on Stereo.net.au https://www.stereo.net.au/opinion/opinion-the-lost-art-of-physical-media
Patrick talked about possible causes such as : " ... the use of sub-par masters, incorrect handling of Dolby A noise reduction, flaky attempts to breach the 74-minute barrier, decaying disc surfaces ... ".
I fully agree with him. In fact except for newly released albums, I always buy vintage CDs which are first presses/full-silver versions as far as possible.
Buying downloadable music files is more tricky. It's difficult to know what generation of master it is and whether it has been added watermarks or the dynamic range adjusted.
LP is even more serious. Most of my LP audiophile friends in Hong Kong avoid reissues and instead treasure vintage early presses, despite of their not uncommonly astronomical prices.
I recently listened to the popular Friday Night in San Francisco LPs in friends' homes.
This is a recent audiophile 45" reissue selling for nearly USD100 in HK.
IMHO it seems to be another album!
It's because the three guitar masters have become so timid and slow and the sound become as mellow as honey.
Where have the fire and the fierce & spontaneous interplay gone?
In comparison this vintage half-speed LP is many many leagues superior!
Patrick talked about possible causes such as : " ... the use of sub-par masters, incorrect handling of Dolby A noise reduction, flaky attempts to breach the 74-minute barrier, decaying disc surfaces ... ".
I fully agree with him. In fact except for newly released albums, I always buy vintage CDs which are first presses/full-silver versions as far as possible.
Buying downloadable music files is more tricky. It's difficult to know what generation of master it is and whether it has been added watermarks or the dynamic range adjusted.
LP is even more serious. Most of my LP audiophile friends in Hong Kong avoid reissues and instead treasure vintage early presses, despite of their not uncommonly astronomical prices.
I recently listened to the popular Friday Night in San Francisco LPs in friends' homes.
This is a recent audiophile 45" reissue selling for nearly USD100 in HK.
IMHO it seems to be another album!
It's because the three guitar masters have become so timid and slow and the sound become as mellow as honey.
Where have the fire and the fierce & spontaneous interplay gone?
In comparison this vintage half-speed LP is many many leagues superior!