Macca's Lash Up 2: Lash Harder

[Macca]

Just had a listen to Simply Red 'Stars', The Cult 'Love' and Steely Dan 'Aja'. All a step up in all regards. On the title track from 'Love' at the end where the drums finish after everything else I could hear the reverb off the walls. It was there before but only if you listened, now it is just there. Better control on the bass as well, on all three. Lot of intricate bass work on some tracks of 'Stars' which was more apparent than before.

The Cult album really sounded excellent in terms of hearing the recording. Aja can sound lush but too bland if something is sitting on the sound. This was a big improvement but listening to this album indicated to me that there is still room for more.

Leading me to the downside, that tiny bit of softness in the mid/top I still there, not sure what the cause could be now. Might look at the source I think. One thing you can always be certain of in this game is that there is always another veil to be lifted.

[Marco]

Okay so having a listen now to The Doors 'LA Woman' re-mastered cd. This is one I've had for years, a good test since this album on any format can sound rough if there are issues with the system. I've had it sounding quite unpleasant in the past an also heard it sound hard, harsh and aggressive on spendy vinyl set ups too.

Hmm... I must play you the 45rpm audiophile remaster I have on vinyl sometime. I can assure you that none of what you have described above applies - and it trounces any version I've heard on CD, too!

In fact, come to think of it, LA Woman would be a good album to rip onto CD and send you, in order for you to carry out some comparisons, as you did with the Nat King Cole.

Anyway, I'm pleased that your speaker cable changes have resulted in what seems like a notable and genuine all-round sonic improvement. Your comment about lifting veils is spot on

As audio enthusiasts [I hate the term 'audiophiles'] we're constantly battling against eliminating various types of noise and distortion from the music signal, and when successfully done, the improvements are usually easily heard.

Enjoy!

Marco.

[Macca]

Hmm... I must play you the 45rpm audiophile remaster I have on vinyl sometime. I can assure you that none of what you have described above applies - and it trounces any version I've heard on CD, too!

In fact, come to think of it, LA Woman would be a good album to rip onto CD and send you, in order for you to carry out some comparisons, as you did with the Nat King Cole.

Anyway, I'm pleased that your speaker cable changes have resulted in what seems like a notable and genuine all-round sonic improvement. Your comment about lifting veils is spot on

As audio enthusiasts [I hate the term 'audiophiles'] we're constantly battling against eliminating various types of noise and distortion from the music signal, and when successfully done, the improvements are usually easily heard.

Enjoy!

Marco.

My point with LA Woman being if the set up is not good it will sound bad, it is not a forgiving recording like some super-smooth showcase job. I'd expect your set up to play any version competently. I wasn't making a point about vinyl vs cd.

Interestingly since this is a 1990s remaster onto a digital medium what I am actually listening to is the reel to reel they used to play the mix into the digital recorder. Which begs the question, is that RTR part of the recording chain, or the playback chain?

The original vinyl master must also have been cut from a tape played on a reel to reel, but 20 odd years earlier, so would more than likely have been a 1960s vintage RTR. So the original vinyl issue and the CD re-master are going to sound different just because of that.

[Marco]

No worries. It was your comment about LA Woman and that you'd heard it sound, I quote: "hard, harsh and aggressive on spendy vinyl set ups", which prompted my response. Quite simply, if the "spendy" T/T in question had been set-up properly, then the sound of that album should NOT have been hard, harsh or aggressive...

It always amazes me the folk who spend multiple thousands of pounds on a T/T, and don't possess the ability to optimise it (or in some cases even set it up competently), thinking the fact that it's expensive is what will automatically make it sound good! These folk would be far better off saving their money until they learn how to set-up a turntable properly first!

Anyway, this is the deluxe Doors box set I have, which contains the best sounding version of LA Woman I've ever heard - it is truly stunning: http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/re...vinyl-box-set/

Quote from the above review:

We’d be foolish to claim every track on every album sounds better than anything previously released (the DCC issues are held in high regard), but it’s hard to imagine anyone being disappointed with the audio delivered by these new Analogue Productions pressings, and most will likely consider these to be absolutely exceptional, and probably the last word in stereo Doors vinyl.

Indeed - certainly can't argue with that. It's these types of recordings that any serious music lover and audio enthusiast (with a top-notch T/T) should own, as they show off both the true capabilities of the turntables themselves, and that of the vinyl format.

Regardless of any differences in mastering or equipment used during the recording process, the above, sonically, knocks any CD version of the album I've heard into a cocked hat, and for me ably demonstrates that when you chuck enough time, money and expertise at it, the finest music recordings known to man are archived on the best examples of audiophile-grade vinyl or R2R tape, produced entirely in the analogue domain.

Here's my original review of the above box set: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...x-set-a-review

Marco.

[Marco]

Great video here showing how the box set was mastered and produced... Check out the valve mixing desk and vintage Tannoys:



Quality!

Marco.

[Macca]

. Quite simply, if the "spendy" T/T in question had been set-up properly, then the sound of that album should NOT have been hard, harsh or aggressive...

.

Yes, absolutely, my point being a more forgiving recording on the same TT would probably sound fine.

It's a hard one to get right, regardless of medium, is my point. So if it is sounding good then that is indicative of a good set up. Some recordings will flatter a poor set up, so can't be used as a test.

[Marco]

Yes, absolutely, my point being a more forgiving recording on the same TT would probably sound fine.

Sure, and I agree.

It's a hard one to get right, regardless of medium, is my point. So if it is sounding good then that is indicative of a good set up. Some recordings will flatter a poor set up, so can't be used as a test.

I've never found it 'hard to get right', I guess because I've always ensured that the gear I use has been well-matched and properly set up. Those are the benefits gained from fastidiously attending to the mains, supports, cables, etc, so that your system has the best possible 'infrastructure' in which to release its full potential. It also reduces the likelihood for box swapping, as more often than not you'll be satisfied with your system.

You'll find that most folks with properly sorted systems have paid significant attention to optimising the areas above.

For me, correct set-up is the most basic part of owning a hi-fi system. If you can't throw ANY kind recording at a system, and the sound reproduced is good (although not necessarily perfect), then it's broken and not fit for purpose.

I do agree, however, that some recordings can flatter a poor system, which is why you get folks who own an expensive hi-fi system and about a dozen immaculately produced CDs or records, which make it sound good!

Marco.

[Macca]

A friend just dropped these off for me to have a play with:

[struth]

Guitar head amp?

[Macca]

Valve - With matching speaker cab. Quite a lot of iron in the headamp. Apparantly it is quite powerful.