Originally Posted by
cuddles
I think the hype about 180gm vinyl is a red herring. As has been stated, it might be good for warp resistance but other than that it is just a way to use up more raw material and to jack prices up.
I've got so many fantastic sounding, wafer thin pressings from the oil crisis '70's that put modern day records to shame. RCA Dynaflex for instance - first press Ziggy Stardust is dead silent and dynamic. I think that probably a lot of experience in record production has gone by the wayside.
I feel sorry for younger people who are starting getting into buying records. A case in point - a while back I heard a Spoon issue of Ege Bamyasi by Can. I couldn't believe my ears. It sounded like a poor transfer from a cassette. It was utter shite! No comparison to an original UA pressing but people are being fobbed off with sub standard product.
I'm always amazed at how good old second hand records can sound. I'm wary of reissues and always try to get the original. Gets a bit expensive though sometimes
These are my impressions too. My only reservation is that 180 gram vinyl may sound problematic on my turntable because I'm using Rega RB300 tonearm, and have no way to adjust VTA. While thin LPs sound mostly fantastic on my TT, these 180 gram LPs sound dull. Could VTA be the culprit?
Other than that, I'm with you. Those old original pressings from the 60s, 70s and the 80s are mostly stunning. I was listening to Joni Mitchell's original pressing of "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" and was blown away by the rip-your-head-off dynamics (especially the ending part of "Paprika Plains"). I've never heard anything coming even close to such dynamics on any digital format.
Luckily, I got this LP at the record fair last weekend for one buck! Washed it and vacuumed it and it sounds squeaky clean now. Bwahahahaha!
Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?
Alex.