How to know a half speed mastered record is what it says

[paulf-2007]

Couldn't find a specific place to post this so here we are. I have several half speed mastered albums that were part of a collection belonging to a reviewer in Canada, so original pressings at the time the records were released. I take these to be genuine. When searching eBay for half speed mastered records I find pre owned that were pressed back in the day and loads of brand new by Queen, Rolling Stones, Brian eno etc, now other than the label and sleeve claiming them to be half speed mastered how can they be found to be genuine. I mean anyone wanting to hike the prices of new pressed vinyl beyond the going rate could print labels and sleeves with anything they want. They still play at 33rpm as do the real thing. Any thoughts?

[struth]

No way I know of really barring listening to its high freq response which should be really good.
Most are taken from high quality digital recordings off the master tape as they don't like using the tapes now as they are getting worn out.

[Made in 1968]

Abbey road have been releasing Half speed masters. See the shop

[paulf-2007]

Read Matrix/Runout and check on Discogs
I'm not concerned with older half speed mastered but these brand new ones on eBay. Can't check the run out unless you buy it first but then I have some with what look like scratched on codes that anyone could do.

[paulf-2007]

Abbey road have been releasing Half speed masters. See the shop
Most of those titles are on eBay so I take it they are genuine.

[struth]

All matrix codes are scratched on.
If discogs says there is a half speed then you will be mostly there as it will be on the cover

[Made in 1968]

Just buy from an official outlet like Abbey road themselves

[paulf-2007]

Just buy from an official outlet like Abbey road themselves
I would if they had anything I liked.

[dave2010]

Couldn't find a specific place to post this so here we are. I have several half speed mastered albums that were part of a collection belonging to a reviewer in Canada, so original pressings at the time the records were released. I take these to be genuine.

Any thoughts?Do your discs sound any good? It would surely be very hard for anyone not on the inside, or with forensic knowledge and test equipment to be able to verify or counter the claims, particularly if the recordings sound acceptable enough. The master disc might show signatures due to the material relaxing in a different way from a full speed master, but then a stamper would be produced in order to make the discs, and if there wasn't a huge run of discs, the finally produced records would probably not show any signs of how the master had been produced. If the run was large, then it would be even harder to tell, as each sub master would introduce more errors I think.

I think looking at the HF response and distortion in the HF might be the best bet, but at the end of the day, as with many things, you probably won't have any definitive answers. If the records sound very poor, then I would tend to assume the claims are invalid. Otherwise, if they sound spectacularly good, the claims are perhaps true.

It would be interesting to know what you think of the discs, and what you yourself decide about their production.

[WESTLOWER]

Premium pressings normally cost vastly more than non premium, obv.
To be sure, buy from reputable dealers/shops.
Stick to known producers of such products, MFSL, Analogue Productions, Classic Records, Music Matters and, as been said, the likes of Abbey Road store.

If you can't find a proper review of a premium pressing (or half speed) then it probably isn't as most of the premium cuts create a buzz when issued..

other than that.... you pays your money and takes your chances I suppose!

[paulf-2007]

Do your discs sound any good? It would surely be very hard for anyone not on the inside, or with forensic knowledge and test equipment to be able to verify or counter the claims, particularly if the recordings sound acceptable enough. The master disc might show signatures due to the material relaxing in a different way from a full speed master, but then a stamper would be produced in order to make the discs, and if there wasn't a huge run of discs, the finally produced records would probably not show any signs of how the master had been produced. If the run was large, then it would be even harder to tell, as each sub master would introduce more errors I think.

I think looking at the HF response and distortion in the HF might be the best bet, but at the end of the day, as with many things, you probably won't have any definitive answers. If the records sound very poor, then I would tend to assume the claims are invalid. Otherwise, if they sound spectacularly good, the claims are perhaps true.

It would be interesting to know what you think of the discs, and what you yourself decide about their production.all the half speed mastered albums I own were bought used, some from a Canadian reviewers collection and sound outstanding. As for the new ones being offered I haven't bought any to know how good they are and why I was asking the original question. As some are from abbey road studios I would expect them to be genuine, but how good they sound I wouldn't know and as all the Beatles albums Ive heard don't sound all that I probably will stick to older mint copies.

[Haselsh1]

The only ones I have owned in the past have had exceptional high frequency quality but I guess that ultimately there is no true guarantee. Although mine were Mobile Fidelity I am talking about the early eighties.