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Analogue Productions Jazz, Blues and Classical 33RPM vs 45RPM advice needed!!!

Hi, I know there’s been much discussion on whether the sonic improvement of 45RPM pressings warrant their added inconvenience over their 33RPM counterparts. I understand that this boils down to personal preference. With that said, I need some BUYING ADVICE! I’m about to invest several thousand dollars in purchasing most of the iconic jazz and classical Analogue Productions QRP and Music Matter reissues while they are still available. Sonics being equal or very close to equal, I’d purchase the 33RPM version for their added convenience. However, I understand that this is rarely the case, and for those albums where the 45RPM pressings are noticeably sonically better, I plan to purchase the 45RPM pressings. With that said, for those listeners on the forum who own both 33RPM and 45RPM versions of the same AP album (or if not “own” have gleaned from others), are there specific AP reissues where the sonic improvement of the 45RPM version is so subtle that you often find yourself only playing the 33RPM version? Any input from forum members would be greatly appreciated before I place my order!

Thanks so much,
Battles
brbattles

Showing 1 response by whart

whart's avatar
whart
3,163 posts
 
The Analogue Productions (Chad) versions of Sonny Rollins "Way Out West" are markedly different in presentation: the 33 has the typical hard panning left and right that was characteristic of early stereo. The 45 cut actually has a center image. Steve Hoffman, who worked on those, commented somewhere that with the 45, you are hearing sound reflecting off the back wall of the room that contributes to the center image.
I don’t listen to many of these records much today. I do have a few of the Music Matters, but haven’t compared them.
I can generally hear differences in the 33 v 45 presentations of many records, including the out of print Classics. I’m still not sure those are better than original pressings, but finding an original in mint playing condition is virtually impossible in some cases, leaving aside price. Even some of the out of print audiophile stuff is now expensive.
I wouldn’t necessarily buy something simply because it is cut at 45, rather than 33.
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