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Classic records reissue - very disappointing

I have finally decided that Classic records reissue vinyl has a lot to be desired. The last copies I bought were horrible. The vinyl is not very well pressed and the sound is strident and irritating.

I put the Chesky version of the Reiner Sound and then the Classic reissue. There is no contest. It sounds like the Chesky was mastered with tubes and the Classic with solid state electronics. The Chesky is also pressed much better than the Classic. The mids sound very "not natural" on the Classic, almost overemphasized and pinched in the mids. The Chesky sounds natural with lots of air. The Chesky just sounds more right to me. I have found this to be the case with many of the Classic reissues and I am just using this one as an example.

Does anybody press vinyl the way they used to?

I am finding myself gravatating to CD more these days.

The only vinyl that sounds the way I like it is the older records. The problem with this is that the condition of many of these are not very good.

If the investment is being made to reissue music on vinyl, can't they do it with so it sounds like the old vinyl?

I am not sold on the thick vinyl either. I have heard lighter weight vinyl that knocks the socks off of the 200 grams.

Maybe I am not cleaning my new vinyl properly. Is there a coating of some kind on the new vinyl? If so, how do I get it off?

The real kicker is the price we pay for these audiophile reissues. It is ridiculous. I keep hoping for that old magic and I am constantly disappointed.

I also have a reiisued Art Pepper on Analogue and the original on Contemporary. Again , no contest, the Contemporary blows it away in every way.
tzh21y

Showing 7 responses by tzh21y

tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
I really hope they can start to make records sound like they used to. No digital processing. If I wanted that I would buy the CD.

I was going to invest in a new table, Why bother? For what, this garbage? I can try to convince myself as much as I want that this new stuff is going to get better. I am starting to give up hope. I will continue to buy the older stuff. Once in a while, I get a good one.

The Lyrita's have a nice sound and you can still get them. I just wish they offered more than just English artists. They did a good job and their vinyl is consistently good quality.

I just cannot figure out how some of those Classic reissues made it to TAS list. They are not what I expected for the price tag. They sound very digital in many respects. They never answer their emails either. I just cannot figure out that they had or have access to those historical moments, completely blow it and then are rewarded by TAS. Maybe my ears are deceiving me but I don't think so.

So far the only Classic that sounds decent is the Carmen, Faust RCA Living Stereo Reissue. I bought it because I cannot get the original, just like the others I bought for the same reason.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
I agree with Syntax. The earlier ones were definitely better than these newer 200 grams, but not as good as the Chesky.

I also heard Scheherazade on Chesky and Classic and again, it is no contest. The Chesky blows it away. It was so obvious that my friend and I looked at each other and started laughing. My friend has top analog gear and he also noticed the overemphasized mids and highs on the Classic version. The older living stereo's sound very different from the Classic Reissues.

The Pines of Rome in the original release is amazing. I am not sure it is worth its price tag, but it blows away the Classic. It is just more natural sounding, more real sounding.

Classic says they use tubes on some of there reissues but it does not sound like they were used on all of them.

More than anything that I am annoyed with is the quality of the vinyl. It is just horrible and I did get a couple with fingerprints on them. I do agree with Elizabeth on that. Quality control is lacking as is customer service. They do not return emails.

Why is there so much gain on the Classic reissues? The 200 gram reissues in particular. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed it.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
I also love the work that Kenneth Wilkinson did. He was amazing and quite arguably the best at what he did. I wish someone would release the Readers Digest Handels Messiah he engineered. That is a great recording, one of the best I have ever heard, except not on Dynagroove vinyl. You can get the Chesky CD but that is it. I would also like the Night On Bald Mountain with Sir Adrian Boult and the New Symphony Orchesrta of London. I always hear about Liebowitz and The Power of The Orchestra but the Boult version is incredible.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
Interesting information.

Why did Chesky stop making vinyl? That was the best thing they ever did.

tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
The earlier ones are better, not great, but better. I buy these records because I cannot get the originals in decent condition. I love the performances, just wished they sounded better, like the older vinyl. I believe you Learsfool. I'm with ya. I am just disapppointed and wish they sounded better. My friend has an excellent system, much better than mine and it even sounds worse on his. He's got Atmasphere gear and it sounds fabulous, especially the Cheskys, Sheffields, well you know what I mean.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
Does anyone know why Chesky stopped making vinyl?
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
I AGREE Jrw. no excuse to get records with scratches as I just received either. I tried to contact The music.com to get an RMA number so I could return it and get a decent copy. They never replied to me. What the hell is going on here?
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