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Collecting Blue Note Jazz

I have decide to start building up a collection of Blue Note Jazz LPs, of which I have very few. What is the best way to go on what can be a sizeable investment. I am willing to spend for great music/sound quality, but cost is a factor, especially when originals are so expensive. I see many options, of which standouts include:
1. New Music Matters 45 RPM reissues.
2. Original Pressings ($$$)
3. Affordable but relatively early reissues (e.g. Blue Label, Liberty Pressings..maybe from the 70's or even early 1980s)
4. Just buy SACDs, since the LPs will not sound that great anyway.
The website www.dccblowout.com touts hot stampers. As I understand it, this site recommends shunning recent reissues and buying perhaps five or more original LPs or reissues (e.g. Blue Label) and keep the best sounding of the lot, while selling the rest. I've noticed that none of the Blue Note LPs I have so far offer sound quality on par with my LPs by the Contemporary Records label. Any recommendations? I have a pretty decent system for both LP and digital. Any advice would be much appreciated - Mark
mcmprov

Showing 1 response by hevac1

hevac1
812 posts
 
Mcmprov,
Mono albums sound better with a mono cartridge,IMHO. IF you have enough mono it is well worth the cost and work involved.
Mono albums that sound bad with a stereo cartridge can and will sound great with a mono cartridge.
I know that the Beatles are mot jazz but I purchased the White Album origial UK release for $90.00 vg condition, a near mint version of this would be in the $500.00 range. With my stereo cartridge it sounded like Sh.. and it was not even a vg record. With my mono cartridge it played VG++.
I have some original BN and reissues pressings. I will be getting all 25 AP & MM reissues. If I were you and they are stereo I would try the reissues first then originals if you like the recording, it will cost more than any reissue, If mono I would try affordable originals first then reissues if you want the stereo version. Origial mono albums even if scratch on the surface will not effect play with a mono cartridge, for the most part only groove error will effect play with a mono cartridge.
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