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Sade This Far

I purchased this set with great anticipation. I have been a Sade fan for nearly 38 years and own multiple compilations and albums. I was so excited thinking finally her voice will be treated as it deserves. Half speed mastered, the works. I waited for months. This is seriously the biggest let down I’ve had since I got into vinyl in 2014. I have a $100k analog front end so it’s not the gear (Ortofon MC Anna, Kuzma 4Point, SMARTractor, etc.). The sound on these albums is dull, lifeless and simply nothing to talk about, I couldn’t even get through one album before getting fatigued. 
The packaging is also cheap!

Two hundred of my dollars gone for this poorly remastered cheaply packaged mess. You would do far better to just go to eBay or discogs and seek a clean copy of an original pressing. I usually treat my new albums to a new hi-end record sleeve after I clean them in my KLAudio ultrasonic record cleaner. Not these, I put this mess back in their original cheap paper sleeves.

If I seem bothered, I am as this stinks of just a rush to push something out there with little regard for quality just to make a quick buck.
audiofun
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
I have a replacement copy on the way. Hopefully this was a dud.
geof3
1,129 posts
 
@audiofun it will be interesting to see. And yeah, all forms of recorded playback suffer at times. There are the stand outs in both realms for sure. Hopefully, your next copy sounds great. I may pick up a couple these albums as early presses to compare. I too waited months...
madenicola
1 posts
 

I bought this last summer and just opened.  The very first album, Diamond Life, had a manufacturing defect that was visible to the naked eye and caused skipping and ticks duringSmooth Operator.  It is clear there was no quality control.  As the record companies don’t take back bad pressings the retailers or consumer is stuck if past the return date.  

I have the original pressings of all the albums but was looking forward to hearing an updated recording with half mastered speed.  In a future forum I will compare against original pressings.

The pressing of Diamond Life appears to be thinner and lower quality than the other albums in the box.  Needless to say quite a loss.  The others in the set sound better and appear to be on 180g vinyl.  I opened another box and this time Diamond Life had no visible manufacturing defects.  Again the album is thinner and the quality of the pressing is suspect.  

For a high priced box set there is no booklet, pictures or discussions by the artists.  No alternative takes.  No additional tracks.  There is a foam pad where a booklet could or an album of alternative takes could have been inserted.

Disappointing.

audiofun OP
799 posts
 

I was so dissatisfied I decided to not go back for seconds. I’ll live with my original pressings, CD’s and Quobuz :)

geof3
1,129 posts
 

@audiofun funny, I’ve sort of come around to your side a bit after listening to them for awhile now. Not quite the disaster you describe, but certainly could be better mix wise and packaging. One thing I’ve noticed is inconsistent panning. The presses are not great for sure. On the other hand I’m listening to The Yes Album currently. That just kicks a$$!

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