If it costs a lot, then it's an audiophile recording. Just kidding. You can't assume that just because it says "audiophile" that it will sound great. I have found this out the hard way. Even if it was recorded using the original master tape, it does not guarantee great sound. I think some of the people that were engineering LP's had hearing problems. I have many great recordings that were recorded from original masters, but there are some bad ones out there to. As for asking sales people at record stores about recordings, forget it. Most of these people know nothing about what they are selling. I have found some to be knowledgeable (Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, etc), but the kids that are clerks in records shops don't even know what a record is!
What constitutes an AUDIOPHILE recording
Lately when i browse thru vinyl at the music store or on the net I'm seeing the term Audiophile recording. Lately there has been a plethra of recordings that are 150,180 and 200 gram records that are being sold from 20 dollars to 40 dollars and they tell me there worth the price. For me if it isn't mastered or cut from the ORIGINAL MASTER it isn't an audiophile recording and are not worth the price. When I ask the person and they don't know I just move on. At the music store it says Audiophile pressing but nothing about it's source. Another question is if you have an original pressing of a recording I'm assuming it has been cut from the original master but lately I've been told by people that is not true because of volume and demand for certian artists constituted making stamps and used for mass production.The further the stamp was from the master the further the sound suffered. So my question is if it sounds good does this MAKE IT an audiophile recording?