Dire Straits : what is your favorite pressing?

@slaw can you explain what vinyl/ds “s/t” means?

@marktomaras that would be Dire Straits self titled ie their first album 

@folkfreak thanks!

So after some digging around online, and some philosophizing into the nature of record pressings, I decided to use this particular record, Dire Straits self titled debut, To do a real world sound quality experiment for my own beneficial amusement and education.

I’m going to get my hands on a near mint copy Of the original UK pressing, the original Japanese pressing,and the soon to be released mobile fidelity 45 RPM re-issue to compare the sound firsthand, side by side. I’ve just invested in a top of the line record cleaning machine, so naturally they will all go through the wash first so they will play with a fair and equal cleanliness.

it will probably take some time to get the records, especially as the MoFi is not shipping yet, but stay tuned for a report from me!

@marktomaras - you will have fun doing this comparison. I've found that such comparisons often, not always, reveal different strengths and weaknesses in pressing/mastering with no clear winner. Probably not a bad idea to have an SPL meter to check loudness differences among the different copies when you are listening. 

Dire Straits first album is a little dark sounding no matter what pressing or mastering you end up with. It’s close to neutral but quite obviously a bit dark.

So one can use it to evaluate, but one should probably never tune a system to it or via it.

I must have 9 copies, as there is always a a time in each given well known album’s sales or use, that it ends up for sale used, and you see it often. At a buck a piece and near mint, generally, it was always a tough purchase to turn down. Locally, the first ’simply red’ album was the same, and sold well and thus many of those, as well as Fleetwood Mac Rumours. Must have 7 or 8 of each of those....