Counting Crows - August and Everything After, doing a shootout between the 2017 2 x 45rpm and the new Vinylphyle version, promised a guy on Discogs I’d compare them. This 2017 copy is surprisingly good, I think when it was initially being sold it was around £25, and it sounds remarkably good. It’s just been repressed and now £34 on Amazon UK which is still a bargain. Cut by a Stephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering who I’ve not heard of before, either the engineer or the company. No info that I’m aware of on the source but I’d be really surprised if it’s analogue.
The Vinylphyle is 2 x 33rpm, but it’s AAA and Joe Nino-Hernandes who mastered and cut it has produced some stunning copies in this series, so I’m excited to see what he can do. They’ve interestingly done it on 2 disks on the 33rpm as well. Including taxes and shipping to UK I paid $90 direct from Universal which is roughly £67 today. I STUPIDLY didn’t buy the Analogue Productions 45 when that was on sale which I’m still kicking myself for!
For those interested, I’ve listened to the first side of the 45rpm which includes the first 3 tracks (the best) and then flicked over to the Vinylphyle. I’m absolutely bowled over at the difference, I just assumed the extra real estate on the 45 would mean it would still be a superior sound, but no no no, and not by a small margin either, the Vinylphyle has far more depth and dynamics, far fuller sound all around and the soundstage on my system gets closer to that holographic presentation. The voices sound a little more recessed than the 45rpm, but you don’t lose them, but it does magic for the wah-wah guitar on Round Here really taking center stage and adding that funky rhythm. The drums have more impact and are far more pronounced. The kick drum on the opening of Omaha really hit home with much bigger power, it’s visceral and that doesn’t get lost when the chorus comes in. The only area I don’t really see an improvement on the Vinylphyle is the upper frequencies, cymbals aren’t shinier, would say they’re about equal. Although you do hear more of (I’m not sure if it’s plucked acoustic guitar or perhaps a violin?) near the end of Omaha, you can just make them out clearer.
I’m really surprised at what they’ve achieved in a 33rpm! It’s making me realise how DAMN GOOD the Analogue Productions 45rpm must be!!!
“Maggie’s Farm”
“Freddie Freeloader”
“I Remember” (feat. KNOWER & Jeff Coffin)
The Band - Music from Big Pink (Deluxe Edition) [2018 Stereo Remix and Remaster]
“Chest Fever”
“Bring It on Home To Memphis”
“That’s How I Got to Memphis”
“Memphis In The Meantime”
"Blue Ridge Betty - “Black and Blue” single
“Take Five”
Beautiful furniture with great HiFi!
Thanks!
