Re: [ARSCLIST] LP pressing question

[phillip holmes <insuranceman@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I collect "white label promos" and I agree with Bob that the Columbia 
WLP or DJ copies are superior.  The vinyl seems to be the same 
thickness, but more durable (IE, same number of grams, but different 
vinyl formulation).  I think that's the thing, not that they had a 
different stamper, or that the stamper was brand new, though that 
helps.  People discount what a different formulation of vinyl can do.  
I've only laid my hands on a few test pressings, not to be confused with 
promo copies, and they were stunning.  One is a test pressing of 
"Shotgun Willie" and it blows away the regular copy (pun intended, but 
it did indeed blow away the regular pressing).  The only labels that I 
think had consistently good pressings were the guys who had their stuff 
pressed in Japan, like Mobile Fidelity, and the audiophile classical 
labels, like Telarc (sent to Teldec, IIRC).  The JVC vinyl is my 
favorite vinyl formulation.  They tore down the pressing plant and 
converted to CD.  Supposedly, and this may be audiophile nonsense, 
nobody outside of JVC knows what that vinyl formula was, other than it 
was translucent virgin vinyl (it's translucent because it has less 
"carbon black" than normal vinyl, I think).  But that JVC vinyl wore 
longer, took more abuse and started off quieter than anything else I've 
seen.
Phillip

Bob Olhsson wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Fine "...Bob, do you think the same "for 
> demonstration only" pressings sent to DJ's were also what was sold at a
> discount to NARAS members?..."
>
> Not at all, they were just first run "street" copies.
>
> I only knew about the white-label DJ copies from RCA and Columbia because I
> was the music director of a college station for a few months. They were
> amazing, better than any "audiophile" pressings I've ever encountered. I'm
> sure the idea was that they wouldn't get chewed up and need to be replaced
> as often.
>
>
> Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN
> Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control
> Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined!
> 615.385.8051 http://www.hyperback.com
>
>