Miles Davis/Kind of Blue vinyl

[Coolhandjjl]

Hi, I just received Miles Davis/Kind of Blue vinyl, the 2010 remaster. I'm playing it on a Well Tempered Classic tt with a Stanton 881S + D81S stylus that has been retipped by our favorite retipper.

On the first track So What, during Miles' horn replies at the beginning, I am hearing some low level crunchiness/static-like artifacts out of the right channel. I'm thinking either my stylus setup is not quite right, or it's baked into the recording. Anyone able to comment? I also hear these same distortions in the sax near the end of All Blues, side 2/track 1.

On tracks Blue and Green & Flamenco Sketches, there is a constant low level hiss. Is that the source tape?

I was thinking of picking up a different release, Analog Productions remaster on their UHQR Clarity Vinyl

 

[Lavane]

I have same problem with the same pressing of Kind of Blue. Only it's in a couple of the middle tracks on the first side. Next time I go to my favorite record store I'm going to look for an easier version. Same thing, crunchy static.

 

[JoeESP9]

If you're not hung up on vinyl give the Sony SBM White Box CD release a listen. It's the first release that was sourced from the back up deck. When making the original recording the master deck was running slow. All releases sourced from that tape play back a semitone high. It's hard to hear unless you have perfect pitch or are trying to play along with it.

AFAIK all the more recent releases (post SBM version) use the backup tape. As for remastering claims, I say BS. KOB was recorded live to two three track tape decks. There is very little anyone can do to a three track master.

Although many claim the mono versions sound better I don't agree. The stereo and mono versions are sourced from the same tape. The mono version is just mixed down to mono.

FWIW: I have an original stereo LP release, the first CD release, the SBM version (first one at correct speed) and a recent "audiophile" LP release (also from the backup tape). The SBM version sounds better than any of the others.

If Sony wanted to make more money from KOB they could release an SACD three track version. I'd like to hear that myself.

 

[Audiofreak71]

Hi, I just received Miles Davis/Kind of Blue vinyl, the 2010 remaster. I'm playing it on a Well Tempered Classic tt with a Stanton 881S + D81S stylus that has been retipped by our favorite retipper.

On the first track So What, during Miles' horn replies at the beginning, I am hearing some low level crunchiness/static-like artifacts out of the right channel. I'm thinking either my stylus setup is not quite right, or it's baked into the recording. Anyone able to comment? I also hear these same distortions in the sax near the end of All Blues, side 2/track 1.

On tracks Blue and Green & Flamenco Sketches, there is a constant low level hiss. Is that the source tape?

I was thinking of picking up a different release, Analog Productions remaster on their UHQR Clarity Vinyl

If you want the best pressings of KOB then it’s going to be the original 6 eye , the 45rpm MoFi pressing and the Analogue Productions UHQR pressing , everything else is going to show major flaws as well as pressing QC issues. So if you want the best those are it .

edit: Or like Joe said get the Sacd , I had the Sacd of KOB and it’s really good but not quite as good as the MoFi vinyl .


Audiofreak71

 

[bobschneider]

If Sony wanted to make more money from KOB they could release an SACD three track version. I'd like to hear that myself.

Sony did release an SACD version of KOB in the early days of SACD. The case says that it's both stereo and surround sound. My player shows it as both 2.0 channel and 5.0 channel. I suspect the "surround sound" version is really the 3 track master, but I don't have a surround system to test that.

 

[Dalelm]

If you want the best pressings of KOB then it’s going to be the original 6 eye , the 45rpm MoFi pressing and the Analogue Productions UHQR pressing , everything else is going to show major flaws as well as pressing QC issues. So if you want the best those are it .

edit: Or like Joe said get the Sacd , I had the Sacd of KOB and it’s really good but not quite as good as the MoFi vinyl .


Audiofreak71

I have cd and vinyl copies. I think what you are hearing is Coltrane's chiff--an artistic artifact of the sax. It is on both of my copies. I don't know if that would have been heard in a live club setting.

 

[Spe@kerBox]

I have had hit and miss experiences with newer pressings of old jazz releases. Not always good. I always look for original (used) blue note stuff whenever possible.

 

[Audiofreak71]

I have cd and vinyl copies. I think what you are hearing is Coltrane's chiff--an artistic artifact of the sax. It is on both of my copies. I don't know if that would have been heard in a live club setting.

I think you were trying answer the OP with your statement?


Audiofreak71

 

[Lavane]

If you're not hung up on vinyl give the Sony SBM White Box CD release a listen. It's the first release that was sourced from the back up deck. When making the original recording the master deck was running slow. All releases sourced from that tape play back a semitone high. It's hard to hear unless you have perfect pitch or are trying to play along with it.

AFAIK all the more recent releases (post SBM version) use the backup tape. As for remastering claims, I say BS. KOB was recorded live to two three track tape decks. There is very little anyone can do to a three track master.

Although many claim the mono versions sound better I don't agree. The stereo and mono versions are sourced from the same tape. The mono version is just mixed down to mono.

FWIW: I have an original stereo LP release, the first CD release, the SBM version (first one at correct speed) and a recent "audiophile" LP release (also from the backup tape). The SBM version sounds better than any of the others.

If Sony wanted to make more money from KOB they could release an SACD three track version. I'd like to hear that myself.

I recently listened to some Booker T mono recordings. Much better than the stereo versions. Some things just shouldn't be messed with.

 

[JoeESP9]

If you want the best pressings of KOB then it’s going to be the original 6 eye , the 45rpm MoFi pressing and the Analogue Productions UHQR pressing , everything else is going to show major flaws as well as pressing QC issues. So if you want the best those are it .

edit: Or like Joe said get the Sacd , I had the Sacd of KOB and it’s really good but not quite as good as the MoFi vinyl .


Audiofreak71

Not the SACD the SBM (Super Bit Map) version in a large White box.

I don't have the SACD. Thanks to you. I now have to acquire a copy. Damn! They want $35 for it. No matter, I've got to have it.

AFAIK there is no three channel version on any media.

As I previously posted I have an original stereo release and several others. The SBM version sounds better than all of them. The original LP releases in stereo and mono are from the original master and all are a semitone sharp in playback.

Sorry to debunk the myth that mono versions of KOB sound better. They don't. They can't since they come from the same three track master.

I recently listened to some Booker T mono recordings. Much better than the stereo versions. Some things just shouldn't be messed with.

It all depends on whether the master tape is mono or stereo and that depends on when the tape was made. If it's stereo a mono version is a mix down. If it's advertised as "electronically re-channeled for Stereo", the original mono was FUBAR'd. Avoid them like the plague.

The industry saw stereo LP's as a new Gold mine. They used to charge a dollar more for stereo LP's although they came from the same masters as the mono versions.

Listening to a mono version of Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing. Wow! Just wow!

 

[Rectilinear1]

I had a similar experience with my brand new 2010 remaster of KOB on vinyl as well. A little crunchiness out of the 5-6k frequency range on a couple of tracks on the first side. I thought my stylus was dirty but played it again after installing a brand new Ortofon red cartridge and found the same thing. I will have to check out that 45 rpm version and take the Pepsi challenge. Thanks for the info guys!! Cheers!

 

[Audiofreak71]

Not the SACD the SBM (Super Bit Map) version in a large White box.

I don't have the SACD. Thanks to you. I now have to acquire a copy. Damn! They want $35 for it. No matter, I've got to have it.

AFAIK there is no three channel version on any media.

As I previously posted I have an original stereo release and several others. The SBM version sounds better than all of them. The original LP releases in stereo and mono are from the original master and all are a semitone sharp in playback.

Sorry to debunk the myth that mono versions of KOB sound better. They don't. They can't since they come from the same three track master.



It all depends on whether the master tape is mono or stereo and that depends on when the tape was made. If it's stereo a mono version is a mix down. If it's advertised as "electronically re-channeled for Stereo", the original mono was FUBAR'd. Avoid them like the plague.

The industry saw stereo LP's as a new Gold mine. They used to charge a dollar more for stereo LP's although they came from the same masters as the mono versions.

Ah ok I see , Id love to hear the SBM of KOB , I think I’ve heard every format but that and the R to R if it’s even on that format. I imagine if it is then that would be the very tops in terms of sound quality with that album.


Audiofreak71

 

[BamaBilly]

The new UHQR can still be had for $100 or a little more, no chance of that in a year or less. I’ve been told it sounds better than the 45rpm one.

 

[Lavane]

I had a similar experience with my brand new 2010 remaster of KOB on vinyl as well. A little crunchiness out of the 5-6k frequency range on a couple of tracks on the first side. I thought my stylus was dirty but played it again after installing a brand new Ortofon red cartridge and found the same thing. I will have to check out that 45 rpm version and take the Pepsi challenge. Thanks for the info guys!! Cheers!

Thats what I thought first go myself. I cleaned my stylus and the record. It was still there. I even tried my second deck. It's on the first side only.

 

[JoeESP9]

Whatever you guys do please don't buy the first release on CD. I'd give it to one of my buds but I want to keep them as friends.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

.... I think what you are hearing is Coltrane's chiff--an artistic artifact of the sax. It is on both of my copies. I don't know if that would have been heard in a live club setting.

I hear it on Miles’ horn at the beginning of So What in addition to some of Coltrane’s sax on other tracks. I thought it could be mouthpiece buzz, spittle in the horn, reed buzz or whatever, but I found it odd to hear it on both instruments in the right channel. Perhaps a microphone distortion?

We will see when my Analog Productions LP arrives.

 

[bimasta]

If you want the best pressings of KOB then it’s going to be the original 6 eye....

But isn't the original infamously the wrong speed on some tracks? An error corrected on (much) later re-releases....

 

[onwardjames]

If Sony wanted to make more money from KOB they could release an SACD three track version. I'd like to hear that myself.

Looks like I'm late to the party, but when I bought my sacd player, waaaay back in 2001 or so, I bought KOB and it indeed is 3 channel.

Yes, the low level crunchiness I believe is the spittle in Coltrane's mouthpiece. I played tenor for years, know that sound well.

 

[Audiofreak71]

But isn't the original infamously the wrong speed on some tracks? An error corrected on (much) later re-releases....

Yes it is , some prefer it some don’t , quality of the recording is still top notch though and catches the realism of the studio recording.


Audiofreak71

 

[Audiofreak71]

I hear it on Miles’ horn at the beginning of So What in addition to some of Coltrane’s sax on other tracks. I thought it could be mouthpiece buzz, spittle in the horn, reed buzz or whatever, but I found it odd to hear it on both instruments in the right channel. Perhaps a microphone distortion?

We will see when my Analog Productions LP arrives.

That is most definitely on the pressing you have or possibly adjustment issues with your table, because on the 45rpm MoFi and AP’s UHQR it is not there.


Audiofreak71