Here's my story and I'm sticking to it. I'm 68. I was a nut in 1969 and had a "Robert Ludwig" pressing that I played the crap out of. I also had a relatively inexpensive stereo (KLH Model 11 suitcase portable) and was stoned most of the year. In college I straightened up but my taste in music never really changed all that much. As a graduation present I was given $400 and I was also working part time at a food joint "Beefy King" (one of the happiest times of my life). I treated myself to a much better stereo and found the Ludwig sometimes difficult to track with a much better turntable not to mention the wear and tear it had suffered over the years. I also began to learn a lot more about "audio" and how this particular LP had been cut on the "hot" side. So after getting a good job I started to replace some of the LP's I had owned and "misused" First I got a German Pressing (around $8) that I know is the remastered copy done to correct some of the problems inherent in the original. Folks, it's German mint vinyl and no, it doesn't sound quite as good - but there is no noise....NONE. Me like. Then a friend who is no longer a friend fell for the "perfect sound" forever crap and sold me his MOFI pressing of same for $3 (sold me his entire record collection in fact). Let's put it this way, he played his LP's once, committed to tape and when he sold me his collection said the words: "if I never hear another clip and pop in my life, I will be a happy man." 6 years later he wanted it all back. As The Band so famously put it: "no" was all I said. I hear things on the MOFI pressing I never heard before but there are a lot of other factors here such as a superior audio system. Would I pay $750 for a VG Robert Ludwig? Not on your life. I would buy a guitar with that kind of money (I now play - did not when I was a "stoner"). So I have two absolutely mint copies that are now part of a vast collection of mint vinyl that I adore. I have no need for another copy. As to the differences in this demonstration - they are there but largely meaningless in terms of the better pressings because what you might lose in one area you get in another. The MOFI is now getting ridiculously expensive so my advice? Buy a new or reasonably priced clean, clean, clean used respected copy and treat it well and treasure it. Life is short. $750 for a VG or less copy - give me a break.
Yeah. I am not sure I would spend $750 on a copy but I have found two RLs and in both cases, I paid less than $25 because the individuals didn't know what it was. There not impossible to find at a reasonable price, you just have to hit antique stores and pawn shops. That said, the Germans do a great job at pressing records and I would probably be quite content with one of their pressings because at the end of the day, it's the music that matters, right?
@@BarakaPDubI use to play my albums to death and ruined them. I switched to 8-track before switching back to vinyl. I bought a Korean LZll for next to nothing before buying it remastered on cd. Lucky for me I met a lady who has been kind enough to sell me some vinyl that belonged to her late husband. He was very particular about caring for his records so the records I have purchased from her is in really vg+ and vg++ condition. She gifted me some vinyl just before Christmas time and LZll with the gold record sticker was among the selection of albums. It isn’t RL but it sounds great to these old ears. Wonderful condition so it was a wonderful surprise.
Oh man I was surprised how good the 2014 reissue sounded in comparison, and considering it's the cheapest and most readily available i might have to pick that one up. Japanese sounded very thin next to everything else. BG cut also sounded great to my ears.
Honestly, going into this I thought the 2014 was going to be blown away but I agree with you! This just goes to show that digital mastering is not the devil everyone makes it out to be...provided it's done right. I also found the Japanese version to be a disappointment! Thanks for playing along Bryan.
Yeah the Page/Davis 2014 up against the Ludwig is nearly impossible for me to know which is which unless I'm watching the screen. I think they did a great job on it.
There's just something about the Ludwig pressing.... not only do you hear it, you FEEL it. It goes straight to the senses.... the depth and bottom end really hit strongly without losing the highs. Just a fantastic balance that never sounds outdated. No wonder it's highly sought out after.
The nice thing is that they're out there. There a many an antique dealer that don't know what they have. Whenever I encounter a copy in the used bins, I got to take a look. Thanks for watching!
I get it about the Ludwig pressing. But, to me with my system. The Bass Drum and Bass Guitar of the 2014 pressing have those instruments as more distinct and separate sounds. Whereas with the Ludwig they are more of a "Blended"? sound which gives it that "Ump-hf". Which I'm sure sounded impressive on home stereos back then.
Got to agree with Abbey 72. You do need a nuts on correct turntable alighnment if you wany Whole Lotta Love to play all the way through, however the base and drums you really fo feel on the ludwig mix.
Thank god, I just ordered the entire Led Zeppelin - Jimmy Page remastered library (yet to arrive). Then over the last week, I've watched several self-appointed, audiophile professionals shatting on these remasters, saying they were un-listenable garbage. Now that I've heard your comparison (at least for Led Zep II) I feel much better...a sigh of relief! John Davis did a great job when compared to the Bob Ludwig version, sounds the closest, at least to my old ears.
Rest assured, I think John Davis did the catalog quite well and I don't think you have anything to fear. When it comes to these compares, trust your own ears and go with what you like Thanks for giving this one a watch!
@@BarakaPDub Yes indeed trust your own ears as you're the one that's listening to it on your system! My motto is no matter what source the record has come from: "If it sounds good - it is good!" I know some people will NOT listen to any vinyl pressed and re-issued from a digital source which I think is well "digital prejudice". Digital has improved by leaps and bounds over the last 50 years - just give it a chance I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! 😉
I also agree that the Ludwig takes the checkered flag. Also notice that the Ludwig is cut closer to the label compared to the others, a sign of higher cutting level, not as much limiting of dynamics or not as much bass rolloff. I don't know how much any of you out there are familiar with the general sonic character of the various lacquer cutters, but in my opinion, George Marino of Sterling Sound would have been a good choice to do latter day reissues of the classic Led Zeppelin albums, I have found that his lacquer cuts have a rawness and impact that is in keeping with the music on the Led Zeppelin albums.
Man, there's just something about the RL in the guttural tones of the guitar and the overall sound of the drums that win me over. The MoFi is nice, too, followed by 2014 John Davis and then BG. All of the latter cuts have great qualities about them but to my ears when you blend all the sounds together RL's cut has the perfect blend. There's something about it that just screams "THIS IS WHAT ZEPPELIN IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE". For my money, I'd want the RL, MFSL, and 2014 in my collection. Awesome stuff here, man, and thanks for doing this. I had a great time comparing!
Thanks for commenting. You're opinion is definitely unique and there is nothing wrong with that but I do concur the RL copy set the bar. The music really needs to scream at you!
Ludwig,,, gives me goosebumps. The Best. Now I need to review my copies... and I have a few and check em side by side. Thanks for your video. Great job.
Robert Ludwig hands down, flat frequency hugely dynamic and cut as deep as possible without turning the puck into a slinky to cram all the extended bandwidth as humanly possible. He always does right by the music.
I never realized until the 2014 remasters how much I was used to the second EQ version commonly released in the US. The 2014 mixes had much more high end and slighly less low end. Now I realize that the 2014 mixes are quite faithful to the original RL mix.
I swear by the new remasters. They are really good for what they are and anyone new getting into the hobby, they're the ones I recommend for younger people getting into Zeppelin.
To anyone using this video to compare the sound: To experience the true power or the RL you need to sit in front of a decent stereo system and play it LOUD. It is an absolutely visceral experience that legitimately knocks your socks off. An iPhone speaker will not convey the power. Headphones will not convey the power. You need to play the record loud on a half decent Hifi. It is a physical experience.
Thanks for the comparison. I think the RL still wins! The Classic, 2014 reissue, and MOFI are very close and pretty good. The Japanese is proof that Japanese pressings aren't always the darlings collectors make them out to be. And of course the Atlantic remix is bad. I would be curious to hear how a vintage German pressing would stack up.
the Classic sounds metallic when it and the RL are compared directly thru the same cart. I'm not saying that the Classic is bad at all, merely that it suffers in comparison. I wish I liked the MFSL more than I do, because it's the one decent pressing I currently own.
"1992" Japan Analog Series release was nicely done. Bernie and Robert Ludwig are equal. Mofi when properly cared for is quiet and smooth. Page's version kicks digital add too.
@@utub1473 my understanding is that on the esrly German pressings, side 1 is cut from RL. I have one, and the RL is there in the dead wax, and it does sound very good and hot. Btw: side 2 sounds pretty good too
Hi Paul .. Thank you for doing this.. I love stuff like this. Here's my list: 1. Bob Ludwig 2. Bernie Grundman 3. John Davis 4. Stan Ricker (Mofi) 5. Japanese Issue 6. Atlantic Re-Eq'ed I do think the top 3 on my list is pretty close... So knowing that. I could live with getting the 2014 reissue, because the top 2 are probably impossible to get for reasonable money :) I have a German copy from 81-82.. I don't know how that is compared to the ones you have. But I think the 2014 reissue is probably a lot better. I think I might get the 2014 remaster on CD one day. I'd love to see you do more of these comparison videos :) I think this video will get a lot of views in the years to come. Great work! Happy new year, buddy.
Hello Carsten and Happy New Year! Getting caught up on comments after being out of town for several days. Your rankings match what I thought and I think the 2014 version is a steal. I would be perfectly content with it if I was starting my collection from scratch. The Classic, Mofi, & RL do fetch high dollar nowadays but I was lucky and only paid a fraction of what they are going for on the internet. The RL I found in the used bins and paid under $10 for it. The shop that sold it to me didn't know what they had. For the past year or so, if I see a Zeppelin II in the used bins, I automatically look for the RL in the deadwax.
I agree with your top 3 to me the top 3 were extremely close and really not worth splitting hairs over plus the John Davis re-master is affordable. Very enjoyable comparison please do more of these.
The problem I have with multiple pressings is that more often than not, though I can hear a difference, I can't make up my mind which I prefer. So end up keeping them all. That said, there are definitely some strong differences here. Thanks for doing the video!
Thanks for participating and I fell into the same trap with this particular album. There are a few other albums in which I fell into the same trap and I couldn't part with any of the copies. If I can, I might do another compare like this but I might pick a different band to do it with ;)
I just wanted to thank you for making this video. I just saw it a few days ago, it's because of your comparison, I immediately went searching for the hot mix. An hour ago, I won an auction on eBay and it is on the way!
What a great idea for a round table on the subject, thanks for this original and captivating vid! Ludwig would be it for me if I'm hearing correctly, but I'd savor the time to be in the same as the tests were being committed to know that I wasn't dreaming the process and selection. Thank you.
Thanks. Being in the room gives you a better impression but I find in most cases my aural memory is not that good. You really need to lock in on the specifics of a particular sound when doing an in room A/B test.
You know I'm happy to own Led Zeppelin II and all the Zeppelin collection on vinyl, when I completed the collection that was it for me, was a relief cause then I could buy another artists collections. This video is a new level of nerdiness lol, but its adorable, fun to watch.
Hi: Great comparison! For me the BG is my favourite followed by the RL and JD which seem pretty much neck and neck. Let me add that the BG to my ears is my very slight favourite of the 3 I've mentioned. I could easily live with any one of them but as I only have the JD version I'm a happy camper and can't see dropping a lot of cash for a BG or RL mix. Keep up the good videos - much appreciated!
Thank you 79mercedes. There is no right or wrong here and the BG is really, really good. I am hopeful Acoustic Sounds will be using the Classic Records plates to do some deluxe reissues...provided the band will let it happen. Outside of that the JD is really good for what it is.
P.S. After doing the comparison again with phones the JD mastering sounds very very close to the RL mastering. When I close my eyes I find it very hard if not impossible to tell when the RL source LP is switched with the 2014 JD remaster.🤔
Lol, senor splicer......now that took some time, bless you for your efforts, great! Listened with headphones, Ludwig, slight edge. But all were great, and nothing an equalizer can't do to enhance. Cheers, steve
Hello Steve. This video was a labor of love and it was blocked on my first upload attempt about a month ago. The original had samples that were a bit longer in duration but I pared them down a bit. Even with having them in a shorter duration, I think there is enough for everyone to see that each engineer mad different choices on the EQ'ing. Have a Happy New Year my friend!
the John Davis 2014 reissue comes somewhat close to the Bob Ludwig cut but lacks the same clarity. I was particularly disappointed by the harshness of the MFSL cut, as well! The Bernie Grundman cut is a close second for me and I really love the midrange content in that one but wow, believe the hype about the Bob Ludwig cut for sure...
Thanks for commenting on your thoughts Zach. I have come across seven more copies since I have made this video but they were all second presses. I hope to come across more Ludwig's cheaply to pass on to friends.
Thank you. I think the guys buying the new reissue are actually getting a good deal. Most of what you find in the used bins should be avoided here in the states because most are not the RL cut.
Actually, the best feature of the Ludwig is the midrange. I liked the Davis 2nd best, comes closest to Ludwig mid-wise with possibly a little more detail and separation. One of the others in there (think it was Ricker) was too exaggerated at either frequency end, with a mid-suckout.
Thanks theoldmet. On the Ricker, I am wondering if the VTA affected the sound. The early Mofi records seem to be between 90 to 110 grams. Whenever I get a turntable with an adjustable VTA, I want to play around with the early Mofi's. With my current set up, all the 80's Mofi records don't sound the great.
I have the 2014 pressing and I am happy that you have made a great comparison , because I thought my copy might be totally inferior to the RL mix after reading other you tube posts .I can enjoy mine even more now. My dear late friend had the plum label which would have been very nice but it wasn't to be. Thanks again
I've known the RL cut was tops for long enough that I've never bothered with any other ones, however it's really neat to finally hear how striking the difference actually is and hear what I'd have been missing out on without it! Very blessed to have a NM copy.
What are your thoughts on LZIII? I haven't don't any comparisons either but I feel that BG's mastering style is well suited to the album, especially the "acoustic" side 2. So I chose the 200gm classic and stuck with it
BG never disappoints me and I would follow that man to hell and back even though he made slightly different choices than Bob on Zeppelin II. I should do something similar with LZ III but in all honesty, I think I prefer the Grundman on the third album. If you have any of the Classic Records on Zeppelin, hang on to them, they are all good. Thanks for chiming in MrRom!
Bob Ludwig's version is well balanced and I prefer it. The highs sound effortless, thoughtfully touched, not like they're fighting though tons of processing to be noticed.
For me, it doesn't get any better and Bob was a master at cutting records as hot as an engineer could make them. Thanks for putting in your thoughts yelloradio.
The album was so well recorded to begin with it's hard to butcher it but clearly Atlantic did do it. Thanks for watching Lazerrus and sorry for my delayed response.
The RL and MFSL sound almost identical save the first sample track. Not sure you can wrong with the RL, the MFSL, or the Classic, honestly. The 2014 is digital sourced and, while I don't think it's as bad as some say, the cymbals are closed down with almost zero decay. That's a huge PASS for me. (I have it, too, for the companion disc and so not relying entirely on this review) Great video!
Thank you Carrion Man for checking this out and putting in your two cents. I love the companion discs on all of the sets. I just wish we had gotten a couple of outtakes from the first record but I am not complaining about the live set either.
Paul Ludwig mix truly win and a serious benchmark I would say Mofi and Classic is a very close second very cool comparison I was after the Classic Records and Bob Ludwig for ever and I lucky found Mofi press in Milwaukee for a killer price of $40 I've been happy with it so far I still search for that Ludwig though one day a nice minty copy will come my way thanks for the comparison video we need more of these done on TH-cam. lovellandrew
I still promise to keep my eyes out on an RL for you. Again, every once in a Blue Moon, I stumble upon a copy in the used bins (i.e. Half Price Books) and they don't know what they got. $40 for the Mofi is a steal. I managed to score my before the renewed interest in vinyl took off so I got it at a decent price as well. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts. I do agree that RL is the best.
Wow, really interesting! I'm quite surprised to say this but the one that gets closer do the RL is the 2014 reissue. The MOFI and Japanese sound a tin and lack some bass. The Classic pressing sounds different from the RL but I would be ok with it. It sounds maybe clearer than the RL. But all in all, I prefer the RL. Thanks!
Glad you found the information useful. I am trying to put some of these out there when I can to help guide folks. At least folks can listen with their own ears to find out what they may like.
Thank you so much for uploading this! Noticed a good amount of differences amongst all pressings. The RL cut comes off a bit bass heavy, while BG’s cut sounds more clear and in a way, sounds like a live band just because of how clear Bonzo’s snare sounds. However, it is a bit brighter, but I do like it that way. Definitely going to seek that reissue now! John Davis did a great job on his cut. The 2014 is a great example of a digitally sourced record sounding fantastic, and it stays faithful to the RL cut (which is probably why the 2014 cover replicated the US cover and not the UK cover like the rest of the 2014 reissues). Stan’s MFSL cut isn’t bad, in fact I like the drums from his cut. However, it’s much too bass heavy for me. As for the Japanese and US ‘69-75 pressings, god awful. The Japanese just sounds completely shitty, but the US EQ’ed cut is by far and away the worst I’ll ever hear LZ II. My Rankings Are: 1. 1969 Robert Ludwig Cut 2. 2000/2005 Classic Records Bernie Grundman Cut 3. 2014 John Davis Cut 4. MFSL Stan Ricker Cut 5. 1976 Japanese Pressing 6. 1969-1974 Atlantic EQ’ed Pressing
Love your rankings Alex as they pretty much match my own thoughts. This comparison really highlights why I don't care for Japanese pressings. They're cool and all but I haven't found one that can beat an OG or well done reissue. Maybe it is that '69 to '75 period like you state.
Outside Houses, which has a pressing flaw on The Ocean, I have to agree that they're all really well done. Here's hoping How The West Was Won turns out great...along with the RSD 45 single with the unreleased mixes.
Yeah. The 2014 blew me away as well. I had really low expectations for it going into this shoot out. A lot of modern reissues can sound less than stellar. I am glad that Jimmy did this one right.
Hello, I listened to the various versions. I did'nt know there were so many variations. The drums are cleaner and generally the tone if the Ludwig is best...but it was the first and contemporary so it also has all the vibes of that period incorporated.
No problem and I have been wanting to do this one for the longest time. If you read any internet forum on what is the best pressing of this...or that, there is a lot of people that are a bit biased. For this one, I wanted to put it all out there and let your ears decide. Thanks for chiming in on your preference. If I can, I might try and pull another one of these together in the future.
I know this is an older video but I just found a copy of the RL pressing today at a record store and was just wanting to learn more about it. Now that this video has been on here for a while, can you tell me what you really think? Btw, I think the RL gets my vote and I have three copies that are represented here. I don't have the 2014 reissue. Thanks for making this video.
Hello Melinda and thanks for digging through my old catalog of videos. I've gathered a couple more pressings of this album since putting this video and to my ears, my mind has not changed, nothing beats the Robert Ludwig cut. I've compared it against a UK original pressing and still the Ludwig comes out on top. If you've found one, cherish it. As an aside, Bob cut a lot of classic rock albums and in my opinion, if you see RL in the deadwax then you know you're getting on of the best cuts of a given album.
@@BarakaPDub I'm listening to my RL version right now as I read your comment. Lol. I can't believe I found one. This is my favorite Led Zeppelin album and to have this version is such a treat for me. Thanks again for this video. It was very interesting.
Okay so below I gave my thoughts on the RL and Mofi. Having totally upgraded my system I bought the newer 2014 LZII pressing and I’m very glad I did. Firstly it’s a great pressing on top quality vinyl. Secondly it sounds killer even though they did edit out the last strains of Ramble On but, whooo cares when the disc sounds this good?! It seems that on this record, as on LZI and LZIII there may have been some enhancements done to add depth and separation because that’s what I am hearing anyhow. Subtle but tasteful enhancements. Really surprised how much my new phono stage reveals these improvements. Sounds better by far than any CD version to even though I know this album was cut using digital files.
Hello Rick. Thanks for the great comment. The 2014 - 2018 drops done by Davis have really been good and I am not hesitant to recommend them to folks that want a good Zeppelin pressing. While I am not a vinyl purist, I would gladly take the vinyl over the digital for Zeppelin.
Interesting comparison. I thought the RL, Classic, MoFi and Pallas were all close. Hard to pick a fav from listening over headphones. I just recently purchased a sealed Classic and I love it, very dynamic and open sounding on my Martin Logan electrostatic speakers. My other copies I picked up used from record fairs, they are all only just fair. I may also have an RL, dunno, I walked several miles when i was in Jr. high to buy Zep II not long after it came out, but I'm afraid my GE Mustang record player trashed it long ago. It is prob in a box somewhere. :( Saw them in Houston in 1970 at the Hofheinz Pavilion. Fantastic show!
Ahh if you got a classic, you'r pretty much set in my opinion. If you do end up having an RL hang onto it. Extremely jealous of your live experience. I was way to young to catch them before Bonham passed in '80. I did get to see both Page/Plant tours but the experience will never be matched by seeing the full band in their prime.
I am tempted to do a sequel to this one as I acquired a few other presses of this one since doing it. The UK Purple being one of them. The UK versions are the ones the band signed off on so they have to sound good.
@@BarakaPDub That would be interesting and it's a relief to know that the band signed them off. I thought the sound was impressive the first time I heard it but I've nothing to compare it to, unless to these videos.
This is fun! I had a clean RL copy that sold for $350.00 nearly two years ago. I imagine it has gone up in value since then. It appears there is life after RL.. Bernie Grundman's mastering (#3) sounds very close, and perhaps a bit cleaner.. possibly that so many RL copies have sustained at least a little groove wear, so the later pressings have the edge in that department. I did notice this pressing is pitched up ever so slightly, which has the music sounding just a little "rushed" but so slight that you wouldn't notice if I had not mentioned it. (I'm a pitch OCD musician) Next is the Mofi, (#2) and typical the mid is scooped a little, but really does nice things to the overall presentation of Zeppelin. If anyone prefers greater clarity on the top end, then the mofi should be considered, just sounds cleaner over my monitors than all the rest in this demo. I like also #5, John Davis, great bass extension and accurate hi hat sound, pitch accurate with the RL pressing... I think my favorite. Not so good is the rather muffled Atlantic Re-Eq (#1), and the awful sounding Japanese pressing ( #4, terrible mids and no bass) Back in the 80's, I demo'd my RL pressing to a few friends, before I knew it was special. I did notice how dynamic it was, and front to back imaging (depth)... especially the interlude part of "Whole Lotta Love". It was sold to pay off a debt, typical we must sacrifice something loved. (vs an unloved item nobody wants)
Sorry you had to part with your RL but I understand as I have been through that one before. Glad you could pick up the pitch. I honestly think if your a musician and you can key in on certain parameters then you're best to judge here. Your input is really good and consistent in that most folks found the Japanese press to be bad and every agreed the Atlantic Re-Eq was downright awful!
wow ,right off i think the atlantic eq,japans were the worst ones but the other three sounded very similar and anyone of the other three would be good ones to own ,great shoot out keep em coming
I would like to do more shootouts like these in the future but I need to be careful. My first attempt at getting this guy up last month was a no go so I had to par the samples down a bit which was unfortunate. I suspect this to be very subjective based on everyone's different taste but I agree, to my ears, three of these were very close to one another.
I recently participated in a blind test to see what my preference for pressings were on the track Moby Dick, here were my answers: My Answers: SAMPLE 1. RL (Bass, drive and dynamics but muffled and not refined enough.) SAMPLE 2. 2014 ( Similar to SAMPLE 1 in most ways ) SAMPLE 3. MFSL ( Nice middleground with between clarity and tonal balance ) SAMPLE 4. Classic ( Most present and clear sample with great imaging but slightly worse bass and dynamics at times) My Preferences on Moby Dick: 1. SAMPLE 4 (Most refined and clear presentation even if dynamics and bass is slightly worse in parts) 2. SAMPLE 3 (Good middleground if 4 is too harsh and 2 / 1 too boomy and cluttered) 3. SAMPLE 2 and 1 (Too much muffling on this song and the bass increase seldom helps here) Key: SAMPLE 1. RL SAMPLE 2. 2014 SAMPLE 3. MFSL SAMPLE 4. Classic My next target will be the MFSL release, if it solves some brightness issues of the Classic Ill be real happy with it.
Leon - Thanks for the super detailed response. I honestly like what Classic did with the whole catalog. I just wish I could land my hands on the super rare 45 rpm version they made. Outside of a run of about a 100 copies of the road box set, they only way to score it is to get a more limited test pressing of it. In retrospect, I am wondering if I had better normalized the MFSL copy, would it have changed opinions of it. I personally find the 80's MFSL copies more hype than anything else but maybe I should give them a deeper listen.
@@BarakaPDub The MFSL is more quiet thats for sure. But the thing with this test is that it was only for the track Moby Dick. Grundman showed his prowes on this better recording making it the most realistic sample. But as mentioned I feel the Classic is bright on some tracks so maybe the MFSL is worse on other ones too. Speaking of 45 RPM I must confess Ive lost my hype for such editions. There was a Hoffman thread were we went over examples and Hoffman himself came in to be educational. If its the same mastering, the 45 doesnt seem to be better at all besides being louder, which can avoid surface noise better and avoid inner grooves but sonically it seems identical. Of course if its a new mastering then that is a change of note, but the 45 RPM seems more and more like the marketing word 180gram is these days. At least if a system is competant enough to track the more demanding 33s. Maybe the 45 Zeppelins are new masterings but I feel more happy staying on the 33 copies I have these days ;^)
For the 45 rpm versions, Grundman did a dedicated mastering of those as well. While I can't say it definitively, I think he cut the 45's once he completed the 33 and 1/3 versions from the master tapes. I do agree though, if the source mastering was the same, you shouldn't hear too much of a difference.
@@BarakaPDub Good to know, Id love to hear the 45s someday. On the topic of Zeppelin 2 though, I think its the only Classic Zeppelin that didnt use the original master tape. It was from a copy tape that was found. Grundman working well with what he has doesn't reveal that very much in the sound though, but it is a little bit less dynamic than the RL or MFSL. If its because of applied compression or the tape generation is impossible to say though.
The Ludwig sounds fantastic with the Davis 2014 pretty darn close! I agree that the Japanese pressing is very flat and lifeless. I wasn't that impressed with the MOFI though. I thought it sounded a tiny bit muddy. I have a Monarch and I love the the sound. It's no Ludwig, but it's a very clean copy and I only paid $15 for it so I'm happy!
Monarch was the best plant that Atlantic used so if you have a Monarch, it's definitely a step a head of the rest. At $15, you got yourself a steal. The used copies I am seeing nowadays are going for over $20. Thanks for watching fotoram.
That was a blast! Thanks for putting that all together including the 'cleanse the palate' takes between. This will certainly spark discussion lol. First, your copy of Ludwig hot mix looks fantastic. Bernie's mix sounded very very good as well as the 2014 mix wow. To me the Ludwig sounded the best considering bass, mids, highs and attack. The Bernie seemed to have more highs but not as full mids and lows as the Ludwig. The first Atlantic and MoFi sounded the 'worst' but jeeze so close. I'm trying not to be Ludwig loyal to the point of fault either. There are other great engineers but to me again, Ludwig. How bad has the youtube compression ruined this anyway? Happy New Year Paul
Thanks Corey and it sure has generated a lot of discussion. I haven't had this many view counts on a single video in only a few days so I suspect people are going back to it just to see how others are commenting. This has been a fun experiment and sometimes my aural memory is pretty poor so putting this together to compare and contrast has been fun. I was surprised at my own response. I was thinking the 2014 would have been near the bottom but after listening, boy was I wrong. I do agree with you on the Ludwig and Bernie mixes. If I had to do it over again, I would put in the WAV file plots as these were pretty revealing in of themselves. They show that each engineer was making different choices on the final output. Happy New Year Corey.
The key comparison in regards to the MFSL pressing is the beginning of "Bring It On Home." The bass is very muted on that cut on the MF pressing, supposedly due to the source tape (not a master, btw) being heat damaged from sitting in a hot car!
For me Ludwig pressing oh and guess what!! Found one at a yard sale for 3 bucks!!! took it home and did a cleaning and WOW!!!!!!!! The find of my life!!!
I never had this on vinyl until a few years ago when I got the remaster from 2014. It sounded pretty good, no complaints really. Then last year I got lucky and found an RL at a record shop while on vacation for $10. It was labeled VG, but after a good cleaning, it's definitely a solid VG+. Anyway, hearing it for the first time just blew me away! It's so alive in a way only analog can be. Sidenote, I also got the 2014 reissue of III. It is pretty good, but again, seemed to be missing something. Since III is my favorite, I decided to splurge on the Classics ed. All I can say is WOW! Wouldn't mind getting more Classics eds, but dang, big $$$$.
$10??!!? Damn, that's a steal. I haven't been finding too many of the RL's lately. As for the Classics, I hear you completely. I jumped on board early...before the prices started to sky rocket.
Oh you're a sweet heart! Listen to the kick and snare on every Bob Ludwig round compared to the others. The only argument one could have is the others are brighter for the most part and faster tape speed but you can't bring back whats gone. Adjusting the color is what EQ's and other filters are for, Bonham is never denied by Bob so, BOB TAKES THE CAKE EVERY ROUND HANDS DOWN!
I would have to say the Bob Ludwig mix is hands down the best. The very best two are Bob Ludwig and Bernie Grundman versions. Glad i got my hands on a Bob Ludwig original of Zep II. Great comparison video!
That was excellent to do that !! Thank you I had that LP and never knew about it until this year I recorded it on to a cassette back then and sold it like an ass … I never knew it , but I really like ( prefer ) the Bob Ludwig mix I am so pissed about that I knew it because of remembering the black Atlantic emblem . And how loud it sounded when I played it .. Thank you so much for helping me turn that stone in my mind !! Too old now !
You never know, you might encounter the 'RL' press again. There are still a lot out there and whenever I see a Zeppelin II, I look for it. I have found a couple in antique stores because there are a lot of antique dealers that never bother to research what they really have. Thanks for watching YoupunkAP.
What a fantastic video. Thanks for sharing this comparison. It really helps determining what to look for! The Atlantic and Japanese pressings were just dreadful compared to the others. Lifeless and flat. The MOFI and 2014 pressings were very close to the Ludwig version, almost to the point of making it hard to decide which was the best. I think the Ludwig is still the best, but these two were excellent. Just a great example of how mastering can make or break a record!
My favorite is and always will be the Ludwig. A mint copy Bob Ludwig is the crème de la crème of MB II. The clarity is amazing. I read a while back that some of the early RL pressings were skipping on a lot of turntables. So a lot of people returned them. Did you ever ready about this Paul? ~ Rob
I sure did read about the skipping. I remember first reading about it in a Zeppelin book but I can't remember which one for the life of me. For my TOTD on Ludwig, I felt it important to include the clip with him actually retelling the story. I am glad that he got the chance to do Houses of the Holy ;)
if i had to rank them, it would probably go- 1. Ludwig (not really a contest, the dynamics even through my iphone speakers are astounding) 2. Grundman (very close to RL, but not as much punch in the bass) 3. 2014 Remaster (this is the pressing I own, and I definitely believe it can hold its own, just lacks a little warmth-probably due to the digital EQ instead of analog) 4. Japanese 76 (sounds a little muffled, bass is quite tinny, but not the worst) 5. Atlantic Repress (by far the worst, sounds like its underwater) Great video and comparison of one of the greatest albums of all time!
So , since the last time I posted on this topic , I’ve gone on quite a run as far as acquiring these RLs , I’ve decided to buy all RLs from the different pressing plants . What I’ve found after some months of hunting these is this They are out there , a lot of Presswell versions I’ve acquired 3 of them eBay are full of these CTH is next a lot of these as well as the cheap Down grade version You’ll find a few Monarchs pop up frequently but will sell fast as I believe the monarch double RL SS is the holy grail out all these versions . The SP special pressing versions are scarce but will pop up on eBay once in awhile. You see one rl version , buy it . The Columbia Pitman I believe is the scarcest of all the versions , it’s a very interesting one at that , has very little etching on the deadwax, took me months to find one $84 dollars G+ I was quick to buy it on discogs . Sound wise the monarch is at the top , Presswell, CP, CTH RL SS / LH SS , SP . Happy hunting
Thanks for the great comment highcadence901. I only have two copies of the RLs. I am blessed to have a Monarch press and I would have to look but I think my other one is n SP. Monarch had the best consistency for all the plants Atlantic used and if I buy Atlantic records, I always try and seek out the Monarchs first.
It’s boils down to the lacquer, if it’s a solid thicker version like Presswell and monarch there is a difference in sound compared to the thinner lacquer versions like CTH
Great video! The Classic Records and Mobile Fidelity pressings came very close to sounding as good as the Ludwig pressing. If I would have to choose in order from best sounding to least I would say : Ludwig - Classic Records - Mobile Fidelity - Palas - Atlantic
For me this was difficult when I started editing the video together and I found three of these to be so close to one another with marginal differences. I find my aural memory is pretty poor unless the difference is huge so splicing these together is always revealing. Thanks for chiming in with your preferences. If I can swing it, I might do another one in the future.
Greetings my friend...another fantastic video...and one that discusses a topic close to my heart. pressing variations. Being an engineer who does mixing and mastering. .I love hearing different engineers approaches on mastering an album. With that said I've always believed that there is never a truly "better" version. ..it's what ever version appeals to your ear and how you enjoy listening to your music. one only needs to look at a person's individual eq settings on their stereo to get an idea. So...for me..it's honestly prefer ed the MOFI version ...that to ME sounded the best..followed by the Bob Ludwig.. interesting to note that I found the Bernie Grundman remaster very close to Bob's. Anyways another brilliant video...keep up the great work.
Hello Mark! Very well stated and I agree with you line that, 'there is never a truly "better" version. It gets down to what you prefer and this is why some of the internet forums bug me. This is something I have wanted to do for a very long time just to see how people would respond and the results are all over the place. The one thing that we can say definitively is that Atlantic botched it with their re'equalized version ;) It does go to show that you can really screw things up if you don't know what you're during. I hope to do another one of these in the future but this one wasn't without its challenges. TH-cam blocked my first run of this a month ago so I had to par the samples down a bit which was unfortunate. I was hoping to get everyone a little bit more but I think even with the samples being what they are, the point gets across.
You can't beat the Japanese extras for sure but I am finding most Japanese presses lack presence. It could explain why Japanese companies like to buy up original presses in America and Europe. It's not to say they are all that way but many are. Thanks for commenting!
Your bench mark and the Classic records were the best. The Mofi and 2014 next but were a little thin vs the best for me using my sennheiser HD 600. 2014 did not have the snap of the top 3.
Thanks for giving your thoughts on this and the Sennheisers would definitely show more clarity in what's coming from the stream. I love the RL and the Classic for different reasons but they were my top two.
My personal copy blows away either by a mile! Linn LP 12 with all upgrades, EKOS arm Benz glider low output cartridge or dynavector DX 20 low output cartridge (and soon to be Lyra Delos) with phenomena phono stage .. all the new pressings did is accentuate trebel in the mix...must be ipod fans....smh.... not sure exactly what pressing mine is but its original 70s and it is very heavy and from top to bottom it's smokes either one of those... it is also my reference album to prove how digital can never reproduce a cymbal timbre correctly.... if you want a true audiophile medium and system challenge, put up King Crimson 'Red' (which is a crappy mastered Atlantic recording to begin with) on any medium and let that be the judge... if the system can make that sound good then it's a keeper!!
Does your copy have the 70's Warner Brothers Logo on the label out of curiosity? If it has a 70s Warner Brothers logo on it, it's likely a late seventies press. I have a couple of those but haven't done a direct shootout as I still didn't feel like it could compare to the RL. It's all a matter of preference though.
I own a VG+ RL and a mid 70’s UK “K” series press. The RL in this comparison wins by a long shot. In second I would put the MOFI. Third is the 2014 digital reissue, was impressed by how open it sounds. The Japanese press sounds like it’s an 8 track or coming through AM radio, not even listenable.
Thanks for chiming in diesel smurf. Sadly, I have picked up a couple more pressings of this record and I am thinking of doing a follow up. Even still, I don't think anything will ever trounce the RL. Japanese pressings to me, as good as the vinyl quality is, should be avoided. Their mastering always seems to be lacking.
For me, the Ludwig version sounds more natural. The thing I was most drawn to looking at, is the difference in the groove patterns from one pressing to another. Obviously this difference will explain the changes in sound from record to record.
Yeah. There's a lot of play in the cut but the more spaced out the grooves, the better the dynamics. You have to be careful though because you could be impacting the sound on the last track. Regardless, I trust Ludwig and I've never encountered a bad Ludwig cut.
2014 comes closest to the Ludwig. And the difference with the others isn't that tremendous--they're all very slightly brighter, the Japanese being the brightest. But, yeah, the RL sounds great.
I've been contemplating doing a sequel as I've picked up a couple of other pressings of this album. I got a UK plum label original I would like to put in a head to head contest. If I do a sequel, I'll keep you're request in mind.
I'm listening to this on bad Bose computer speakers, but must say I could hardly tell much difference between the RL, and the new one (the re-eq and the Japan are bad). Maybe a touch brighter on the BG, but enjoyable. The SR is def brighter, little distracting. If anyone is hearing such a difference between the RL and the new one, I hope you can justify the price difference, esp for one as clean as the new one.
Thanks for commenting on what you're hearing. I am always curious to see what people are getting out of this video and I also hope it will help some folks figure out if spending more money is worth it. I am glad to see that everyone is consistently finding the Japanese press and re-eq are consistently bad.
Picked up a near mint Ludwig pressing back in 94 for a whopping 6 dollars I'm very glad I kept it through the years it was the very first album I ever bought as a kid
@@BarakaPDub I remember when I got the vinyl bug back in the early part of the 90s I went into warehouse music asking for records and the guy at the register telling me and I quote "you want records? Dusty old records? What do you want those for kid? Records are dead and never coming back CDs are the future" boy was that guy wrong lol
Stan Richter I think sounds the closest, but to be fair, I am listening only to ONE channel at the worst resolution at work. The Bernie sounded okay, too (very close 2nd)! I think the 2014 sounded okay on the first cut, but there was a bump on the 2nd cut.
Hello Kris! Even with one channel your thoughts were very close to my own. I was really surprised by the 2014 cut and it just goes to show that digital mastering is not the devil everyone makes it out to be. I honestly thought the 2014 cut would have been near the bottom in the rankings.
1ST Place ~ RL, 2nd Place ~ 2014 John Davis, 3rd Place ~ Bernine Grundman I had the "RL" version in 1969 when I was 14. That was my introduction to Hard Rock, and, to Led Zeppelin, courtesy of a Garrard turntable, and a pair of Koss over-the-ear headphones. Truly a monumental moment for me! The 2014 re-issue is as good as the RL, but if I had a mint RL, I'd choose that, for sentimental reasons. The Bernie Grundman was almost as good as the 2014 John Davis. The Stan Ricker edition is very good. I just don't prefer the clarity of the percussion. I prefer Bob Ludwig's take. I did not care for the Japan 1976 edition, or the Atlantic Reissue.
To be 14 in '69...man, I can't imagine anything better. Listening on Garrard would only heighten the experience. Thanks for chiming in. The 2014 is really not that bad and it surprised me with its performance against the RL.
I just scored a G copy of the Monarch pressing, RL masters for ten bucks today. Even in admittedly crappy condition, it still sounds amazing. Nice 'tubey' Pultec action going on. Had the sleeve sitting on my ELAC B6. (TT, Pro-Ject Debut DC. Acrylic platter upgrade, bog standard Ortofon 2M red) Played Moby Dick at full volume and watched it launch itself halfway across the room. Ludwig for the win! 😂
Nice score. Even for ten bucks. Pultec makes some great gear and I bet even a G copy sounds pretty good through it. Across the board, it looks like you a have a pretty nice set up.
The Grundman and the MoFi were probably my favourites, but the margins are so small! None of this "night and day" stuff you always hear audiophiles saying ☺ This video has given me confidence to go and get the 2014s. 👍
Until I'm fortunate enough to own a Ludwig cut, the 2014 Davis cut, for me, is the closest to having a RL. I bought my Davis cut last Summer and play it the most against my other copies.
Keeping hunting for the Ludwig cut. They're not impossible to find and I would say many record stores don't know what they have. The Davis cut is really good for a reissue. I really wouldn't complain if it was the only copy I had.
I hyped the RL cut 20 years ago on music forums. Over the decades I've listened to many copies or rather challengers. None in my opinion quite meet it. Even newbies will pick it out over others. However the George Piros cuttings of the mid to late 70's sound superb, just slightly attenuated, I call them the poor mans RL. The other great one is the early UK pressing. Different, not quite as robust, but something about it...
Good point Texeq on the George Piros cut of the album I am contemplating doing a bit of a sequel to this video using the UK, George Piros, German RL, and Japanese first pressing.
Very Cool!. I have a UK Plum label and it is similar to Robert Ludwig cut in that there is a lot of presence and space. I also have the MFSL it is such a clean smooth sound and the best bass but it has a tizzy high frequency sound that spoils the listening experience otherwise that would be the best copy. I prefer the new 2014 over all of them. Top to bottom best frequency balance and smooth sound. I am amazed that 50 years of tape transfers could sound this good. The first Zeppelin remaster I am 100% happy with. So Glad that Zepp II is saved in such a great condition for future generations. The 90s remasters were Terrible.
Thanks for commenting Paul. I recently acquired a UK Plum myself and it was one of my finds of the year for sure but I haven't been able to fully digest it yet. Some time down the road, I want to do a bit of a sequel to this one. As for the 90s remasters...I have to agree. Given the limits of the technology at the time, they were more hype than anything else.
Part reason that I prefer the new masters is that is sounds closer to the Australian copy I grew up with. The plum version is so spacious, It is like listening to a different recording. I have no issues with people prefering the Plum version. My preference could change over time.
Came back for a rewatch. Things I noticed, Japanese sounded anemic. The Re-EQd had far too much high end rolled off. All the others seemed to have more top end than the RL. The one thing to notice as you watch is how small the RL runout is compared with all the others. This is because of 2 reasons...the RL has more dynamics so the groove is wider and also RL faded the songs out later than everyone else.
@@BarakaPDub Which is strange. Do they have different taste in EQ? Their vinyl quality is some of the best in the world but what they cut into it seems to fall short for our tastes.
To me it's either conjecture or a rumor but from what I've heard from a couple of sources is they cut the bass frequencies since a good portion of Japanese society is apartment dwellers. They don't want to put in anything that will shake the walls of the neighboring apartments. Yes, I agree, their vinyl product, in terms of surface noise, is second to none.
Hello Ian! I have been away for several days now seeing family and I would like to thank you so much for the card you sent. Got a potential pickup on a used Technics later this week. If I do manage to acquire it, I think you can only guess what cart is going to go on it ;) Hope everything comes together.
BarakaPDub 😄good good Paul!!!... hahaha... i am really glad everything arrived properly!!.. and a good Technics coming into residence at 6**3 and doing stonking duties for you the Master-in-Vinyl starting this week!!!! VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!✌✌✌ - ian
Ian, I watch your channel also, and I see all the nice equipment if Japan. I am wondering, do the albums pressed/mastered there seem to be equalized for a smaller room listening environment? (A dropped off low and highend, mid range slightly boosted)? We were discussing this fact. I wonder is that why the quality of equipment compensates for this? In the sense that you can be closer to the speakers (as in a studio monitor sense-near field), so the deficiencies of the source material are negated? Thanks!
Thanks for watching and commenting Rehab Drive. My feelings are pretty much the same and I found the Mofi and Japanese copies to be extremely disappointing.
I prefer the version of Bernie Grundman - the sound of the cymbals of the drumset are clearer than others. Secound Pallas pressing and than Ludwig version. Thanks for that video.
Hello armandogui and thanks for putting in your thoughts. I love the Grundman cut of the album and Bernie really has yet to disappoint me. I felt the 2014 (Pallas), Grundman, and Ludwig were very close to one another and I would be content with any of them. It was cool to see someone put the Grundman at the top of the list!.
Bob Ludwig is hotter and may have better base. I would love to have Bob's version big time. As a teenager in 1969 this was my first LP. Nice job with this shoot out.
Stay on the look out. I have found several in the used bins in the past. Mostly at places like Half Price Books or 2nd hand stores that don't know what they got.
I'm not very good at discerning a huge difference when it's back to ack but ok going to say the Ludwig pressing. The mofi was close but I'll have to say the first one (Ludwig) would be the best sounding.
I concur completely. This has been a fun experiment to run and I expected the responses to be all over the map. The one thing that is definitive though is that Atlantic re'equalized version is the worst. It just goes to show that what some people claim as an original may not always be the best.
The Bob Ludwig sounds probably the best but Mofi and Reissue are damn close . I will buy a reissue because that's the one I can find and also sounds very good! The Japanese is kind of flat , with no bass to it . The worst one is the EQ Atlantic of course, it's all muffled up , imho.
You can't go wrong with the reissue and I am happy it turned out well compared to a lot of modern reissues where the goal is just to get the stuff out. The Japanese press, like a lot of them I have are very much like this. Kind of a disappointment.
BarakaPDub i just got a Fleetwood Mac - Rumours reissue but I'm kinda disappointed with the sound. Many pops and clicks for a brand new record . I can't seem to get rid of them and the sound isn't that great. It's kind of a hot and miss with some of the new records
Every time I encounter a copy of the album, I always pull it out to see if it's an RL. The copy I have was also a budget score as the antique shop I bought it from didn't know what it was.
Nice! So, RL was pretty clear winner IMHO. Was surprised how well the 2014 sounded. Classic Records was pretty good too. I have yet to come across an RL in the wild, even though millions were supposedly pressed.
Your thoughts match my own. When I first went into this, I was thinking the 2014 would have been near the bottom of the heap. Boy was I ever wrong. It just goes to show that sometimes digital mastering is not the devil people make it out to be ;) The RLs do turn up, I acquired mine at a Half Price Books for under $10. Sometimes you can find eBay sellers that don't know what they have but it can be a huge gamble. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts Tim and have a Happy New Year.
This was a great way to do the comparison and thanks for doing it. Grundman's sounds like it's the closest to Ludwig but what the hell do I know? I am listening out of computer speakers.
I am glad you could pick up the difference in tiny speakers. I love both Grundman and Ludwig's sound the best but that's just my opinion. At the end of the day, high end gear can only do so much to improve the sound and I think a well mastered album can sound great on just about any set up.
Yes. A lot of the early CD masterings were not that good and even the Marino masterings are pretty pale sounding compared to the early vinyl. I am not an analog purist but in this case, I do think Zeppelin sounds better on vinyl.
You know, they're not to impossible to find. It's always good to look when you run into antique stores or non-traditional record shops. A lot of antique dealers don't know what they have. The 2014 version is really, really good for what it is.
Seems like MOFI excels when they deal with a mix that was not good to begin with such as Breakfast in America/Supertramp. I have the orginal Brekky and the MOFI and the MOFI sounds better.
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Here's my story and I'm sticking to it. I'm 68. I was a nut in 1969 and had a "Robert Ludwig" pressing that I played the crap out of. I also had a relatively inexpensive stereo (KLH Model 11 suitcase portable) and was stoned most of the year. In college I straightened up but my taste in music never really changed all that much. As a graduation present I was given $400 and I was also working part time at a food joint "Beefy King" (one of the happiest times of my life). I treated myself to a much better stereo and found the Ludwig sometimes difficult to track with a much better turntable not to mention the wear and tear it had suffered over the years. I also began to learn a lot more about "audio" and how this particular LP had been cut on the "hot" side. So after getting a good job I started to replace some of the LP's I had owned and "misused" First I got a German Pressing (around $8) that I know is the remastered copy done to correct some of the problems inherent in the original. Folks, it's German mint vinyl and no, it doesn't sound quite as good - but there is no noise....NONE. Me like. Then a friend who is no longer a friend fell for the "perfect sound" forever crap and sold me his MOFI pressing of same for $3 (sold me his entire record collection in fact). Let's put it this way, he played his LP's once, committed to tape and when he sold me his collection said the words: "if I never hear another clip and pop in my life, I will be a happy man." 6 years later he wanted it all back. As The Band so famously put it: "no" was all I said. I hear things on the MOFI pressing I never heard before but there are a lot of other factors here such as a superior audio system. Would I pay $750 for a VG Robert Ludwig? Not on your life. I would buy a guitar with that kind of money (I now play - did not when I was a "stoner"). So I have two absolutely mint copies that are now part of a vast collection of mint vinyl that I adore. I have no need for another copy. As to the differences in this demonstration - they are there but largely meaningless in terms of the better pressings because what you might lose in one area you get in another. The MOFI is now getting ridiculously expensive so my advice? Buy a new or reasonably priced clean, clean, clean used respected copy and treat it well and treasure it. Life is short. $750 for a VG or less copy - give me a break.
Yeah. I am not sure I would spend $750 on a copy but I have found two RLs and in both cases, I paid less than $25 because the individuals didn't know what it was. There not impossible to find at a reasonable price, you just have to hit antique stores and pawn shops. That said, the Germans do a great job at pressing records and I would probably be quite content with one of their pressings because at the end of the day, it's the music that matters, right?
Your life is a book.
@@BarakaPDubI use to play my albums to death and ruined them. I switched to 8-track before switching back to vinyl. I bought a Korean LZll for next to nothing before buying it remastered on cd. Lucky for me I met a lady who has been kind enough to sell me some vinyl that belonged to her late husband. He was very particular about caring for his records so the records I have purchased from her is in really vg+ and vg++ condition. She gifted me some vinyl just before Christmas time and LZll with the gold record sticker was among the selection of albums. It isn’t RL but it sounds great to these old ears. Wonderful condition so it was a wonderful surprise.
Oh man I was surprised how good the 2014 reissue sounded in comparison, and considering it's the cheapest and most readily available i might have to pick that one up. Japanese sounded very thin next to everything else. BG cut also sounded great to my ears.
Honestly, going into this I thought the 2014 was going to be blown away but I agree with you! This just goes to show that digital mastering is not the devil everyone makes it out to be...provided it's done right. I also found the Japanese version to be a disappointment! Thanks for playing along Bryan.
Honestly surprised me since it came from digital source
The 2014 vs Bob Ludwig's master was very close and they both sounded really good
Yeah the Page/Davis 2014 up against the Ludwig is nearly impossible for me to know which is which unless I'm watching the screen. I think they did a great job on it.
Is the 2014 still the most recent if I buy now? Don’t want to get a possible inferior version.
RIP John Davis who sadly passed away last Wednesday. I will spin a few of my 2014 remasters tonight in memory of him. 🙏🏻
Wow! I didn't know that at all. He really did a great job with them!
There's just something about the Ludwig pressing.... not only do you hear it, you FEEL it.
It goes straight to the senses.... the depth and bottom end really hit strongly without losing the highs.
Just a fantastic balance that never sounds outdated.
No wonder it's highly sought out after.
The nice thing is that they're out there. There a many an antique dealer that don't know what they have. Whenever I encounter a copy in the used bins, I got to take a look. Thanks for watching!
Yeah, I can imagine... I do the same thing. That's awesome! Take good care.
I get it about the Ludwig pressing. But, to me with my system. The Bass Drum and Bass Guitar of the 2014 pressing have those instruments as more distinct and separate sounds. Whereas with the Ludwig they are more of a "Blended"? sound which gives it that "Ump-hf". Which I'm sure sounded impressive on home stereos back then.
Got to agree with Abbey 72. You do need a nuts on correct turntable alighnment if you wany Whole Lotta Love to play all the way through, however the base and drums you really fo feel on the ludwig mix.
Awesome comparison. Thanks for taking the time to make this! Ludwig got it right the first time.
Thanks for the comment. I agree he did it the best.
Thank god, I just ordered the entire Led Zeppelin - Jimmy Page remastered library (yet to arrive). Then over the last week, I've watched several self-appointed, audiophile professionals shatting on these remasters, saying they were un-listenable garbage. Now that I've heard your comparison (at least for Led Zep II) I feel much better...a sigh of relief! John Davis did a great job when compared to the Bob Ludwig version, sounds the closest, at least to my old ears.
Rest assured, I think John Davis did the catalog quite well and I don't think you have anything to fear. When it comes to these compares, trust your own ears and go with what you like Thanks for giving this one a watch!
The über audiophile even claimed that John Bonham would roll over in his grave if he heard the Jimmy Page ones. Pathetic.
@@BarakaPDub Yes indeed trust your own ears as you're the one that's listening to it on your system! My motto is no matter what source the record has come from: "If it sounds good - it is good!" I know some people will NOT listen to any vinyl pressed and re-issued from a digital source which I think is well "digital prejudice". Digital has improved by leaps and bounds over the last 50 years - just give it a chance I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! 😉
for me ludwig and grundman is the best ones for sure!!!!
That's what I thought as well. Thanks for chiming in Icy!
Icy Sasaki lundwig and grosman mix albums of Frank Zappa records 🤗🤗🤗
I also agree that the Ludwig takes the checkered flag. Also notice that the Ludwig is cut closer to the label compared to the others, a sign of higher cutting level, not as much limiting of dynamics or not as much bass rolloff. I don't know how much any of you out there are familiar with the general sonic character of the various lacquer cutters, but in my opinion, George Marino of Sterling Sound would have been a good choice to do latter day reissues of the classic Led Zeppelin albums, I have found that his lacquer cuts have a rawness and impact that is in keeping with the music on the Led Zeppelin albums.
Man, there's just something about the RL in the guttural tones of the guitar and the overall sound of the drums that win me over. The MoFi is nice, too, followed by 2014 John Davis and then BG. All of the latter cuts have great qualities about them but to my ears when you blend all the sounds together RL's cut has the perfect blend. There's something about it that just screams "THIS IS WHAT ZEPPELIN IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE". For my money, I'd want the RL, MFSL, and 2014 in my collection. Awesome stuff here, man, and thanks for doing this. I had a great time comparing!
Thanks for commenting. You're opinion is definitely unique and there is nothing wrong with that but I do concur the RL copy set the bar. The music really needs to scream at you!
Ludwig,,, gives me goosebumps. The Best. Now I need to review my copies... and I have a few and check em side by side. Thanks for your video. Great job.
Hope you ended up with one. They're rare but not impossible to find.
Robert Ludwig hands down, flat frequency hugely dynamic and cut as deep as possible without turning the puck into a slinky to cram all the extended bandwidth as humanly possible. He always does right by the music.
Fantastic comment Michael! I have yet to find a RL cut that is terrible. I don't think it's possible with the man.
I never realized until the 2014 remasters how much I was used to the second EQ version commonly released in the US. The 2014 mixes had much more high end and slighly less low end. Now I realize that the 2014 mixes are quite faithful to the original RL mix.
I swear by the new remasters. They are really good for what they are and anyone new getting into the hobby, they're the ones I recommend for younger people getting into Zeppelin.
To anyone using this video to compare the sound: To experience the true power or the RL you need to sit in front of a decent stereo system and play it LOUD. It is an absolutely visceral experience that legitimately knocks your socks off. An iPhone speaker will not convey the power. Headphones will not convey the power. You need to play the record loud on a half decent Hifi. It is a physical experience.
Saying in person is honestly so true. Being in person does make a difference.
Thanks for the comparison. I think the RL still wins! The Classic, 2014 reissue, and MOFI are very close and pretty good. The Japanese is proof that Japanese pressings aren't always the darlings collectors make them out to be. And of course the Atlantic remix is bad. I would be curious to hear how a vintage German pressing would stack up.
the Classic sounds metallic when it and the RL are compared directly thru the same cart. I'm not saying that the Classic is bad at all, merely that it suffers in comparison.
I wish I liked the MFSL more than I do, because it's the one decent pressing I currently own.
"1992" Japan Analog Series release was nicely done. Bernie and Robert Ludwig are equal. Mofi when properly cared for is quiet and smooth. Page's version kicks digital add too.
The vintage germans ARE RL cuts though... at least the early ones were.
@@utub1473 my understanding is that on the esrly German pressings, side 1 is cut from RL. I have one, and the RL is there in the dead wax, and it does sound very good and hot. Btw: side 2 sounds pretty good too
The Atlantic remix is a crime against music, easily the worst sounding record I’ve ever, and will ever, owned.
Hi Paul .. Thank you for doing this.. I love stuff like this. Here's my list:
1. Bob Ludwig
2. Bernie Grundman
3. John Davis
4. Stan Ricker (Mofi)
5. Japanese Issue
6. Atlantic Re-Eq'ed
I do think the top 3 on my list is pretty close... So knowing that. I could live with getting the 2014 reissue, because the top 2 are probably impossible to get for reasonable money :)
I have a German copy from 81-82.. I don't know how that is compared to the ones you have. But I think the 2014 reissue is probably a lot better. I think I might get the 2014 remaster on CD one day.
I'd love to see you do more of these comparison videos :) I think this video will get a lot of views in the years to come. Great work!
Happy new year, buddy.
Hello Carsten and Happy New Year! Getting caught up on comments after being out of town for several days. Your rankings match what I thought and I think the 2014 version is a steal. I would be perfectly content with it if I was starting my collection from scratch. The Classic, Mofi, & RL do fetch high dollar nowadays but I was lucky and only paid a fraction of what they are going for on the internet. The RL I found in the used bins and paid under $10 for it. The shop that sold it to me didn't know what they had. For the past year or so, if I see a Zeppelin II in the used bins, I automatically look for the RL in the deadwax.
I agree with your top 3 to me the top 3 were extremely close and really not worth splitting hairs over plus the John Davis re-master is affordable. Very enjoyable comparison please do more of these.
The problem I have with multiple pressings is that more often than not, though I can hear a difference, I can't make up my mind which I prefer. So end up keeping them all. That said, there are definitely some strong differences here. Thanks for doing the video!
Thanks for participating and I fell into the same trap with this particular album. There are a few other albums in which I fell into the same trap and I couldn't part with any of the copies. If I can, I might do another compare like this but I might pick a different band to do it with ;)
I just wanted to thank you for making this video. I just saw it a few days ago, it's because of your comparison, I immediately went searching for the hot mix. An hour ago, I won an auction on eBay and it is on the way!
Nice D 71. I hope you enjoy it. I've purchased couple of more pressings since then and still nothing beats an 'RL'.
What a great idea for a round table on the subject, thanks for this original and captivating vid! Ludwig would be it for me if I'm hearing correctly, but I'd savor the time to be in the same as the tests were being committed to know that I wasn't dreaming the process and selection. Thank you.
Thanks. Being in the room gives you a better impression but I find in most cases my aural memory is not that good. You really need to lock in on the specifics of a particular sound when doing an in room A/B test.
BarakaPDub you're absolutely right, it's just me geeking to the potential of being present.
The comparison video was good - the comments (and opinions) were excellent! Thanks for initiating a fun conversation.
Thank you so much for watching Jim and I am glad this one has stayed up for as long as it has. I wish I could do more of these.
You know I'm happy to own Led Zeppelin II and all the Zeppelin collection on vinyl, when I completed the collection that was it for me, was a relief cause then I could buy another artists collections. This video is a new level of nerdiness lol, but its adorable, fun to watch.
Thanks. Believe me, there are people that are more obsessive over this than me. For me it's just been fun to see peoples' responses to this one.
Hi:
Great comparison! For me the BG is my favourite followed by the RL and JD which seem pretty much neck and neck. Let me add that the BG to my ears is my very slight favourite of the 3 I've mentioned. I could easily live with any one of them but as I only have the JD version I'm a happy camper and can't see dropping a lot of cash for a BG or RL mix.
Keep up the good videos - much appreciated!
Thank you 79mercedes. There is no right or wrong here and the BG is really, really good. I am hopeful Acoustic Sounds will be using the Classic Records plates to do some deluxe reissues...provided the band will let it happen. Outside of that the JD is really good for what it is.
P.S. After doing the comparison again with phones the JD mastering sounds very very close to the RL mastering. When I close my eyes I find it very hard if not impossible to tell when the RL source LP is switched with the 2014 JD remaster.🤔
Lol, senor splicer......now that took some time, bless you for your efforts, great! Listened with headphones, Ludwig, slight edge. But all were great, and nothing an equalizer can't do to enhance. Cheers, steve
Hello Steve. This video was a labor of love and it was blocked on my first upload attempt about a month ago. The original had samples that were a bit longer in duration but I pared them down a bit. Even with having them in a shorter duration, I think there is enough for everyone to see that each engineer mad different choices on the EQ'ing. Have a Happy New Year my friend!
the John Davis 2014 reissue comes somewhat close to the Bob Ludwig cut but lacks the same clarity. I was particularly disappointed by the harshness of the MFSL cut, as well! The Bernie Grundman cut is a close second for me and I really love the midrange content in that one but wow, believe the hype about the Bob Ludwig cut for sure...
Thanks for commenting on your thoughts Zach. I have come across seven more copies since I have made this video but they were all second presses. I hope to come across more Ludwig's cheaply to pass on to friends.
Ahh those were the days tho.....I remember discovering this and the following 5 or 6 albums after it.. best days of my life
I had to circle back from album IV but it didn't take me that long ;) Maybe about a week or two ;)
RL hot mix and 2014 reissue are very similar. Both I like the most. Great comparison.
Thank you. I think the guys buying the new reissue are actually getting a good deal. Most of what you find in the used bins should be avoided here in the states because most are not the RL cut.
Ludwig....all the way.
Love my Monarch RL pressing
Lee Ving have the same pressing. Sounds sooo good.
Monarch RL...it doesn't get any better ;) Thanks for chiming in!
BarakaPDub Dear paul,what about the led zep 1st album?
Which is the best pressing?
There are soooo many out there!!
Thank you!!!
Actually, the best feature of the Ludwig is the midrange. I liked the Davis 2nd best, comes closest to Ludwig mid-wise with possibly a little more detail and separation. One of the others in there (think it was Ricker) was too exaggerated at either frequency end, with a mid-suckout.
Thanks theoldmet. On the Ricker, I am wondering if the VTA affected the sound. The early Mofi records seem to be between 90 to 110 grams. Whenever I get a turntable with an adjustable VTA, I want to play around with the early Mofi's. With my current set up, all the 80's Mofi records don't sound the great.
I have the 2014 pressing and I am happy that you have made a great comparison , because I thought my copy might be totally inferior to the RL mix after reading other you tube posts .I can enjoy mine even more now. My dear late friend had the plum label which would have been very nice but it wasn't to be. Thanks again
Thanks for watching Bill. The 2014 pressing really isn't that bad at all and it was the only one I had access it to, I would be quite content with it.
@@BarakaPDub good to know I can enjoy it even more now !
A neat easter-egg on the German produced 2014 remaster is that they included the Livin Lovin Wreck error ;)
I didn't know that at all. I am going to have to pay more attention. That's so cool they put that in.
Close call between Ludwig, Mofi and BG, but they all stand out from the others. This was fun, more shootouts, please.😎👍
Thanks. I do have several more planned for the future and hope to maybe have another one out in a couple of weeks.
I've known the RL cut was tops for long enough that I've never bothered with any other ones, however it's really neat to finally hear how striking the difference actually is and hear what I'd have been missing out on without it! Very blessed to have a NM copy.
What are your thoughts on LZIII? I haven't don't any comparisons either but I feel that BG's mastering style is well suited to the album, especially the "acoustic" side 2. So I chose the 200gm classic and stuck with it
BG never disappoints me and I would follow that man to hell and back even though he made slightly different choices than Bob on Zeppelin II. I should do something similar with LZ III but in all honesty, I think I prefer the Grundman on the third album. If you have any of the Classic Records on Zeppelin, hang on to them, they are all good. Thanks for chiming in MrRom!
Okay, this just saved me some money. Seriously.....I cant tell ANY difference. They all sound good.
No worries Danny H. The whole thing is very subjective and if you love the album, any pressing should do.
Can’t tell a diff? That’s horse shit. Check your ears for it too.
@@jp1194 wow! I guess we all are not as sophisticated as you.
@@jp1194 elitist audiophiles like you are very cringey and lame.. js
Bob Ludwig's version is well balanced and I prefer it. The highs sound effortless, thoughtfully touched, not like they're fighting though tons of processing to be noticed.
For me, it doesn't get any better and Bob was a master at cutting records as hot as an engineer could make them. Thanks for putting in your thoughts yelloradio.
I would sat that if blindfolded you could play the Ludwig, MO-Fi, and 2014 reissue and not tell which is which. All 3 are stellar.
The album was so well recorded to begin with it's hard to butcher it but clearly Atlantic did do it. Thanks for watching Lazerrus and sorry for my delayed response.
The RL and MFSL sound almost identical save the first sample track. Not sure you can wrong with the RL, the MFSL, or the Classic, honestly. The 2014 is digital sourced and, while I don't think it's as bad as some say, the cymbals are closed down with almost zero decay. That's a huge PASS for me. (I have it, too, for the companion disc and so not relying entirely on this review) Great video!
Thank you Carrion Man for checking this out and putting in your two cents. I love the companion discs on all of the sets. I just wish we had gotten a couple of outtakes from the first record but I am not complaining about the live set either.
Paul Ludwig mix truly win and a serious benchmark I would say Mofi and Classic is a very close second very cool comparison I was after the Classic Records and Bob Ludwig for ever and I lucky found Mofi press in Milwaukee for a killer price of $40 I've been happy with it so far I still search for that Ludwig though one day a nice minty copy will come my way thanks for the comparison video we need more of these done on TH-cam. lovellandrew
I still promise to keep my eyes out on an RL for you. Again, every once in a Blue Moon, I stumble upon a copy in the used bins (i.e. Half Price Books) and they don't know what they got. $40 for the Mofi is a steal. I managed to score my before the renewed interest in vinyl took off so I got it at a decent price as well. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts. I do agree that RL is the best.
Thanks Paul I appreciate you are keeping an I out 👊👍🎸.lovellandrew
Wow, really interesting! I'm quite surprised to say this but the one that gets closer do the RL is the 2014 reissue. The MOFI and Japanese sound a tin and lack some bass. The Classic pressing sounds different from the RL but I would be ok with it. It sounds maybe clearer than the RL. But all in all, I prefer the RL. Thanks!
Glad you found the information useful. I am trying to put some of these out there when I can to help guide folks. At least folks can listen with their own ears to find out what they may like.
Thank you so much for uploading this! Noticed a good amount of differences amongst all pressings. The RL cut comes off a bit bass heavy, while BG’s cut sounds more clear and in a way, sounds like a live band just because of how clear Bonzo’s snare sounds. However, it is a bit brighter, but I do like it that way. Definitely going to seek that reissue now! John Davis did a great job on his cut. The 2014 is a great example of a digitally sourced record sounding fantastic, and it stays faithful to the RL cut (which is probably why the 2014 cover replicated the US cover and not the UK cover like the rest of the 2014 reissues). Stan’s MFSL cut isn’t bad, in fact I like the drums from his cut. However, it’s much too bass heavy for me. As for the Japanese and US ‘69-75 pressings, god awful. The Japanese just sounds completely shitty, but the US EQ’ed cut is by far and away the worst I’ll ever hear LZ II.
My Rankings Are:
1. 1969 Robert Ludwig Cut
2. 2000/2005 Classic Records Bernie Grundman Cut
3. 2014 John Davis Cut
4. MFSL Stan Ricker Cut
5. 1976 Japanese Pressing
6. 1969-1974 Atlantic EQ’ed Pressing
Love your rankings Alex as they pretty much match my own thoughts. This comparison really highlights why I don't care for Japanese pressings. They're cool and all but I haven't found one that can beat an OG or well done reissue. Maybe it is that '69 to '75 period like you state.
I have the Atlantic, RL and the 2014. When I pull one out to listen it’s the 2014! It’s my fave...
I honestly think I would be content with my 2014 copy if I didn't know any better.
BarakaPDub the 2014 Zep III is the best of that series to my ears... cannot be bested. Unfortunately it’s popular to dump on the reissues.
Outside Houses, which has a pressing flaw on The Ocean, I have to agree that they're all really well done. Here's hoping How The West Was Won turns out great...along with the RSD 45 single with the unreleased mixes.
The Ludwig cut destroyed them all. Surprised however, at how nicely the 2014 remaster sounded.
Yeah. The 2014 blew me away as well. I had really low expectations for it going into this shoot out. A lot of modern reissues can sound less than stellar. I am glad that Jimmy did this one right.
Hello, I listened to the various versions. I did'nt know there were so many variations. The drums are cleaner and generally the tone if the Ludwig is best...but it was the first and contemporary so it also has all the vibes of that period incorporated.
Yes. There are many and this album is hotly debated on many online forums. To me, nothing can beat a Ludwig!.
Another great video Paul👍 Thanks so much for doing this!! Bob Ludwig mix for me with the Mofi a close second.
No problem and I have been wanting to do this one for the longest time. If you read any internet forum on what is the best pressing of this...or that, there is a lot of people that are a bit biased. For this one, I wanted to put it all out there and let your ears decide. Thanks for chiming in on your preference. If I can, I might try and pull another one of these together in the future.
I know this is an older video but I just found a copy of the RL pressing today at a record store and was just wanting to learn more about it. Now that this video has been on here for a while, can you tell me what you really think? Btw, I think the RL gets my vote and I have three copies that are represented here. I don't have the 2014 reissue. Thanks for making this video.
Hello Melinda and thanks for digging through my old catalog of videos. I've gathered a couple more pressings of this album since putting this video and to my ears, my mind has not changed, nothing beats the Robert Ludwig cut. I've compared it against a UK original pressing and still the Ludwig comes out on top. If you've found one, cherish it. As an aside, Bob cut a lot of classic rock albums and in my opinion, if you see RL in the deadwax then you know you're getting on of the best cuts of a given album.
@@BarakaPDub I'm listening to my RL version right now as I read your comment. Lol. I can't believe I found one. This is my favorite Led Zeppelin album and to have this version is such a treat for me. Thanks again for this video. It was very interesting.
2014 Reissue. The sound is incredible!
Yep. I was really surprised on how well it performed. The 2014 & 2015 reissues are really not a bad deal.
Okay so below I gave my thoughts on the RL and Mofi. Having totally upgraded my system I bought the newer 2014 LZII pressing and I’m very glad I did. Firstly it’s a great pressing on top quality vinyl. Secondly it sounds killer even though they did edit out the last strains of Ramble On but, whooo cares when the disc sounds this good?! It seems that on this record, as on LZI and LZIII there may have been some enhancements done to add depth and separation because that’s what I am hearing anyhow. Subtle but tasteful enhancements. Really surprised how much my new phono stage reveals these improvements. Sounds better by far than any CD version to even though I know this album was cut using digital files.
Hello Rick. Thanks for the great comment. The 2014 - 2018 drops done by Davis have really been good and I am not hesitant to recommend them to folks that want a good Zeppelin pressing. While I am not a vinyl purist, I would gladly take the vinyl over the digital for Zeppelin.
Interesting comparison. I thought the RL, Classic, MoFi and Pallas were all close. Hard to pick a fav from listening over headphones. I just recently purchased a sealed Classic and I love it, very dynamic and open sounding on my Martin Logan electrostatic speakers. My other copies I picked up used from record fairs, they are all only just fair. I may also have an RL, dunno, I walked several miles when i was in Jr. high to buy Zep II not long after it came out, but I'm afraid my GE Mustang record player trashed it long ago. It is prob in a box somewhere. :( Saw them in Houston in 1970 at the Hofheinz Pavilion. Fantastic show!
Ahh if you got a classic, you'r pretty much set in my opinion. If you do end up having an RL hang onto it. Extremely jealous of your live experience. I was way to young to catch them before Bonham passed in '80. I did get to see both Page/Plant tours but the experience will never be matched by seeing the full band in their prime.
I do have an original UK purple label version. I bought it in the UK when it came out. It means I don't have to fret about versions (I think).
I am tempted to do a sequel to this one as I acquired a few other presses of this one since doing it. The UK Purple being one of them. The UK versions are the ones the band signed off on so they have to sound good.
@@BarakaPDub That would be interesting and it's a relief to know that the band signed them off. I thought the sound was impressive the first time I heard it but I've nothing to compare it to, unless to these videos.
This is fun! I had a clean RL copy that sold for $350.00 nearly two years ago. I imagine it has gone up in value since then.
It appears there is life after RL.. Bernie Grundman's mastering (#3) sounds very close, and perhaps a bit cleaner.. possibly that so many RL copies have sustained at least a little groove wear, so the later pressings have the edge in that department. I did notice this pressing is pitched up ever so slightly, which has the music sounding just a little "rushed" but so slight that you wouldn't notice if I had not mentioned it. (I'm a pitch OCD musician) Next is the Mofi, (#2) and typical the mid is scooped a little, but really does nice things to the overall presentation of Zeppelin. If anyone prefers greater clarity on the top end, then the mofi should be considered, just sounds cleaner over my monitors than all the rest in this demo. I like also #5, John Davis, great bass extension and accurate hi hat sound, pitch accurate with the RL pressing... I think my favorite.
Not so good is the rather muffled Atlantic Re-Eq (#1), and the awful sounding Japanese pressing ( #4, terrible mids and no bass)
Back in the 80's, I demo'd my RL pressing to a few friends, before I knew it was special. I did notice how dynamic it was, and front to back imaging (depth)... especially the interlude part of "Whole Lotta Love". It was sold to pay off a debt, typical we must sacrifice something loved. (vs an unloved item nobody wants)
Sorry you had to part with your RL but I understand as I have been through that one before. Glad you could pick up the pitch. I honestly think if your a musician and you can key in on certain parameters then you're best to judge here. Your input is really good and consistent in that most folks found the Japanese press to be bad and every agreed the Atlantic Re-Eq was downright awful!
The Duffy seems to be you can hear Jones fingers strike the strings&perhaps the pickup louder in some albums
That's one of the keys for me is being able to hear Jones more in the mix.
wow ,right off i think the atlantic eq,japans were the worst ones but the other three sounded very similar and anyone of the other three would be good ones to own ,great shoot out keep em coming
I would like to do more shootouts like these in the future but I need to be careful. My first attempt at getting this guy up last month was a no go so I had to par the samples down a bit which was unfortunate. I suspect this to be very subjective based on everyone's different taste but I agree, to my ears, three of these were very close to one another.
I recently participated in a blind test to see what my preference for pressings were on the track Moby Dick, here were my answers:
My Answers:
SAMPLE 1. RL (Bass, drive and dynamics but muffled and not refined enough.)
SAMPLE 2. 2014 ( Similar to SAMPLE 1 in most ways )
SAMPLE 3. MFSL ( Nice middleground with between clarity and tonal balance )
SAMPLE 4. Classic ( Most present and clear sample with great imaging but slightly worse bass and dynamics at times)
My Preferences on Moby Dick:
1. SAMPLE 4 (Most refined and clear presentation even if dynamics and bass is slightly worse in parts)
2. SAMPLE 3 (Good middleground if 4 is too harsh and 2 / 1 too boomy and cluttered)
3. SAMPLE 2 and 1 (Too much muffling on this song and the bass increase seldom helps here)
Key:
SAMPLE 1. RL
SAMPLE 2. 2014
SAMPLE 3. MFSL
SAMPLE 4. Classic
My next target will be the MFSL release, if it solves some brightness issues of the Classic Ill be real happy with it.
Leon - Thanks for the super detailed response. I honestly like what Classic did with the whole catalog. I just wish I could land my hands on the super rare 45 rpm version they made. Outside of a run of about a 100 copies of the road box set, they only way to score it is to get a more limited test pressing of it. In retrospect, I am wondering if I had better normalized the MFSL copy, would it have changed opinions of it. I personally find the 80's MFSL copies more hype than anything else but maybe I should give them a deeper listen.
@@BarakaPDub The MFSL is more quiet thats for sure. But the thing with this test is that it was only for the track Moby Dick.
Grundman showed his prowes on this better recording making it the most realistic sample. But as mentioned I feel the Classic is bright on some tracks so maybe the MFSL is worse on other ones too.
Speaking of 45 RPM I must confess Ive lost my hype for such editions.
There was a Hoffman thread were we went over examples and Hoffman himself came in to be educational.
If its the same mastering, the 45 doesnt seem to be better at all besides being louder, which can avoid surface noise better and avoid inner grooves but sonically it seems identical.
Of course if its a new mastering then that is a change of note, but the 45 RPM seems more and more like the marketing word 180gram is these days.
At least if a system is competant enough to track the more demanding 33s.
Maybe the 45 Zeppelins are new masterings but I feel more happy staying on the 33 copies I have these days ;^)
For the 45 rpm versions, Grundman did a dedicated mastering of those as well. While I can't say it definitively, I think he cut the 45's once he completed the 33 and 1/3 versions from the master tapes. I do agree though, if the source mastering was the same, you shouldn't hear too much of a difference.
@@BarakaPDub Good to know, Id love to hear the 45s someday. On the topic of Zeppelin 2 though, I think its the only Classic Zeppelin that didnt use the original master tape. It was from a copy tape that was found. Grundman working well with what he has doesn't reveal that very much in the sound though, but it is a little bit less dynamic than the RL or MFSL. If its because of applied compression or the tape generation is impossible to say though.
The Ludwig sounds fantastic with the Davis 2014 pretty darn close! I agree that the Japanese pressing is very flat and lifeless. I wasn't that impressed with the MOFI though. I thought it sounded a tiny bit muddy. I have a Monarch and I love the the sound. It's no Ludwig, but it's a very clean copy and I only paid $15 for it so I'm happy!
Monarch was the best plant that Atlantic used so if you have a Monarch, it's definitely a step a head of the rest. At $15, you got yourself a steal. The used copies I am seeing nowadays are going for over $20. Thanks for watching fotoram.
The 2014 and the Bob lug wig and a 200 g versions they were the best sounding Ones
Thanks Greg. It just goes to show that not all represses are really that bad.
The drums and bass are definitely what got the short straw when it comes to the Atlantic guys mixes
Yeah. The transients all got cut back and it's like putting a pillow over the record.
That was a blast! Thanks for putting that all together including the 'cleanse the palate' takes between. This will certainly spark discussion lol. First, your copy of Ludwig hot mix looks fantastic. Bernie's mix sounded very very good as well as the 2014 mix wow. To me the Ludwig sounded the best considering bass, mids, highs and attack. The Bernie seemed to have more highs but not as full mids and lows as the Ludwig. The first Atlantic and MoFi sounded the 'worst' but jeeze so close. I'm trying not to be Ludwig loyal to the point of fault either. There are other great engineers but to me again, Ludwig. How bad has the youtube compression ruined this anyway? Happy New Year Paul
Thanks Corey and it sure has generated a lot of discussion. I haven't had this many view counts on a single video in only a few days so I suspect people are going back to it just to see how others are commenting. This has been a fun experiment and sometimes my aural memory is pretty poor so putting this together to compare and contrast has been fun. I was surprised at my own response. I was thinking the 2014 would have been near the bottom but after listening, boy was I wrong. I do agree with you on the Ludwig and Bernie mixes. If I had to do it over again, I would put in the WAV file plots as these were pretty revealing in of themselves. They show that each engineer was making different choices on the final output. Happy New Year Corey.
The key comparison in regards to the MFSL pressing is the beginning of "Bring It On Home." The bass is very muted on that cut on the MF pressing, supposedly due to the source tape (not a master, btw) being heat damaged from sitting in a hot car!
Interesting. I haven't heard that story before. So the MF was a brand new mix?
I don't believe the MFSL record is a new mix, but it's supposedly not cut from the original stereo 2 track master.
For me Ludwig pressing oh and guess what!! Found one at a yard sale for 3 bucks!!! took it home and did a cleaning and WOW!!!!!!!! The find of my life!!!
$3?!?!? That is the find of a lifetime! I am always hopeful I'll come across another one but the pickings are getting slim.
I never had this on vinyl until a few years ago when I got the remaster from 2014. It sounded pretty good, no complaints really. Then last year I got lucky and found an RL at a record shop while on vacation for $10. It was labeled VG, but after a good cleaning, it's definitely a solid VG+. Anyway, hearing it for the first time just blew me away! It's so alive in a way only analog can be. Sidenote, I also got the 2014 reissue of III. It is pretty good, but again, seemed to be missing something. Since III is my favorite, I decided to splurge on the Classics ed. All I can say is WOW! Wouldn't mind getting more Classics eds, but dang, big $$$$.
$10??!!? Damn, that's a steal. I haven't been finding too many of the RL's lately. As for the Classics, I hear you completely. I jumped on board early...before the prices started to sky rocket.
Oh you're a sweet heart! Listen to the kick and snare on every Bob Ludwig round compared to the others. The only argument one could have is the others are brighter for the most part and faster tape speed but you can't bring back whats gone. Adjusting the color is what EQ's and other filters are for, Bonham is never denied by Bob so, BOB TAKES THE CAKE EVERY ROUND HANDS DOWN!
Thanks Dave. I have garnered a few more pressings of this since doing this video and there is still no beating an RL copy at all.
I would have to say the Bob Ludwig mix is hands down the best. The very best two are Bob Ludwig and Bernie Grundman versions. Glad i got my hands on a Bob Ludwig original of Zep II. Great comparison video!
Thanks and to my ears, I concur with your assessment.
Look how narrow the deadwax is on the RL version.
Bob definitely knew how to cut the album and you right about the deadwax. That's a good indicator of how dynamic it was cut.
That was excellent to do that !!
Thank you
I had that LP and never knew about it until this year
I recorded it on to a cassette back then and sold it like an ass … I never knew it , but I really like ( prefer ) the Bob Ludwig mix
I am so pissed about that
I knew it because of remembering the black Atlantic emblem . And how loud it sounded when I played it ..
Thank you so much for helping me turn that stone in my mind !!
Too old now !
You never know, you might encounter the 'RL' press again. There are still a lot out there and whenever I see a Zeppelin II, I look for it. I have found a couple in antique stores because there are a lot of antique dealers that never bother to research what they really have. Thanks for watching YoupunkAP.
Thank you !!
I will definitely look again !!
@2:18
"Everybody thinks MoFi is great."
Not me. I think MoFi almost always sucks. It is a rare exception when they get it right.
I too struggle with the 80's Mofi's. I think a lot of the newer versions are much better done.
You're damn right!
From what I've gathered, 80s MoFi blows, but the recent ones (such as the one step, the Bob Dylan ones) are really good.
Beatles Abbey rd tho
Yes!
Well the John Davis of course.
But of course ;)
What a fantastic video. Thanks for sharing this comparison. It really helps determining what to look for! The Atlantic and Japanese pressings were just dreadful compared to the others. Lifeless and flat. The MOFI and 2014 pressings were very close to the Ludwig version, almost to the point of making it hard to decide which was the best. I think the Ludwig is still the best, but these two were excellent. Just a great example of how mastering can make or break a record!
My favorite is and always will be the Ludwig. A mint copy Bob Ludwig is the crème de la crème of MB II. The clarity is amazing. I read a while back that some of the early RL pressings were skipping on a lot of turntables. So a lot of people returned them. Did you ever ready about this Paul? ~
Rob
I sure did read about the skipping. I remember first reading about it in a Zeppelin book but I can't remember which one for the life of me. For my TOTD on Ludwig, I felt it important to include the clip with him actually retelling the story. I am glad that he got the chance to do Houses of the Holy ;)
if i had to rank them, it would probably go-
1. Ludwig (not really a contest, the dynamics even through my iphone speakers are astounding)
2. Grundman (very close to RL, but not as much punch in the bass)
3. 2014 Remaster (this is the pressing I own, and I definitely believe it can hold its own, just lacks a little warmth-probably due to the digital EQ instead of analog)
4. Japanese 76 (sounds a little muffled, bass is quite tinny, but not the worst)
5. Atlantic Repress (by far the worst, sounds like its underwater)
Great video and comparison of one of the greatest albums of all time!
Thank you Jacob and this one is one of my all time favorite albums. I love your ranking (as they match mine) and descriptions.
1: RL. That one is smoking!
2: BG. Really close to my ears. A very close 2nd.
3: John Davis. This one also sounded great.
Thanks Jason...that's really how I ranked them in my mind as well. I am glad the John Davis, RIP, copy is still available and keeps getting pressed.
So , since the last time I posted on this topic , I’ve gone on quite a run as far as acquiring these RLs , I’ve decided to buy all RLs from the different pressing plants . What I’ve found after some months of hunting these is this
They are out there , a lot of Presswell versions I’ve acquired 3 of them eBay are full of these
CTH is next a lot of these as well as the cheap Down grade version
You’ll find a few Monarchs pop up frequently but will sell fast as I believe the monarch double RL SS is the holy grail out all these versions .
The SP special pressing versions are scarce but will pop up on eBay once in awhile. You see one rl version , buy it .
The Columbia Pitman I believe is the scarcest of all the versions , it’s a very interesting one at that , has very little etching on the deadwax, took me months to find one $84 dollars G+ I was quick to buy it on discogs .
Sound wise the monarch is at the top , Presswell, CP, CTH RL SS / LH SS , SP .
Happy hunting
Thanks for the great comment highcadence901. I only have two copies of the RLs. I am blessed to have a Monarch press and I would have to look but I think my other one is n SP. Monarch had the best consistency for all the plants Atlantic used and if I buy Atlantic records, I always try and seek out the Monarchs first.
It’s boils down to the lacquer, if it’s a solid thicker version like Presswell and monarch there is a difference in sound compared to the thinner lacquer versions like CTH
Great video! The Classic Records and Mobile Fidelity pressings came very close to sounding as good as the Ludwig pressing. If I would have to choose in order from best sounding to least I would say : Ludwig - Classic Records - Mobile Fidelity - Palas - Atlantic
For me this was difficult when I started editing the video together and I found three of these to be so close to one another with marginal differences. I find my aural memory is pretty poor unless the difference is huge so splicing these together is always revealing. Thanks for chiming in with your preferences. If I can swing it, I might do another one in the future.
Greetings my friend...another fantastic video...and one that discusses a topic close to my heart. pressing variations. Being an engineer who does mixing and mastering. .I love hearing different engineers approaches on mastering an album. With that said I've always believed that there is never a truly "better" version. ..it's what ever version appeals to your ear and how you enjoy listening to your music. one only needs to look at a person's individual eq settings on their stereo to get an idea.
So...for me..it's honestly prefer ed the MOFI version ...that to ME sounded the best..followed by the Bob Ludwig.. interesting to note that I found the Bernie Grundman remaster very close to Bob's.
Anyways another brilliant video...keep up the great work.
Hello Mark! Very well stated and I agree with you line that, 'there is never a truly "better" version. It gets down to what you prefer and this is why some of the internet forums bug me. This is something I have wanted to do for a very long time just to see how people would respond and the results are all over the place. The one thing that we can say definitively is that Atlantic botched it with their re'equalized version ;) It does go to show that you can really screw things up if you don't know what you're during. I hope to do another one of these in the future but this one wasn't without its challenges. TH-cam blocked my first run of this a month ago so I had to par the samples down a bit which was unfortunate. I was hoping to get everyone a little bit more but I think even with the samples being what they are, the point gets across.
Tie Ludwig with Davis, then Grundman. Sad to see the Japanese version not living up to what I thought, but their album cover is distinct and great.
You can't beat the Japanese extras for sure but I am finding most Japanese presses lack presence. It could explain why Japanese companies like to buy up original presses in America and Europe. It's not to say they are all that way but many are. Thanks for commenting!
Your bench mark and the Classic records were the best. The Mofi and 2014 next but were a little thin vs the best for me using my sennheiser HD 600. 2014 did not have the snap of the top 3.
Thanks for giving your thoughts on this and the Sennheisers would definitely show more clarity in what's coming from the stream. I love the RL and the Classic for different reasons but they were my top two.
My personal copy blows away either by a mile! Linn LP 12 with all upgrades, EKOS arm Benz glider low output cartridge or dynavector DX 20 low output cartridge (and soon to be Lyra Delos) with phenomena phono stage .. all the new pressings did is accentuate trebel in the mix...must be ipod fans....smh.... not sure exactly what pressing mine is but its original 70s and it is very heavy and from top to bottom it's smokes either one of those... it is also my reference album to prove how digital can never reproduce a cymbal timbre correctly.... if you want a true audiophile medium and system challenge, put up King Crimson 'Red' (which is a crappy mastered Atlantic recording to begin with) on any medium and let that be the judge... if the system can make that sound good then it's a keeper!!
Does your copy have the 70's Warner Brothers Logo on the label out of curiosity? If it has a 70s Warner Brothers logo on it, it's likely a late seventies press. I have a couple of those but haven't done a direct shootout as I still didn't feel like it could compare to the RL. It's all a matter of preference though.
I own a VG+ RL and a mid 70’s UK “K” series press. The RL in this comparison wins by a long shot. In second I would put the MOFI. Third is the 2014 digital reissue, was impressed by how open it sounds. The Japanese press sounds like it’s an 8 track or coming through AM radio, not even listenable.
Thanks for chiming in diesel smurf. Sadly, I have picked up a couple more pressings of this record and I am thinking of doing a follow up. Even still, I don't think anything will ever trounce the RL. Japanese pressings to me, as good as the vinyl quality is, should be avoided. Their mastering always seems to be lacking.
For me, the Ludwig version sounds more natural.
The thing I was most drawn to looking at, is the difference in the groove patterns from one pressing to another. Obviously this difference will explain the changes in sound from record to record.
Yeah. There's a lot of play in the cut but the more spaced out the grooves, the better the dynamics. You have to be careful though because you could be impacting the sound on the last track. Regardless, I trust Ludwig and I've never encountered a bad Ludwig cut.
2014 comes closest to the Ludwig. And the difference with the others isn't that tremendous--they're all very slightly brighter, the Japanese being the brightest.
But, yeah, the RL sounds great.
Thanks for chiming in bedlach. I was really surprised with how well the 2014 version faired against the rest.
Dude. Why didn’t you include a comparison of the vocals on the RL cut?? The vocals are what make the RL really shine! I recommend a re-do.
I've been contemplating doing a sequel as I've picked up a couple of other pressings of this album. I got a UK plum label original I would like to put in a head to head contest. If I do a sequel, I'll keep you're request in mind.
The Stan Ricker version is so close to Bob Ludwig cut. My 1977 Georges Piros cut sounds very very good for a very lower price, a good alternative.
I should have used a '77 cut of this album for this demo. I think I have that one too. I'll definitely think about it if I do a sequel.
I would love to be able to compare this two versions (RL and GP) the same way you did here.
I'm listening to this on bad Bose computer speakers, but must say I could hardly tell much difference between the RL, and the new one (the re-eq and the Japan are bad). Maybe a touch brighter on the BG, but enjoyable. The SR is def brighter, little distracting. If anyone is hearing such a difference between the RL and the new one, I hope you can justify the price difference, esp for one as clean as the new one.
Thanks for commenting on what you're hearing. I am always curious to see what people are getting out of this video and I also hope it will help some folks figure out if spending more money is worth it. I am glad to see that everyone is consistently finding the Japanese press and re-eq are consistently bad.
You got it!
This is great, thanks for doing it.
Thank you. I hope the information is useful.
Most definitely! Was great being able to hear all of these side-by-side.
Picked up a near mint Ludwig pressing back in 94 for a whopping 6 dollars I'm very glad I kept it through the years it was the very first album I ever bought as a kid
Nice! I wish I was buying vinyl in 90's. Getting the RL back then would be quite the score!
@@BarakaPDub I remember when I got the vinyl bug back in the early part of the 90s I went into warehouse music asking for records and the guy at the register telling me and I quote "you want records? Dusty old records? What do you want those for kid? Records are dead and never coming back CDs are the future" boy was that guy wrong lol
Stan Richter I think sounds the closest, but to be fair, I am listening only to ONE channel at the worst resolution at work. The Bernie sounded okay, too (very close 2nd)! I think the 2014 sounded okay on the first cut, but there was a bump on the 2nd cut.
Hello Kris! Even with one channel your thoughts were very close to my own. I was really surprised by the 2014 cut and it just goes to show that digital mastering is not the devil everyone makes it out to be. I honestly thought the 2014 cut would have been near the bottom in the rankings.
1ST Place ~ RL, 2nd Place ~ 2014 John Davis, 3rd Place ~ Bernine Grundman
I had the "RL" version in 1969 when I was 14. That was my introduction to Hard Rock, and, to Led Zeppelin, courtesy of a Garrard turntable, and a pair of Koss over-the-ear headphones. Truly a monumental moment for me!
The 2014 re-issue is as good as the RL, but if I had a mint RL, I'd choose that, for sentimental reasons.
The Bernie Grundman was almost as good as the 2014 John Davis.
The Stan Ricker edition is very good. I just don't prefer the clarity of the percussion. I prefer Bob Ludwig's take.
I did not care for the Japan 1976 edition, or the Atlantic Reissue.
To be 14 in '69...man, I can't imagine anything better. Listening on Garrard would only heighten the experience. Thanks for chiming in. The 2014 is really not that bad and it surprised me with its performance against the RL.
I just scored a G copy of the Monarch pressing, RL masters for ten bucks today.
Even in admittedly crappy condition, it still sounds amazing. Nice 'tubey' Pultec action going on. Had the sleeve sitting on my ELAC B6. (TT, Pro-Ject Debut DC. Acrylic platter upgrade, bog standard Ortofon 2M red)
Played Moby Dick at full volume and watched it launch itself halfway across the room.
Ludwig for the win! 😂
Nice score. Even for ten bucks. Pultec makes some great gear and I bet even a G copy sounds pretty good through it. Across the board, it looks like you a have a pretty nice set up.
The Grundman and the MoFi were probably my favourites, but the margins are so small! None of this "night and day" stuff you always hear audiophiles saying ☺ This video has given me confidence to go and get the 2014s. 👍
The 2014s are really outstanding for what they are and I can't recommend them enough. Many people were shocked by the quality of all of them.
Until I'm fortunate enough to own a Ludwig cut, the 2014 Davis cut, for me, is the closest to having a RL. I bought my Davis cut last Summer and play it the most against my other copies.
Keeping hunting for the Ludwig cut. They're not impossible to find and I would say many record stores don't know what they have. The Davis cut is really good for a reissue. I really wouldn't complain if it was the only copy I had.
I hyped the RL cut 20 years ago on music forums. Over the decades I've listened to many copies or rather challengers. None in my opinion quite meet it. Even newbies will pick it out over others. However the George Piros cuttings of the mid to late 70's sound superb, just slightly attenuated, I call them the poor mans RL. The other great one is the early UK pressing. Different, not quite as robust, but something about it...
Good point Texeq on the George Piros cut of the album I am contemplating doing a bit of a sequel to this video using the UK, George Piros, German RL, and Japanese first pressing.
Very Cool!. I have a UK Plum label and it is similar to Robert Ludwig cut in that there is a lot of presence and space. I also have the MFSL it is such a clean smooth sound and the best bass but it has a tizzy high frequency sound that spoils the listening experience otherwise that would be the best copy. I prefer the new 2014 over all of them. Top to bottom best frequency balance and smooth sound. I am amazed that 50 years of tape transfers could sound this good. The first Zeppelin remaster I am 100% happy with. So Glad that Zepp II is saved in such a great condition for future generations. The 90s remasters were Terrible.
Thanks for commenting Paul. I recently acquired a UK Plum myself and it was one of my finds of the year for sure but I haven't been able to fully digest it yet. Some time down the road, I want to do a bit of a sequel to this one. As for the 90s remasters...I have to agree. Given the limits of the technology at the time, they were more hype than anything else.
Part reason that I prefer the new masters is that is sounds closer to the Australian copy I grew up with. The plum version is so spacious, It is like listening to a different recording. I have no issues with people prefering the Plum version. My preference could change over time.
Came back for a rewatch. Things I noticed, Japanese sounded anemic. The Re-EQd had far too much high end rolled off. All the others seemed to have more top end than the RL. The one thing to notice as you watch is how small the RL runout is compared with all the others. This is because of 2 reasons...the RL has more dynamics so the groove is wider and also RL faded the songs out later than everyone else.
All fair points Mike. Anemic is a good way of putting Japanese pressings in general.
@@BarakaPDub Which is strange. Do they have different taste in EQ? Their vinyl quality is some of the best in the world but what they cut into it seems to fall short for our tastes.
To me it's either conjecture or a rumor but from what I've heard from a couple of sources is they cut the bass frequencies since a good portion of Japanese society is apartment dwellers. They don't want to put in anything that will shake the walls of the neighboring apartments. Yes, I agree, their vinyl product, in terms of surface noise, is second to none.
Oh my gosh, brother Paul, this is so yummy! Watching it now!!!...
Hello Ian! I have been away for several days now seeing family and I would like to thank you so much for the card you sent. Got a potential pickup on a used Technics later this week. If I do manage to acquire it, I think you can only guess what cart is going to go on it ;) Hope everything comes together.
BarakaPDub 😄good good Paul!!!... hahaha... i am really glad everything arrived properly!!.. and a good Technics coming into residence at 6**3 and doing stonking duties for you the Master-in-Vinyl starting this week!!!!
VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!✌✌✌
- ian
Ian, I watch your channel also, and I see all the nice equipment if Japan. I am wondering, do the albums pressed/mastered there seem to be equalized for a smaller room listening environment? (A dropped off low and highend, mid range slightly boosted)? We were discussing this fact. I wonder is that why the quality of equipment compensates for this?
In the sense that you can be closer to the speakers (as in a studio monitor sense-near field), so the deficiencies of the source material are negated? Thanks!
For me 1.JD 2. BG 3. RL
For me, Ludwig and Davis sounded the best. I think the worst sounding were the mofi and Japanese copies.
Cool video! 🤘
Thanks for watching and commenting Rehab Drive. My feelings are pretty much the same and I found the Mofi and Japanese copies to be extremely disappointing.
I prefer the version of Bernie Grundman - the sound of the cymbals of the drumset are clearer than others. Secound Pallas pressing and than Ludwig version. Thanks for that video.
Hello armandogui and thanks for putting in your thoughts. I love the Grundman cut of the album and Bernie really has yet to disappoint me. I felt the 2014 (Pallas), Grundman, and Ludwig were very close to one another and I would be content with any of them. It was cool to see someone put the Grundman at the top of the list!.
Bob Ludwig is hotter and may have better base. I would love to have Bob's version big time. As a teenager in 1969 this was my first LP. Nice job with this shoot out.
Stay on the look out. I have found several in the used bins in the past. Mostly at places like Half Price Books or 2nd hand stores that don't know what they got.
I'm not very good at discerning a huge difference when it's back to ack but ok going to say the Ludwig pressing. The mofi was close but I'll have to say the first one (Ludwig) would be the best sounding.
I concur completely. This has been a fun experiment to run and I expected the responses to be all over the map. The one thing that is definitive though is that Atlantic re'equalized version is the worst. It just goes to show that what some people claim as an original may not always be the best.
The Bob Ludwig sounds probably the best but Mofi and Reissue are damn close . I will buy a reissue because that's the one I can find and also sounds very good! The Japanese is kind of flat , with no bass to it . The worst one is the EQ Atlantic of course, it's all muffled up , imho.
You can't go wrong with the reissue and I am happy it turned out well compared to a lot of modern reissues where the goal is just to get the stuff out. The Japanese press, like a lot of them I have are very much like this. Kind of a disappointment.
BarakaPDub i just got a Fleetwood Mac - Rumours reissue but I'm kinda disappointed with the sound. Many pops and clicks for a brand new record . I can't seem to get rid of them and the sound isn't that great. It's kind of a hot and miss with some of the new records
I spent the princely sum of $10.00 USD for a battered RL Monarch pressing, sometime back. Despite being in horrid shape, it still sounds fantastic.
Every time I encounter a copy of the album, I always pull it out to see if it's an RL. The copy I have was also a budget score as the antique shop I bought it from didn't know what it was.
Nice! So, RL was pretty clear winner IMHO. Was surprised how well the 2014 sounded. Classic Records was pretty good too. I have yet to come across an RL in the wild, even though millions were supposedly pressed.
Your thoughts match my own. When I first went into this, I was thinking the 2014 would have been near the bottom of the heap. Boy was I ever wrong. It just goes to show that sometimes digital mastering is not the devil people make it out to be ;) The RLs do turn up, I acquired mine at a Half Price Books for under $10. Sometimes you can find eBay sellers that don't know what they have but it can be a huge gamble. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts Tim and have a Happy New Year.
This was a great way to do the comparison and thanks for doing it. Grundman's sounds like it's the closest to Ludwig but what the hell do I know? I am listening out of computer speakers.
I am glad you could pick up the difference in tiny speakers. I love both Grundman and Ludwig's sound the best but that's just my opinion. At the end of the day, high end gear can only do so much to improve the sound and I think a well mastered album can sound great on just about any set up.
The quality of vinyl is far better than any other type. Even CDs.
Yes. A lot of the early CD masterings were not that good and even the Marino masterings are pretty pale sounding compared to the early vinyl. I am not an analog purist but in this case, I do think Zeppelin sounds better on vinyl.
Luddy & (Davis 2014) pretty close. I'm shocked at the results IMHO. Gonna get a copy 2014 Davis lp. Luddy too expensive.
You know, they're not to impossible to find. It's always good to look when you run into antique stores or non-traditional record shops. A lot of antique dealers don't know what they have. The 2014 version is really, really good for what it is.
Seems like MOFI excels when they deal with a mix that was not good to begin with such as Breakfast in America/Supertramp. I have the orginal Brekky and the MOFI and the MOFI sounds better.