How great that you have a test pressing as a reference. I feel very fortunate to have obtained what is apparently the best commercially available pressing of Exodus in my UHQR. As always, thank you-and glad you’re feeling better!
Before I get far into the video, I'd like to say this is the highest quality recording/record I have heard, notwithstanding the musicality, which I also greatly enjoy.
That test pressing awesome. I would love to have that in my collection because it’s so unique. I am extremely happy with the UHQR as I am also with the Rastaman Vibration. I’m glad I was able to get them before they sold out.
I agree: if AP had done all the Bob Marley albums as UHQR releases I'd almost certainly buy them... They were definitely worth the couple of hours battling the website to get the order in!
Thanks for sharing. I was in two minds about getting the UHQR but never did as I have that Islands Records test pressing too from 1977. Didn’t think it could get much better 😊
Very cool! Man, that Test Pressing sounds impressive! I gave my UHQR (still sealed) to my dad. I ordered an Exodus off of eBay, but the seller lied. He said it was an OG and EX. Though it had a black label, it was actually a 1988 repress and it had marks on the vinyl. I sent it back and got my money back. I’ve heard from others that the US and the UK OG are about the same because they were both done at Sterling. I can’t talk much though, because I haven’t heard either. Anyways, fantastic album that Bob Marley did. There’s so much goodness that you continue to hear new things after hundreds of listens. There’s a lot of magic on there! Sometimes I can just listen to the I Threes and they sang so brilliantly! I think the Marley family needs to make a reel to reel tape for you! Can you imagine that? Take care, and thanks for this video!
LOL I hope the Marley family are reading this and take your advice! 😁 Shame about your eBay Exodus. Hope you get a good copy soon. And I hope your dad absolutely loves his UHQR! He’s got a hell of a son! 👍
Thank you Dave for the review of this UHQR. Especially as you have the test press to compare it. I am pleased that l was able to get a the Exodus UHQR. A great re-issue.
Fabulous channel and thank you for all you helpfully say. Our tastes and experiences overlap a lot! I'm fortunate to have a copy of each Marley UHQR and yes, enjoy them a lot. That said, at the risk of sounding very bold and way too cheeky, please say if you're ever up for exchanging the one round vinyl test pressing for many rectangular paper pieces pressed with ink then kindly let me know. Best and enjoy your music! Cheers! :-)
@@DaveDenyer LOL! Wow! Thank you very much for even kindly considering to reply. 😉 While my bold offer stands of course I totally understand. 😉 Good Health, Enjoy and Cheers! 🍻
Great review thanks. Very sadly I don't have either copy of this seminal album so wonder how you would score a UK first pressing if these are a 9.8 or 10 as you mentioned?
Good question: I’m relying on memory here Ian, but let’s say a good OG would be 8 compared to these. For the twenty ofd years I’ve had it the test pressing has really stood out…
Whats your opinion on Barry Diament's Tuff Gong CDs if you've heard them? He remastered most of the albums using the original tapes from Island Records
Glad you enjoyed the review: I bought my Bob Marley UHQRs direct from Acoustic Sounds, other titles I buy from www.thevinyladventure.com/product-category/music/format/uhqr-vinyl/
Thanks and get well soon! Can we then draw somewhat the conclusion WHEN they are SO close in sonically performance and the test pressing is a little little bit of a smidge better in sound quality (of course there is other factors as how fresh the tape is and so on that has also a impact.) For the clarity vinyl there is a lower noise floor that may help with dynamics. So the clarity vinyl is a improvement in that front. For the flat profile on the other hand the jury may still be out on that one.😅 Thinking about it. 🤔 The cutting head is perpendicular to the lacquer. In both occasions and is disregarding LP profile. The stylus is not seeing the whole surface it is only seeing the track it is just now riding in. There is two things the non flat profile is doing: 1. It is raising the stylus SLOWLY during the 20 min of playing time while going towards the label. 2. The other thing that is that the grove wall closest to the label is very very little bit longer than the other groove wall that is towards the lead-in. For no1 it is so small increase in height that the slightest smidge of a indication of a NORMAL (noting is truly flat) "warp" is far greater in up and down movement than that elevation of a non flat LP profile during ~20 min. Another point of view is that there is also bigger/greater changes in height between a 120g or a 200g record. And the engineer (forgot his name) at Wally tools that is obsessing about small details and adjustments says in videos that the different LP thickness that is impacting SRA is insignificant and don't think about it (!).. So item 1 will most likely not have ANY impact on sound quality. When your SRA is AT BEST a average of your LP collection thickness IF not you adjust SRA between LP albums (I can do that even on the fly. But I don't bother.. or hear a difference for so small changes). For item number 2 have no impact on conical, elliptical for sure and even NOT on fine line advanced stylus. When I look at pictures on the contact area against the groove walls for fine line stylus the contact LINE is NOT going all the way up to the record surface. The whole line is a bit down in the groove and against the groove walls and the LINE of contact is not going the whole way to the surface of the disc. So in conclusion there is no impact of that one of the grove wall is a smidge (theoretical/mathematical) longer than the other when the stylus line of contact is not has the line all the way along the groove wall to the surface so it will not see or register that one of the groove walls is a smidge longer than the other one.. (I looked up the length of the line is only 9 microns, so the pictures is correct.) So the flat profile should have NO impact whatsoever on the sound quality. But what it has impact on, is marketing and sales and a smoke screen and implement doubts for the consumers. Is there any other stated "benefit" with the flat profile that I have missed? What do you think Dave ?
Hi Optimize, first of all, thanks for such a thorough considered response. OK: I note that you can make VTA / SRA (the two being somewhat linked) adjustments on the fly. I used to be able to do that having owned quite recently a couple of Clearaudio Universal tonearms fitted with VTA lifters (and various other VTA adjustable arms before then... I found that making the most minute adjustments was beneficial to sound quality and loved the ability to really hone in on the perfect VTA / SRA... In practise though I settled on two approximate settings, one for my usual 70s LPs - I'd usually do my final cartridge / tonearm set-up using a handful of early 70s LPs, and then a different setting for 80s LPs. By lowering the arm height those 80s LPs can sound a lot better than if played with an arm set up for the average 1972 cut. However even then, I rarely made LP by LP adjustments, although a tiny tweak was possible and I found I could do that quite easily to find that optimum spot. To be honest, I think the small differences I'm hearing here could be down to the fact I didn't adjust arm height for the 200g UHQR... Of course, it's not just LP thickness but the cutting angle... I this regard I quite strongly disagree with the recent theories from WAM. I did know Wally Malevicz (RIP), I had dinner with him only a few weeks before his passing... 😞 I do use a some of the Wally Tools - the Wally Skater is indispensable IMHO but don't agree with everything the new WAM regime says. Simply, I can hear even minute differences in arm height. As fas as VTA goes, this obviously also links to SRA but also to the relative position of the magnet / coil assembly. Quite simply that is critical to optimise and tracking force plays a huge part here. Worth noting that a small change in tracking force will have a larger effect on SRA/VTA than adjusting arm height. That's just down to geometry: the arm being many many times longer than the cantilever... Anyway, when I changed to the Schick and subsequently the Glanz I had to accept giving up this ability, and frankly although I know it is an issue I can't be bothered with it: one has to draw a line somewhere and get on with playing records rather than endlessly fine tuning the system. Having said all that, the notion of a flat profile does sense to me. Classic got the idea from Blue Note who used it in the 50s and those records sound great. Could it be the changing 'arm height', could it be changing LP thickness at the different positions across the playing surface (not from the perspective of geometry but of resonance within the vinyl), could it be because the flatter underside mates better with the turntable platter? Who knows... Like so many things in audio, one can hear a change / difference / effect that defies or at least challenges scientific explanation. Just because it can't be explained doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I am definitely an advocate of the notion that we don't know everything. And that just because we don't understand something, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist...
@@DaveDenyer Thanks for the reply! Yes the SRA and VTA is the "same" thing just they measure the angels against different points. That were why I didn't mention VTA. (Same in that regard that altering any of them we alter the angle for the diamond and it's angle in the groove) Ok then we are two that don't actively fiddle with SRA adjustments between two LPs. I don't say that it doesn't matter and I can't hear any difference in SRA. Surely it has a sound quality impact but not that much so that I bother to compensate between different record thicknesses. Despite I could do that and return easy back to previous height on the micrometer scale. So in PRACTICE we both act as the current WAM recommendations regarding not bother adjusting SRA between playing different LPs.😉 We need to hold our horses somewhat in my opinion. Just because Blue Note releases in the 50s, sounds good doesn't mean that it IS a contribution of that they used flat record profile. (Or why do they not sound as good today as they did "in the 50s" despite better materials and equipment today..) As we know that there is SO many variables and unknowns here regarding all the production steps of making a LP. I mean we need to isolate one change and comparing that single or as few changes as possible. So when you do this video comparison we can conclude that as you say clarity vinyl has lower noise floor by having lower background noise. But the magic of that flat profile did not make that the new pressing sounded better than your test pressing despite it is most probably of the same master tape in this case (one variable somewhat removed still tape age unknown generation of master tape, were it baked and so on). The test pressing still sounded a tad better despite the flat profile and newest and better vinyl formula! (Then we have to consider stamper wear if the test pressing were maybe 1 of 10 and UHQR were noXX) Then we can start to ask us IF the flat profile has any contribution to the sound quality at all then.. 🤔 Because that we have so many unknowns and we have a hard time to determine if flat profile is beneficial at all doesn't mean that it should automatically be so, when it sounded good (?) In the 50s pressings. 🤔 For example in the 50s maybe blue note had one or many of the influencing variables in place: * Specific person that made all cuts * Specific person that made all plating * Good combination or synergy in their tube choices for their equipment (amplifier to lathe, tape machines and so on). * Relevant modifications on the above equipment including recording equipment .. and so on and on.. With that said those factors together could yield to be 100% of what really made those pressings in the 50s to sound good. And theoretical the flat profile contributed with 0% of that presiveble sound quality.😞 That we HOPE and think that it MIGHT maybe because we can't control all variables that influence sound quality to determine IF flat profile have any sound quality contribution at all. Doesn't mean that it has. Just that we don't actually really know.. But yes it will not harm anything to have a flat profile. And if all records had it then we had a variable less to "think/worry" about. 🤔😅 The only benefit that we can practically (but it is more theoretical when we don't bother today) have, is that it is flat and therefore the SRA is at the same angle true out the whole playable surface. And you could fine fine adjust for just THAT record if it is flat. So a outer Clamp or a air force one suction TT is probably needed to keep the flat surface to stay flat and no chance of wobble at all when that defeat our efforts. But maybe someone can go that extra mile if we rip/digitize the record and want the best preconditions as possible at that time. Otherwise that will not happen as we have already determine above. When we talk about rather small differences in height.👍 Sorry, I usually overcomplicating and go into details and what to learn what matters and not. Regarding getting as good sound quality as possible. And I hope I don't bored someone with my rant! Take care! 🥰
Hi Nicholas, you could well be right: certainly the "2%" I hear could possibly be down the the master tapes having aged and any compensation in the new mastering.
@@DaveDenyer I reviewed a hits set a few years ago and though it was digital, had a different issue I cannot go into here, but add the complaints on the new EXODUS set and there may be some glitches with the masters in the Marley catalog.
How wonderful you have a test pressing as benchmark!
Glad you found it interesting!
How great that you have a test pressing as a reference. I feel very fortunate to have obtained what is apparently the best commercially available pressing of Exodus in my UHQR. As always, thank you-and glad you’re feeling better!
Thanks Nick, I’m glad you got and are enjoying your UHQR.
Before I get far into the video, I'd like to say this is the highest quality recording/record I have heard, notwithstanding the musicality, which I also greatly enjoy.
Couldn't agree more!
That test pressing awesome. I would love to have that in my collection because it’s so unique. I am extremely happy with the UHQR as I am also with the Rastaman Vibration. I’m glad I was able to get them before they sold out.
I agree: if AP had done all the Bob Marley albums as UHQR releases I'd almost certainly buy them... They were definitely worth the couple of hours battling the website to get the order in!
Thanks for sharing. I was in two minds about getting the UHQR but never did as I have that Islands Records test pressing too from 1977. Didn’t think it could get much better 😊
Cool, well that's at least two of them in existence then! :-)
One of the greatest reggae albums of all times.
I totally agree @High Medic
Great review, as always. Just got my RASTAMAN VIBRATION UHQR and it is exquisite.
Hi Austin, I'm really glad that you managed to get a Rastaman Vibration UHQR. It is simply sublime isn't it? Thanks for your feedback, always welcome!
Very cool! Man, that Test Pressing sounds impressive! I gave my UHQR (still sealed) to my dad. I ordered an Exodus off of eBay, but the seller lied. He said it was an OG and EX. Though it had a black label, it was actually a 1988 repress and it had marks on the vinyl. I sent it back and got my money back. I’ve heard from others that the US and the UK OG are about the same because they were both done at Sterling. I can’t talk much though, because I haven’t heard either. Anyways, fantastic album that Bob Marley did. There’s so much goodness that you continue to hear new things after hundreds of listens. There’s a lot of magic on there! Sometimes I can just listen to the I Threes and they sang so brilliantly! I think the Marley family needs to make a reel to reel tape for you! Can you imagine that? Take care, and thanks for this video!
LOL I hope the Marley family are reading this and take your advice! 😁
Shame about your eBay Exodus. Hope you get a good copy soon.
And I hope your dad absolutely loves his UHQR! He’s got a hell of a son! 👍
@@DaveDenyer Thank you!
Thank you Dave for the review of this UHQR. Especially as you have the test press to compare it. I am pleased that l was able to get a the Exodus UHQR. A great re-issue.
Thanks Leonardo. Enjoy your UHQR, it really is that good!
Great review Dave! I would love to see a video review of the DS audio Grand Master system.
Hi Mike, thanks. I'll certainly consider doing a review, or 'hifi system update' to include the Grand Master, although it's not staying (sadly)...
Fabulous channel and thank you for all you helpfully say. Our tastes and experiences overlap a lot! I'm fortunate to have a copy of each Marley UHQR and yes, enjoy them a lot. That said, at the risk of sounding very bold and way too cheeky, please say if you're ever up for exchanging the one round vinyl test pressing for many rectangular paper pieces pressed with ink then kindly let me know. Best and enjoy your music! Cheers! :-)
LOL I appreciate your boldness, but don’t think I could ever part with it. You’ll have to speak to my wife when I’m dead! 😂
@@DaveDenyer LOL! Wow! Thank you very much for even kindly considering to reply. 😉 While my bold offer stands of course I totally understand. 😉 Good Health, Enjoy and Cheers! 🍻
Great review Dave a fantastic pressing. Hopefully get love supreme soon.
Thanks George, I’ve the Love Supreme Ultra Tape so nothing else matters 😁
Golly gumdrops, that test pressing.
Thanks Ken from Hawaii.
Great review thanks. Very sadly I don't have either copy of this seminal album so wonder how you would score a UK first pressing if these are a 9.8 or 10 as you mentioned?
Good question: I’m relying on memory here Ian, but let’s say a good OG would be 8 compared to these. For the twenty ofd years I’ve had it the test pressing has really stood out…
Whats your opinion on Barry Diament's Tuff Gong CDs if you've heard them? He remastered most of the albums using the original tapes from Island Records
Hi Jomo, I haven’t heard them. They sound interesting. Thanks for putting them on my radar.
Hi excellent review where do you get your UHQR vinyl.
Glad you enjoyed the review: I bought my Bob Marley UHQRs direct from Acoustic Sounds, other titles I buy from www.thevinyladventure.com/product-category/music/format/uhqr-vinyl/
Thanks and get well soon!
Can we then draw somewhat the conclusion WHEN they are SO close in sonically performance and the test pressing is a little little bit of a smidge better in sound quality (of course there is other factors as how fresh the tape is and so on that has also a impact.)
For the clarity vinyl there is a lower noise floor that may help with dynamics. So the clarity vinyl is a improvement in that front.
For the flat profile on the other hand the jury may still be out on that one.😅
Thinking about it. 🤔
The cutting head is perpendicular to the lacquer. In both occasions and is disregarding LP profile.
The stylus is not seeing the whole surface it is only seeing the track it is just now riding in.
There is two things the non flat profile is doing:
1. It is raising the stylus SLOWLY during the 20 min of playing time while going towards the label.
2. The other thing that is that the grove wall closest to the label is very very little bit longer than the other groove wall that is towards the lead-in.
For no1 it is so small increase in height that the slightest smidge of a indication of a NORMAL (noting is truly flat) "warp" is far greater in up and down movement than that elevation of a non flat LP profile during ~20 min.
Another point of view is that there is also bigger/greater changes in height between a 120g or a 200g record.
And the engineer (forgot his name) at Wally tools that is obsessing about small details and adjustments says in videos that the different LP thickness that is impacting SRA is insignificant and don't think about it (!)..
So item 1 will most likely not have ANY impact on sound quality. When your SRA is AT BEST a average of your LP collection thickness IF not you adjust SRA between LP albums (I can do that even on the fly. But I don't bother.. or hear a difference for so small changes).
For item number 2 have no impact on conical, elliptical for sure and even NOT on fine line advanced stylus. When I look at pictures on the contact area against the groove walls for fine line stylus the contact LINE is NOT going all the way up to the record surface.
The whole line is a bit down in the groove and against the groove walls and the LINE of contact is not going the whole way to the surface of the disc.
So in conclusion there is no impact of that one of the grove wall is a smidge (theoretical/mathematical) longer than the other when the stylus line of contact is not has the line all the way along the groove wall to the surface so it will not see or register that one of the groove walls is a smidge longer than the other one..
(I looked up the length of the line is only 9 microns, so the pictures is correct.)
So the flat profile should have NO impact whatsoever on the sound quality.
But what it has impact on, is marketing and sales and a smoke screen and implement doubts for the consumers.
Is there any other stated "benefit" with the flat profile that I have missed?
What do you think Dave ?
Hi Optimize, first of all, thanks for such a thorough considered response.
OK: I note that you can make VTA / SRA (the two being somewhat linked) adjustments on the fly. I used to be able to do that having owned quite recently a couple of Clearaudio Universal tonearms fitted with VTA lifters (and various other VTA adjustable arms before then... I found that making the most minute adjustments was beneficial to sound quality and loved the ability to really hone in on the perfect VTA / SRA... In practise though I settled on two approximate settings, one for my usual 70s LPs - I'd usually do my final cartridge / tonearm set-up using a handful of early 70s LPs, and then a different setting for 80s LPs. By lowering the arm height those 80s LPs can sound a lot better than if played with an arm set up for the average 1972 cut. However even then, I rarely made LP by LP adjustments, although a tiny tweak was possible and I found I could do that quite easily to find that optimum spot.
To be honest, I think the small differences I'm hearing here could be down to the fact I didn't adjust arm height for the 200g UHQR... Of course, it's not just LP thickness but the cutting angle...
I this regard I quite strongly disagree with the recent theories from WAM. I did know Wally Malevicz (RIP), I had dinner with him only a few weeks before his passing... 😞 I do use a some of the Wally Tools - the Wally Skater is indispensable IMHO but don't agree with everything the new WAM regime says. Simply, I can hear even minute differences in arm height. As fas as VTA goes, this obviously also links to SRA but also to the relative position of the magnet / coil assembly. Quite simply that is critical to optimise and tracking force plays a huge part here. Worth noting that a small change in tracking force will have a larger effect on SRA/VTA than adjusting arm height. That's just down to geometry: the arm being many many times longer than the cantilever...
Anyway, when I changed to the Schick and subsequently the Glanz I had to accept giving up this ability, and frankly although I know it is an issue I can't be bothered with it: one has to draw a line somewhere and get on with playing records rather than endlessly fine tuning the system.
Having said all that, the notion of a flat profile does sense to me. Classic got the idea from Blue Note who used it in the 50s and those records sound great. Could it be the changing 'arm height', could it be changing LP thickness at the different positions across the playing surface (not from the perspective of geometry but of resonance within the vinyl), could it be because the flatter underside mates better with the turntable platter? Who knows... Like so many things in audio, one can hear a change / difference / effect that defies or at least challenges scientific explanation. Just because it can't be explained doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I am definitely an advocate of the notion that we don't know everything. And that just because we don't understand something, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist...
@@DaveDenyer Thanks for the reply!
Yes the SRA and VTA is the "same" thing just they measure the angels against different points. That were why I didn't mention VTA. (Same in that regard that altering any of them we alter the angle for the diamond and it's angle in the groove)
Ok then we are two that don't actively fiddle with SRA adjustments between two LPs. I don't say that it doesn't matter and I can't hear any difference in SRA. Surely it has a sound quality impact but not that much so that I bother to compensate between different record thicknesses. Despite I could do that and return easy back to previous height on the micrometer scale.
So in PRACTICE we both act as the current WAM recommendations regarding not bother adjusting SRA between playing different LPs.😉
We need to hold our horses somewhat in my opinion.
Just because Blue Note releases in the 50s, sounds good doesn't mean that it IS a contribution of that they used flat record profile. (Or why do they not sound as good today as they did "in the 50s" despite better materials and equipment today..)
As we know that there is SO many variables and unknowns here regarding all the production steps of making a LP.
I mean we need to isolate one change and comparing that single or as few changes as possible.
So when you do this video comparison we can conclude that as you say clarity vinyl has lower noise floor by having lower background noise.
But the magic of that flat profile did not make that the new pressing sounded better than your test pressing despite it is most probably of the same master tape in this case (one variable somewhat removed still tape age unknown generation of master tape, were it baked and so on).
The test pressing still sounded a tad better despite the flat profile and newest and better vinyl formula! (Then we have to consider stamper wear if the test pressing were maybe 1 of 10 and UHQR were noXX)
Then we can start to ask us IF the flat profile has any contribution to the sound quality at all then.. 🤔
Because that we have so many unknowns and we have a hard time to determine if flat profile is beneficial at all doesn't mean that it should automatically be so, when it sounded good (?) In the 50s pressings. 🤔
For example in the 50s maybe blue note had one or many of the influencing variables in place:
* Specific person that made all cuts
* Specific person that made all plating
* Good combination or synergy in their tube choices for their equipment (amplifier to lathe, tape machines and so on).
* Relevant modifications on the above equipment including recording equipment
.. and so on and on..
With that said those factors together could yield to be 100% of what really made those pressings in the 50s to sound good.
And theoretical the flat profile contributed with 0% of that presiveble sound quality.😞
That we HOPE and think that it MIGHT maybe because we can't control all variables that influence sound quality to determine IF flat profile have any sound quality contribution at all.
Doesn't mean that it has. Just that we don't actually really know..
But yes it will not harm anything to have a flat profile. And if all records had it then we had a variable less to "think/worry" about. 🤔😅
The only benefit that we can practically (but it is more theoretical when we don't bother today) have, is that it is flat and therefore the SRA is at the same angle true out the whole playable surface. And you could fine fine adjust for just THAT record if it is flat. So a outer Clamp or a air force one suction TT is probably needed to keep the flat surface to stay flat and no chance of wobble at all when that defeat our efforts. But maybe someone can go that extra mile if we rip/digitize the record and want the best preconditions as possible at that time.
Otherwise that will not happen as we have already determine above.
When we talk about rather small differences in height.👍
Sorry, I usually overcomplicating and go into details and what to learn what matters and not. Regarding getting as good sound quality as possible. And I hope I don't bored someone with my rant!
Take care! 🥰
What was the brand of the inner sleeves you use? Very curious.
Hi @voicesofvinyl, my favourite inner sleeves are by MA Recordings.
Dave most of your videos have you bathing in the sunlight - are you sure you're in the UK?! great review btw
Haha, no, definitely in the UK; it's raining today. ! Glad you like the review.
How can we be 100% sure the UHQR copies are from the one and only original master tape (and not a safety copy)?
Well I trust the guys who made it. Sterling Sound wasn’t it?
Maybe the two tell us how the master tapes have aged; a little bit, but not badly, though I also have heard several bad reviews of the new box.
Hi Nicholas, you could well be right: certainly the "2%" I hear could possibly be down the the master tapes having aged and any compensation in the new mastering.
@@DaveDenyer I reviewed a hits set a few years ago and though it was digital, had a different issue I cannot go into here, but add the complaints on the new EXODUS set and there may be some glitches with the masters in the Marley catalog.
I’m trying to find one but the prices have gone up
Good luck in your hunt Richard.