For anyone who collects vinyl, we all know that some of the most highly wanted pressings tend to be those classed as Audiophile.
Those with the best hi-fi equipment will always want the best quality sounding pressing available, be that high quality 180 gram or heavier vinyl, CD’s, Super Audio CD’s, SHM-CD’s, DVD-Audio Discs and more, from companies like DCC, Mobile Fidelity, Nautilus, Nexus, Simply Vinyl or Nimbus.
AUDIOPHILE VINYL
‘True Fidelity’ vinyl is perhaps the ultimate format for the audiophile. Issues are taken from original master tapes for pure ‘as intended sound’, and production techniques such as half-speed mastering, quadraphonic sound and special formulated virgin vinyl are common in most audiophile releases.
There are many labels who issue audiophile recordings, but only a few specialize in it. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) have a variety of series including ‘Original Master Recordings’
[OMR] and ‘Ultra High Quality Recordings’ [UHQR]. Other important audiophile labels include Nautilus, Direct-Disk Labs, Sheffield Lab and Wilson Audio.
AUDIOPHILE COMPACT DISCS
With the development of the compact disc so typically came the development of it’s audiophile counterpart. Again there are specialist labels, there are varying techniques (gold discs, layered discs, high-density discs) and there are varying opinions on the listening pleasure! But we’re here to bring all those quandaries together.
The truth is some recordings are better than others, in the same way some artists are better than others and some music is better than others! We will look unbiased at them all…
Here at eil.com we have a nice range of Audiophile pressings to suit everyone’s taste and pockets.
DAVID BOWIE Blackstar (Extremely Rare & Limited 2016 US 7-track LP pressed on 180 gram Clear Vinyl, his twenty-fifth and final studio album including the 9:59 title track and Lazarus, die-cut ‘star’ gatefold picture sleeve with digitaldownload card & 16 page booklet. This was originally purchased from Bowie’s online website, and remains factory sealed with the ‘Parental Advisory’ sticker on the front and ‘8 88751 88851 7’ barcode sticker on the reverse. But that is not all,this example also includes the rare original set of three different 17″ x 11″ high quality lithograph prints which were sold as a bundle with the LP with initial orders only. A fantastic example of the stunning rarity) Limited to 5000 copies.
THE BEATLES The Beatles In Stereo (2012 UK limited edition box set of ALL TWELVE released LPs, plus the Magical Mystery Tour LP and a double LP of ‘Past Masters’ compiling all the non-album tracks. Each LP is in the UK format and replicates the original album artwork, returning to their original glory including replica insertss and inner sleeves. All are pressed on 180gram Audiophile vinyl & housed in a lavish box, accompanied by a stunning, elegantly designed 252 page hardbound book authored by award-winning radio producer Kevin Howlett, featuring a dedicated chapter for each of the albums, as well as insights into the creation of the remasters and how the albums were prepared. The book also contains a wealth of photographs spanning The Beatles’ recording career, including many images which were not included in the 2009 CD booklets. The box displays only light signs of wear whilst all the LPs inside remains sealed) Limited to 50,000 Copies.
DIRE STRAITS Dire Straits (Out of print 2014 Japanese 9-track DSD Mastering Single Layer SHM SACD. This is the ultimate Super Audio Disc, that utilizes the materials and technologies that were developed for the SHM-CD to further enhance the audio-resolution and can only be played on SA-CD players for a full Audiophile experience; picture sleeve with lyrics & obi-strip UIGY-9634).
FOREIGNER Foreigner (2011 US limited edition GOLD remastered Gain 2 Ultradisc UHR audiophile Hybrid SACD issue of the 1977 10-track album, playable on all CD players, complete with wraparound Mo-Fi insert & lyricbooklet in individually numbered gatefold card sleeve UDSACD2050).
GENTLE GIANT Octopus (Rare long out of print 2009 Japanese exclusive limited edition 8-track DSD digitally remastered SHM-CD [Super High Material CD – playable on all CD players] album, originally released in 1972, within a mini LP-style gatefold card picture sleeve, replica swirl inner, SHM-CD insert, individually numbered card insert, fold-out lyric insert & replica ‘Rock Company ’77’ obi-strip UICY-94273).
For all our latest Audiophile arrivals please see our dedicated Collectors Store.
Explore eil.com… the world’s best online store for rare, collectable and out of print Vinyl Records, CDs & Music memorabilia since 1987.
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