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.
IRON MAIDEN The Complete Albums Collection 1990-2015 (2017 UK Deluxe Collectors Edition Box Set, including Thirteen 180gram Heavyweight Vinyl pressings of their studio albums including The Book Of Souls, each within their own picture sleeve and housed within the slipcase style box. The outer box has a couple of marks on the box, however all the albums inside remain factory sealed from new).
THE BEATLES Tomorrow Never Knows (Top archive quality super-rare 2012 UK 14-track promotional-only LP, pressed on heavyweight audiophile vinyl. Housed inside a printed sleeve with a faux aged appearance, designed to look as if it had come froma studio or bootlegger! The tracklisting on the back gives no real clue as to the purpose of this promotional album, but a look inside shows the Apple iTunes logo and instructions on how to redeem your exclusive promotional code for a digital copy of the album contents – note, this code has long since expired. A very late entry into the canon of Beatles rarities, but destined to become a biggie as the issue was strictly limited to just 1,000 copies worldwide. A unique compilation, this example remains in UNPLAYED MINT condition).
BOB DYLAN/THE BAND Before The Flood (2009 Japanese exclusive limited edition 21-track Double Blu-Spec CD set [an audio Compact Disc format using Blu-Ray technology and playable on all CD players], recorded live between January and February 1974, picture sleeve with lyric booklet, Japanese insert and obi-strip SICP20225~6).
JANIS JOPLIN Pearl (1993 US Sony limited edition ‘Master Sound’ 24kt GOLD 10-track 20-bit ‘Super Bit Mapping’ audiophile PICTURE CD album pressed in Japan, housed in a superb textured and embossed 12″ x 6″book-style artwork stickered longbox with integral fold-out picture insert! CK53441).
MARIAH CAREY Japan Best (2018 Japanese only limited edition 19-track Blu-Spec CD [an audio Compact Disc format using Blu-Ray technology and playable on all CD players], an exclusive compilation with unique lyric picture sleeve, custom printed handkerchief & obi-strip, still in the hype stickered re-sealable bag SICP-31218).
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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