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.
THE POLICE 25th Anniversary Studio Albums (Great set of Five 2003 UK SACD [Super Audio CD] playable on all SACD and CD players, reissued as part of the bands 25th Anniversary, each album within their own fold-out digipak picture sleeve.Although not sealed, each remain in a ‘near as new’ condition)
MISFITS The Devil’s Rain (2011 US limited edition 16-track vinyl LP pressed on Coke Bottle Clear with Bronze Haze & White Splatter Vinyl, the seventh studio album by horror punk band through their own Misfits Records label; gatefold picture sleeve with printed inner. This was only available via mail order through the Cinderblock online webstore. The sleeve displays just a little light edgewear and the inner has a couple of splits, whilst the vinyl remains ‘near as new’ with very little signs of play MRLP01491) ***Limited to only 300 copies***.
GRAVEYARD Graveyard (2013 German limited edition 9-track LP pressed on Audiophile quality 180 Gram Heavyweight Purple Vinyl. The debut self-titled studio album by Swedish hard rock group originally releasedin 2007; individually hand numbered stickered gatefold picture sleeve with a printed inner and bonus fold-out poster. This edition was only available through the Nuclear Blast website. Although not sealed, this example remains in a ‘near as new’ condition NB2767-5)***Limited to only 150 copies***.
PAUL MCCARTNEY Egypt Station (2019 UK Strictly Limited Explorer’s Edition triple LP comprising the seventeen album tracks across two magenta vinyl discs with the addition of a third disc pressed on purple vinyl including six bonus studio recordings and four live performances. Complete with download code voucher, this one-time-only pressing has all three disc sit nestled in individual inner sleeves and housed together in a single-pocket picture sleeve which remains sealed within its hype-stickered shrinkwrap).
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.
Be the first to comment