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 Brave New World (Scarce 2016 UK limited edition HMV exclusive 10-track double LP pressed on 180gram Heavyweight Vinyl, first time to be pressed on black vinyl as the original release in 2000 was on Picture Disc, including the singles The Wicker Man & Out Of The Silent Planet, gatefold picture sleeve with printed inners. This was released exclusively in HMV as part of a selection of albums for Father Days. This example remains factory sealed from new and remains in a mint and unplayed condition).
PINK FLOYD Wish You Were Here (2016 UK remastered issue of their 1975 5-track LP pressed on Audiophile quality 180gram Heavyweight Vinyl. Complete with the printed inner sleeve and postcard, the album is concealed in a black-coloured shrinkwrap [making the album art ‘absent’] with the George Hardie designed sticker on the front and retains its hype-stickered resealable bag PFRLP9).
CHUCK BERRY Berry Is On Top / St. Louis To Liverpool (2008 US exclusive limited edition 27-track Ultradisc II™ 24Kt GOLD CD album, compiling albums originally released in 1959 and ’64, including theclassics ‘Johnny B. Goode’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ and ‘You Never Can Tell’, individually numbered mini LP-style gatefold pasted card picture sleeve).
BOB DYLAN Blonde On Blonde (1994 US limited edition Super Bit Mapped digitally remastered 14-track Mastersound 24 Karat Gold audiophile picture printed CD issue of the 1966 album, fold-out picture sleeve with die-cut back inlay complete with the die-cut printed card outer slipcase. This example displays minimal wear and the disc is very clean and free from any surface scuffs).
DAVID BOWIE Bowie At The Beeb (2016 UK limited edition 39-track remastered FOUR LP set pressed on 180gram Vinyl featuring the best of David Bowie’s BBC radio sessions from 1968-1972, including Oh! You Pretty Things [a David & Mick Ronson duo from a Sounds Of The 70’s: Bob Harris session broadcast in September 1971] and The Supermen [from Sounds Of The 70’s]. Complete with a 20-page picture booklet, all four discs are housed within the sealed & stickered two-piece textured picture box DBBBCLP6872).
For all our latest Audiophile arrivals please see our dedicated Collectors Store.
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