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.
TYRANNOSAURUS REX A Beard Of Stars (2014 UK Deluxe Edition 37-track remastered and expanded double vinyl LP pressed on 180gram VIRGIN VINYL, featuring fifteen bonus tracks including nine previously unreleased Home Demos and Out-Takes. Housed in a gatefold picture sleeve – still sealed in original stickered shrinkwrap).
THE RAMONES Leave Home (2011 US 14-track LP pressed on Audiophile quality 180 Gram ‘Rhino’ Vinyl, cut from the original analog masters, the groups second album originally released in 1977, including Pinhead, Swallow My Pride, Carbona Not Glue & more. The vinyl is BRAND NEW & unplayed, as remains factory sealed in the hype stickered shrink R1528061).
ROLLING STONES & MUDDY WATERS Live At The Checkerboard ’81 (2012 US Special Edition 3-disc [2LP/DVD] set. On the 22nd November 1981, in the middle of their mammoth American tour, the Rolling Stones arrived in Chicago prior to playing 3 nights at the Rosemont Horizon. Long influenced by the Chicago blues, the band paid a visit to Muddy Waters’ club the Checkerboard Lounge to see the legendary bluesman perform. It didn’t take long before Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Ian Stewart were joining in on stage and later Buddy Guy and Lefty Dizz also played their part. It was a unique occasion that was fortunately captured on camera. Now, restored from the original footage and with sound mixed and mastered by Bob Clearmountain, this amazing blues night is being made available in an official release for the first time. Comprised of a 2-LP set pressed on 180gram Heavyweight Audiophile Black & White Vinyl, within a three panel gatefold picture sleeve with a Bonus NTSC DVD held in the middle panel. Although not sealed, this example remains in a ‘near as new’ condition EV305539).
JEFF LYNNE’S ELO Alone In The Universe (2015 UK limited edition Sealed 10-track LP pressed on 180 gram Vinyl featuring the first collection of new original material from Jeff Lynne since 2001’s Zoom, including the singles When I Was A Boy, When The Night Comes, One Step At A Time and Ain’t It A Drag, housed in a custom stickered gatefold picture sleeve which remains factory sealed, mint condition)
SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES Juju (2018 UK strictly limited edition 9-track LP issue of their 1981 album re-released for HMV Vinyl Week pressed exclusively on 180gram Heavyweight Gold Vinyl, including the singles Spellbound and Arabian Knights; within a hype stickered picture sleeve with the disc in a black die-cut polythene bag and accompanied by a printed inner. The sleeve displays minimal wear and the vinyl looks barely played SATBLP04G).
For all our latest Audiophile arrivals please see our dedicated Collectors Store.
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