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Blue Note reissues

I became a serious vinyl convert less than a year ago and ever since have been buying records regularly to enlarge my collection. I listen almost exclusively to jazz and buy new reissues of jazz releases, most of them on Blue Note, but also Prestige, Riverside and Columbia.

To say that I am disappointed by the quality of the vinyl is an understatement. Virtually every record is warped, which I can live with, reluctantly. A bigger problem is the distortion that becomes more and more prevalent on reissues. It's a short buzzing sound, which sounds kind of like the sound of lost airwaves on the radio but higher in pitch. I know it's not my cart as I have records that sound perfect, and it's in the the same spot on faulty records so it must be a quality issue with transfer and manufacture.
I also own quite a few used original pressings or old reissues and none of them have a similar defect, which leads me to believe that it is a current problem with quality control. It is extremely frustrating as I've spent thousands of dollars on my rig and record cleaning machine only to spin warped records that sound distorted.

I know this topic has been discussed many times here on A-gon but I would actually like to do something about it. I know many designers and manufacturers read the forum, but it seems not record companies' reps as it's not getting any better. As a community of many thousands who pay a lot of money to indulge in our hobby and passion, I think we should be able to exert some level of pressure on companies like Blue Note to release products of high quality. I'm open to ideas and suggestions. Where I could, I emailed the record company, but Blue Note for example has not contact info at all. Also, I'm afraid single emails won't do much.
actusreus
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Have you folks read Doug's method for determining what is irregular vinyl and what is mis-tracking? Simple and effective.

I have to say that I've been happy with the Music Matters Re-issues. I think I have heard a little of the overload Mothra posted on in one, maybe two of the recordings. This sounds almost like damage but the quality of the pressings with this series has been really good. The covers and pictures are excellent.
doctorcilantro
59 posts
 
Wondering about this as I have heard mono Kind of Blue, CD, and the new blue vinyl 180gm remaster.

It seems there is distortion. Check out the intro to Kind of Blue, where the horns come in. the saxes? have distortion. The "breathy" quality breaks up. This is also found at the end of side 1 when the volume drops again and I think on the horns. I'm pretty sure this is on the recording, and actually much more apparent on my stereo remaster than on the mono.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
I think I have heard what your are talking about. Several of us were listening to KOB and thought this was mistracking. To make a long story short, we concluded in the end that the sax needed to be "de-juiced", if you catch my meaning. I think it is Coltrane.
doctorcilantro
59 posts
 
Hah! Yes, it is at the beginning and end of "So What" when the horns do that quiet riff. My stereo remaster really picks this up very clearly.
actusreus OP
733 posts
 
Ditto on KOB, the "audiophile" 180 or 200 gr pressing. I think the volume drop is on the original recording as it's the same on the CD but not the distortion.

Doug's explanation is right on the money and fits perfectly. I now use the Lyra Delos with the VPI Classic and the same albums produce the same distortion in the same passages as with my previous Soundsmith Aida/Scout combo; there is no way it's the cartridge misalignment or mistracking (unless the mistracking is caused by faulty vinyl!).

I recently caved in and bought a $11 Blue Note reissue of Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder" with a CD version inside. The release was absolutely unlistenable; not only warped but had horrible distortion throughout side 1. I sold it for $5 at my local record store to cut my losses. But I'd like to get a Blue Note executive to listen to this record and ask him in person what he thinks about the quality.
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