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Why do my rolling stones albums sound bad?

When I first got into vinyl a few years ago, I purchased a few stones albums. I thought they sounded good at the time but now that I have collected quite a few more records the stones albums sound bad in comparison. A few that stand out to me are the sticky fingers re-issue by mobile fidelity and let it bleed by abkco circa 2003.I am really disappointed with both of those.
The MoFi pressing sounds like the vocals are in the background and it sounds overall muddy. This surprised me because of all the MoFi pressing I own of various artist, this stones album is the only one I was not satisfied with. Really sub par compared to the rest of their work I have. I don't own the original so I can't compare the two. I would hope the original sounds much better.
The abkco pressing is a DSD. I didn't know this at the time of purchase or I might have avoided it. I do own a few other DSD pressings of other artist and they sound pretty good. Let it bleed from abkco (2003) sounds like mick is singing underwater. The instruments sound really flat in this one as well.
I also own hot rocks from abkco (2003) which is also a DSD. It sounds a bit better than the let it bleed album but still nothing to be impressed with.
I thought the MoFi pressing would sound better because it is mastered from the original tapes and done AAA. In my opinion it has the worst sound quality of the pressings mentioned here.
I would love to have some stones albums that sound great but, I have been reluctant to purchase any more of them for fear of getting the same sound quality of the other pressings. Are there stones albums out there that sound really good? I want something I can be impressed with. What would you guys and gals suggest. What stones albums do I need to be on the lookout for. Thanks in advance.

Andy
andyprice44
tablejockey
3,921 posts
 

Nothing has changed in the 10 years this thread started or since  a particular album mentioned was released.

Rolling Stones and most R&R LP's are meant to enjoyed for the musical content, certainly not "audiophile" SQ standards.

Only requirement is playing it LOUD. It does of course help if you have a decent setup and CLEAN period presses-mono for me if we're takin pre-70's albums.

 Ironically, as a life long LP disciple, I do find my early 2000 ABKO CD releases to sound quite good.

 

tomcarr
1,523 posts
 

+1 @tablejockey Agree completely. Every album I own I grade A,B,C,D based on sound quality. I don't have any Rolling Stones albums that are class A.

Pity, since the music quality is so good.

secretguy
1,724 posts
 

Uh....because they're the Rolling Stones.

jerryg123's avatar
jerryg123
3,429 posts
 

Let It Bleed is okay. 

arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 

@secretguy 

 

yup, an average 4th rate blues/rock band,

hey, at least the Grateful Dead put the Stones to,shame by being the,most boring 5th rate blues band. 
 

@mapman 

agree, past several years, I try to get all my releases from Japan on the SHM cd, or the blue-spec CDs  

can definitely hear a bit deeper kick drum, and guitar solos are so in front of me, I sometimes start to groundhog!

Probably don’t believe me, I have many doubles Japan blue-spec, or the SHM , 

I do swap them back and forth, there is a subtle difference with,specific recordings  

my Japanese LP copy of Anthem s/t, blows away the copy I have on cd  

there are a lot of the SHM Japan,CDs coming out, the new Megadouche sick,dying,dead cd is SHM, that one is hard to tell, there all so damn brick walled.

which is why I keep all my older mercury scorpions CDs made in Germany, sooo much better, than the brickwalled and ear splitting, searing, molar grinding remasters from years back  I like the SHM and blue-spec Japan discs, so I try to always get the Japanese CDs past few years  

not all, but I check to see if there’s extra tracks, if so I usually get the Japan CDs  

plus the Japanese take pride in their music, CDs, albums, our regular,metal blade, or cleopatra releases, just feel,cheap, look cheap, flimsy, single folded paper cover, no lyrics, nothing. 
 

thanks for the eyes & ears

i feel better now

 

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