RCA Classic Records-180 versus 200 gram

tzh21y,
Welcome to my world, where you can find original RCA shaded dog, London FFss blue-backs, Deutcshe Grammophon - red stereo- tulip in MINT and only MINT condition. Original London FFss are somewhere in 150g range and will easily humiliate any 180 or 200gr re-issues.
My ultra high-end classical catalogue includes
Heifez -- Beethoven -- Violin Concerto in D -- shaded dog plum color 2s/2s
Ansermet -- Stravinsky -- Petrushka -- FFss blue-back
Michael Rabin -- Tchaikovsky -- Concerto in D -- Angel UK
Van Cliburn -- Rachmaninoff -- Piano Concerto 3 -- Mercury Living Stereo
Rafael Kubelik -- Smetana -- Ma Vlast -- DGG red stereo

Michael Hobson, who ran Classic Records, used to have a blog where he discussed the problems encountered when he switched to 200g flat profile records. The blog is now gone as far as I know- since Chad bought what remained of the company. There were well-documented QC problems with the 200g Classics; my impression was that when Hobson switched from RTI to a smaller manual press (Smith? sorry, can't remember without checking) at around the time he did the Clarity vinyl, most of the problems went away, but I can't say that definitively. The Classics at the time gave audiophiles the chance to buy fresh, unmolested copies of what in some cases were  expensive, and hard to find in good condition collectible records. I have a few of the Classics, like the Royal Ballet box cut at 45. I have many of the originals- even in good condition, the US RCAs have a different presentation. They are softer, not as bright, not as much 'detail' in an audiophile sense, but the massed string tone was great. They weren't cheap when I bought them in the late '80s- in fact, the market was 'hot' for these at the time due in part to Sid Marks' columns in The Absolute Sound. I also bought a bunch of the old UKs, but haven't listened to them in decades. 
I think Fremer had a listening comparison up at one point- between a modern remaster and an old pressing that he got from Tom Port. The differences were obvious, even over a lowly internet stream. Some people may prefer the more modern sound of the re-dos. Haven't heard the ones Chad is releasing under his moniker. I have enough classical; how about some reggae? :)

Some of the original living stereos are not that good.  Some are fantastic.  The classic reissues can sound pretty incredible.  I can see why they received the attention they have.  I frequently go to see the Cleveland orchestra at severance hall.  I usually sit about 7 rows back right behind the conductor.  Many of The classic reiisues really do sound eerilly like the real thing to these ears.  Some original shaded dogs that I have that sound real are pines of Rome and Gershwin an american in Paris, rhapsody in blue, harry belafonte at Carnegie hall.

Another analogy,  the classics bring you closer to the orchestra, the original living stereos would be like 15 or 16 rows back.  The string do sound amazing on the originals.  They are definitely softer sounding.

Scratch that last statement.  I am listening to an original living stereo called the Rubenstein story.  Chopin concerto number 2.  It is amazing.  Midrange to die for.  However,  the classics are good as well. If you can get an rca living stereo original or other originals in great condition you should grab them, but the classic reissue are definitely not terrible, some are very good like the royal ballet.