So now, the record itself. Visually perfect. Records are physical things and leave lots of little clues. Many times putting a record on the platter the spindle hits the label and this will leave little pressure tracks spiraling in towards the spindle. Not a one of those. Then just sliding in and out, the paper label rubs against the paper sleeve and this sort of polishes the label. No hint of that. This record has the distinct appearance of having never been played.
Certainly this is not the case. Tom played it once, at the very least. Just saying, it looks remarkably fresh and new.
The first little bit of each side is a little noisy. The rest has what I would call fairly normal surface noise- exactly as described before I bought it.
Been trying to get Tom on the phone to talk about this, no luck so far. Oh well. Here we go anyway.
First I want to say, the copy I had sounded just fine. Could play it for anyone, they would be impressed. In no way, shape or form would anyone ever consider it a poor copy. I would call it average, most would call it good. None would call it bad.
Okay, with that out of the way. The first thing I notice with the White Hot Stamper, everything is much more palpably present and floating with huge vast amounts of air around it. When strings come in they are rich and vibrant, so much so they make what was on the other copy seem strident, thin and screechy. Just a huge difference.
It is playing at the usual volume, but the sound is so much more clean and clear it makes me want to turn it up. Now I know the usual puppets eager to argue will say See! It needs to be turned up! No. It does not need to be turned up. It makes me WANT to turn it up. When I do turn it up, it sounds not just better, it sounds crazy better!
Thank God for Moabs.
Last two tracks I really do turn it up and good thing too when the lead guitar comes in on Year of the Cat it is soaring electric high above so clean and clear and I'm thinking what could be better and Parsons and Stewart have thought of that, it's called a saxophone and damn if it doesn't pack even more energy than the lead guitar solo!
Anyone ever wonders why Alan Parsons earned so much respect, one listen to what I just heard and you will know. Waited a good 6 months for this. Cost a small fortune. Worth every minute. Worth ever penny.
Certainly this is not the case. Tom played it once, at the very least. Just saying, it looks remarkably fresh and new.
The first little bit of each side is a little noisy. The rest has what I would call fairly normal surface noise- exactly as described before I bought it.
Been trying to get Tom on the phone to talk about this, no luck so far. Oh well. Here we go anyway.
First I want to say, the copy I had sounded just fine. Could play it for anyone, they would be impressed. In no way, shape or form would anyone ever consider it a poor copy. I would call it average, most would call it good. None would call it bad.
Okay, with that out of the way. The first thing I notice with the White Hot Stamper, everything is much more palpably present and floating with huge vast amounts of air around it. When strings come in they are rich and vibrant, so much so they make what was on the other copy seem strident, thin and screechy. Just a huge difference.
It is playing at the usual volume, but the sound is so much more clean and clear it makes me want to turn it up. Now I know the usual puppets eager to argue will say See! It needs to be turned up! No. It does not need to be turned up. It makes me WANT to turn it up. When I do turn it up, it sounds not just better, it sounds crazy better!
Thank God for Moabs.
Last two tracks I really do turn it up and good thing too when the lead guitar comes in on Year of the Cat it is soaring electric high above so clean and clear and I'm thinking what could be better and Parsons and Stewart have thought of that, it's called a saxophone and damn if it doesn't pack even more energy than the lead guitar solo!
Anyone ever wonders why Alan Parsons earned so much respect, one listen to what I just heard and you will know. Waited a good 6 months for this. Cost a small fortune. Worth every minute. Worth ever penny.