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Annoying trend? New vinyl equalization and compression

Hi...I searched discussions and didn’t find much mention of this. Direct me if there is a thread.

Is this just a few of the recent (maybe last 5 years or so) albums I’ve picked up reissued on vinyl or a trend by the big manufacturers (such as Rhino records etc.....not talking about "audiophile" Mofi etc.).....

-------Albums sound dynamically compressed, thick in the bass and very rolled off on top--------.

Of the thousands of albums I have.....these recent pressings/purchases have this same sound.

A couple recents.....David Bowie Scary Monsters, A new Samantha Fish Death Wish Blues, A reissue of Ozzy Osborne Blizzard of Oz etc.

Not sure if this might be an EQ that compliments new vinyl purchasers and sounds better on USB or maybe inexpensive tables or systems???

Or is it just a few of the releases I purchased and not so widespread?

 

foeraus
dogberry
566 posts
 

I don't know that it is a new trend: there have always been dreadful sounding records of otherwise good music. You have to know which ones you have and refrain from using them when comparing two pieces of equipment! I have many records I love that I would never ever use for such a comparison, and a few that I'm don't particularly care for as music, but which make great records for comparisons.

erik_squires
15,756 posts
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,605 posts
 

Compression is used because it takes less time to engineer the LP side. You just start the source file (or tape) and let the cutter do its thing.

You might spend 4x as much money if you don't use the compression, trying to sort out how to cut the LP and still have a real world cartridge be able to track it. LP mastering costs the same as high buck lawyers.

So a lot of reissues are compressed to keep costs down.

inna
7,132 posts
 

Our response to it should be very simple. We will help them cut their costs much further by not buying this junk.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,470 posts
 

Send them back with a note. I read somewhere that 90% of new vinyl is played on junk suitcase players. The Gen Z hipsters will have no clue what a great analog record on a fine stereo will ever sound like.

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