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

Some good info here. Just pay attention to how a repressing is mastered and wait for a while to get a read on the SQ. A lot of older issues that I like weren't really mainstream and can be had in great shape for reasonable prices.

“Are 90% of new lps being played back on such systems? ”


I was at my local used vinyl store last month, some 20 year olds came in happily got four or five records. One said “ where can we get a player?” One yelled out “ Walmart!” And away they went!

Right, and it does not matter if they tout 180gm vinyl.  Mostly, if it is a lower than say $30 it will sound like crap. IMHP.

If vinyl pressing plants are being kept open by hipsters and their USB-direct-to-phone turntables, I expect we should be glad. Those pressing plants will also get some serious jobs, and one hopes they kept on an engineer who could do them justice. Otherwise we will end up with a virtual monopoly of plants that can do 'proper' pressings. Nothing about the music, record, or pressing industries makes me think that they will not charge whatever the market will bear, which will likely exclude me.

Period press for me. I listen to almost exclusively pre 1980, with a few exceptions up to 1990.

Might sound limiting, but there is an abundance of unheard music in the dirty bins I go through.

The "best sound" seems to be the late 50's thru late 60's with stuff thru the 70's becoming inconsistent. Doesn't really matter since the actual music is what it's about. 

After that, it's the quest to play those LP's on "the best" possible setup.

Play a period press and blame your dissatisfaction on the actual recording, setup and room.

Most(not all) reiussue LP's just sound like a good CD.

"David Bowie Scary Monsters" is a 1980's recording-right when things really take a turn for the worse as far as SQ. Same goes for the Ozzy LP. Much more processing going on compared to a  Hunky Dory or Paranoid.

Open your wallet and get one of these. 

David Bowie – Scary Monsters (1980, Indianapolis Pressing, Vinyl) - Discogs

Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard Of Ozz (1981, Vinyl) - Discogs

Period press-another polarizing audiophool subject.