Roy Orbison S&P

Cheers! I was already familiar with that thread, but thanks anyway!

 

Yeah, Loving the MFSL Orbison is about as controversial as loving chocolate ice cream.

 

Considering it was Steve who reopened it...

 

I've had the S&P for over a month now, and it keeps sounding better and better to my ears, but I'd love to hear the MFSL too some day...

 

Is $100 about right for this now, 14 years later ? Asking because I'm intrigued, as I've been reading the praise here my entire time.

 

Yes, it's really gone up in value in its 14 years of existence, and rightfully so! These two records might well be the best pressed and sounding ones in my entire collection, absolutely love this S&P set.

 

I've got a WTB for it in our classifieds. I'm on a fixed pension, so I'm offering $65.00 right now. Saw one for as low as $35 on Popsike in 2016. Lucky so-and-so.

 

Wish you the best of luck with that, I really hope you'll get a nice copy of this album, it's absolutely essential for the Roy Orbison vinyl enthusiast! I see that you're in the US, that helps I guess. I was unlucky enough as an EU customer that there was only one offer on Discogs with low shipping costs, but I still ended up paying 100 euros in total (which comes down to about 117 dollars with the current exchange rate)... Ah well, it's really been worth it, and I'm even considering buying a backup copy, can you believe it?

 

Just picked up a brand new sealed copy from Acoustic Sounds for $65. This one definitely sounds as good as everyone says. Thank you Mr. Steve!

 

I already posted about this on this forum, but it pretty much comes down to taste. Steve's mastering is softer than other masterings of this music and he said one reason he used tubes (besides preferring their sound in general) was that the tapes sounded a little cold and hard if played back on a solid state system. You can hear this when comparing his mastering to the MFSL disc, but it's not just the tubes. Listen to "Only the Lonely," on that track the MFSL disc sounds like it has a bit more in the upper mids, moreso than the other tracks on the same compilation. I'm guessing Steve took out more in that region using a parametric equalizer because that record has always been a bit hard-sounding in general.

 

Thanks !!!!!!! Ordered. 20% off the $65, then another 5% off thanks to my card, $64.23 shipped !
I must not have looked there last night.
They are still showing another (or multiple ? ) copy sealed for $65.00 as "preowned" which is what mine said. We'll see.

 

Mine said Preowned as well, but was definitely sealed. Glad you scored one!

 

I won a copy here in a draw and it is still sealed as I don't have a turntable hooked up. Lots of people own sealed product here or so it is possible that "preowned = new"

 

Yeah, I saw that in my research last night, and thought you might've had a table back then, guess not.

 

I still have late 70's era table and cart but I have not used it since 1986.

Nobody can accuse me of "flipping" the Orbison.

 

As in no EQ applied to the upper mids?

 

Acoustic Sounds just shipped ! Leave it to Chad to still have sealed copies 14 years later. So excited, I've even told Roy Jr. I bought this.

 

Nice! Has he responded already?

 

Not yet, but we speak via messenger occasionally. The Orbison family, and legacy is still all over this area, just outside Nashville.
.

 

That's pretty exciting, they seem to be taking really good care of Roy's legacy. Any chance you've corresponded with the family about the possibility of a Monument Years (1959-1965) box set?

 

What's S&P?

 

No, I spend too much as it is. Asking for more is something I leave to others.

S&P Records

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/discography/SP

 

I have not heard the S&P's version. I have lots of SH's work, though.

An advantage to the MFSL is that they went back to the original master tapes for each individual LP and were allowed to cut from those. S&P's version was cut from the 2nd generation master generated for the Greatest Hits album, so the S&P is a full generation away from the MFSL. You'll get more inner detail and harmonic texture with the MFSL.

That being said, one might prefer the musical choices one mastering engineer makes over another. The original UK red/plum label original of Led Zeppelin II is considered by many to be the best version out there, better than the great US Robert Ludwig version, in spite of the former being cut from a copy of the original master tapes. The original (which sounds like the Classic Records version) is detailed and in your face. It sounds like you're in the studio with the band. You can practically "see" where the individual parts of the drum set are on a good system.

The UK sounds like you're in the 10th row at a theater. It has a more band-cohesive presentation, has great presence, and it rocks.

Personal preference. As with my experience with other SH's masterings, you'll get great liquidity and musicality.