ABBA: The Studio Albums (8 vinyl)

The ABBA Studio Albums join the Back To Black family. Each limited edition LP features exact reproductions of the original artwork to retain authenticity and are pressed on 180 gram heavyweight audiophile vinyl.



http://www.amazon.co.uk/ABBA-Studio...&linkCode=as2&ascsubtag=ABBALPVinylboxsetFBPt

 

Another vinyl albums box set ??? Well, the 2000 box was very good done, why do they release another one ??? ABBA albums are available for very low prices in great condition...maybe they get it right this time to use flawless tapes for "The Album" side A tracks and, of course, the flawless "The Visitors" master...
If anybody will buy it, it would be great to know more about the sound quality, especially for the two albums I mentioned. Thank you very much.

 

After the 2010 box and then the 2011 individual re-issues... is this really necessary? It's getting ridiculous!

 

According to the newsletter I've just received from Diverse Vinyl, they are from the analogue tapes.

http://www.diversevinyl.com/item.php?id=11bc421ca416f0e54a3d4705ec083929

 

For people who want a perfect and clean set why not? Sure there are good coupies around but many are beat up. I say all the better getting these catalogues out on the (virtual) shelves again. It doesn't mean someone who bought the last set needs to buy it again.

 

This will be interesting to hear from people how these sound. I have way too much ABBA as it is so I won't be getting these but hope others do. I wonder what mastering choices will be made as most of the original Polar copies I have are really tough to listen to compared to the American EQ.

 

I really enjoy most of the german Polydors (and for "Super Trouper" the Austria pressing without the dropout in the title track). The first two albums sound nice on the swedish Polar LPs (and include the swedish language tracks), but also the german pressings are really nice.
I had tons of ABBA records in my life, most swedish Polar LPs sounded dull and lifeless, compared to the german pressings. The Polar ABBA (1975) album has so much distortion, it is unlistenable for me. The US pressings of the albums sound great, but also a bit distorted on the last tracks of each side.
Of course, everybody has the option to buy a new set or not - but I really see no reason to sell another box set...

 

I've been buying the 2011 individuals for a few years now, they can be had for cheap, nice German presses, most likely just represses

 

Best pre-order price for this new set is from Amazon.it at the moment, under 100 Euros (and they will remove VAT also, if shipped outside the EU).

http://www.amazon.it/ABBA-Studio-Al...c&ie=UTF8&qid=1413887258&sr=1-6&keywords=abba

Easy to order from them, even if you don't speak any Italian. Just open your Amazon.com page in parallel and pretend if you order something, everything will be the same layout.

 

I received my set from Amazon.it for around 95 Euros. Didn't have any ABBA on vinyl yet. All I have for comparison are the old CD's (WG Polydor, US Atlantic, Swedish Polar). I did some brief comparisons for most of the albums with what I consider the best CD version. First Impression is very good, the newer albums sound a tad less bright on the new vinyl releases and have better soundstage, a nicer midrange and overall a smoother, more 3D like sound. Definitely an upgrade over the CD versions.

The pressings also seem to be quite nice.

 

Did record some songs, and the frequencies go up to around 30 kHz, so definitely a higher quality source. I actually did record side 1 of "The Album", so if people want to check out whether this is from a tape without the known problems, please let me know what to listen for, or if you want me to upload a certain segment/clip (like a minute or two), just let me know which part.

 

what records have it for £89.99:

http://www.whatrecords.co.uk/items/63388.htm

I have almost mint UK originals of these and mint Japanese Discomate copies so I technically don't need it, but if they are good pressings and analogue-sourced, then it would be a really nice set to have!

 

By the way, I compared "Super Trouper" from this new vinyl set to the US Atlantic CD. There is some echo/reverb on the CD which is not on the new vinyl. I like the new vinyl better.

 

Would be interesting if The Name Of The Game has the distortion (as on all previous vinyl editions). Maybe you could upload a file including a refrain from that track ?

 

If they are using the compiled album master then I guess it will be, however, I think 'distortion' is a bit strong, what you are hearing there is a 'glassy-ness' caused by a compressor/limiter - it isn't actually tape distortion. An yes, the single version and the version they used on the UK Reader's Digest box set doesn't suffer from this.

 

Yes, I recognized that it is no tape distortion, but caused by a limiter / compressor. I always enjoy the Reader's Digest version of TNOTG.

 

What about The Visitors? Is it from the same DDR-market tape that was used on the Visitors DE and the previous Vinyl collection? (Switched channels and a different version of Head over Heels).
To bad they had to remaster it, which I guess means digital. In that case they could have released it on cd with the same DR.

 

The Visitors LP has never been released in DDR. There was a 4 song 7" E.P. including the different "Head Over Heels" version.
The only DDR ABBA Album releases were "Waterloo" and "Arrival" with different cover artworks and slightly altered tracklist.

 

I have the 2010 (?) box with the shiny silver cover. It wasn't the best quality - they used different vinyl weights, and many of the disks has fine scratches. I wouldn't mind an upgrade if the new box uses all analog tapes.

The 2010 box had a booklet and a bonus disc of non-album cuts. Are these missing from the new box?

 

Any news about "The Album" and the sound quality of Side A tracks ? Maybe they used a new compiled master (as for the iTunes version) without the distortion ?

 

bump

 

I have the 2011 re-issue lp (German press), what song in particular?

 

I believe the 2011 individual Back to Black titles are from analogue tape. They certainly sound so. I'm sure this box is in effect a repress. This also doesn't include the Abba tracks (only 8 discs) that came with the 2010 box.

 

The 2011 versions should the same as on the "Vinyl Collection" box set, taken from the original LP cutting tapes.
If they use the masters for 6 of the regular albums from the old box set and take the right one for "Visitors" this time and, last but not least, compile a new side a master for the "Album", it would be perfect for the first time....

 

The set contains ABBA’s eight studio albums, originally released 1973–1981: Ring Ring, Waterloo, ABBA, Arrival, ABBA: The Album, Voulez Vous, Super Trouper and The Visitors. The box set also contains a bonus album, entitled ABBA Tracks, the A-side of which contains the five single A-sides not included on the original studio albums. The B-side of ABBA Tracks features a further five non-album songs, personally selected by ABBA's Benny Andersson.