Can you please tell us what kind of gear you use? As an example I don't find the JPN pressing of 'Killers' to be shrill at all, in this case your experience might be equipment dependent.
Sure, I have an Audio-Technica AT-LP60USB turntable with a LP Gear CFN3600LE stylus, Super Vivid AT-LP60 belt and Project It leather mat, played through a Yamaha MCR-B043D Micro Component Audio System.
I'm not really sure this gear will turn out the most of your vinyls... It's maybe the reason you get different "readings" from most people here on these records. If you have such great pressings of these records, I would suggest for you to upgrade your gear. It will only get things better for you. Edit. I heard Japanese pressings had generally speaking enhanced high ends. I'm saying enhanced. Not shrieking or ice picky. See the above.
That's not the case with the original JPN pressings of Iron Maidens albums from the 80's. They do sound full and meaty IMO.
Thank you for the suggestion. I don't doubt that better equipment yields better results. But I am not currently in a position to upgrade. Also, I don't think my impressions differ greatly from others on the forum; I prefer the old Japanese pressings of Maiden in several cases, just not all. Cheers.
Hi all, So I'm going to post here what I put on there other thread, maybe some of you have an opinion... So I used to have all the original pressings back in the days. I'm talking Vinyl. I put my collection back together these last months, whit whatever I could find, so mostly new records from the shops around me. But then I'm following some FB pages with Vinyl classifieds etc, and got the opportunity to get some vintage pressings of some albums. Mainly French pressings. Mainly Iron maiden singles (Sanctuary, Run to the hills, Woman in uniform), Piece of mind 83 - French pressing Iron Maiden – Piece Of Mind (1983, Gatefold, Vinyl) 7th son of a 7th son - 1988 French pressing. Iron Maiden – Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988, Vinyl) Rater happy with all these acquisitions, the condition being good to great I did'nt get a chance to listen to these yet but could you tell me if they're really better pressings compared to the 2014 / 2015 repressing ?
I'm a little late to the party, just got my '14 UK copy today. Regret selling my "signed" '80 Canadian Harvest Album decades ago.
Not to mention it had an extra song "Sanctuary" on it, that the UK LP doesn't. Same with "Twilight Zone" on the UK Killers.
Can I get your opinion on the 2014 (1980) self titled Iron Maiden LP? Is there a consensus on the remix/remaster? I tried going through a lot of the threads 83 pages, and couldn't find a consensus.
I have the UK/Optimal pressing and I think it sounds phenomenal. Compares well to my US original pressing. I think all of the Optimal reissues sound phenomenal except for Killers and Number of the Beast, which they somehow managed to screw up. Sounds like a towel over the speaker, muffled and less dynamic. Still sound good but originals/early pressings blow them away. Also, Piece of Mind has one channel that is more quiet than the other but otherwise sounds great. All of the reissues I'm referring to are the 2014 Optimal EU ones.
Started to get excited when I saw some 2021 Iron Maiden Studio Collection remasters by Chris Bellman, including Number of the Beast and S/T. Then I saw they are pressed at United and my heart sank.. Has anyone heard them and can comment on how they sound and the amount of surface noise?
They must be reissues of 2014 editions (I have the EU-editions which were pressed by Optimal Media GmbH). The hype stickers on these 2021 ones are similar to what are on the latest cd-editions.
I'm sure it was Sean Magee that cut the first 8 at least (think Chris Bellman started at Fear of the Dark). I know for definite that Bellman has done all from X Factor onwards.
Right! Which is why this was exciting to stumble upon last night! Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast (2021, 180 Gram, Vinyl) I didn’t see pressing plant info on NotB, but the 2021 S/T lists United. Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (2021, 180 gram, Vinyl) And every United pressing I personally own sounds like a freshly poured bowl of Rice Krispies, so I’m leery.
Really? Yet another Vinyl mastering? And one that everybody decided to keep silent about? Even though these are new Bellman cuts? Shouldn't this be worth a line or two in a newsletter? Because if he recuts the magnificent seven one or two people might be interested in buying them again. For the fourth, fifth or seventh time! (Now we finally are learning the real reason why they gave the original purchasers two boxsets in 2014! )
SammyJoe, I try to do a Discogs search of favorite mastering engineers 2-4 times a year to make sure I’m not missing anything. SH, KG, BG, CB, RKS, etc. Someone posted on FB that the new reissue of Donald Fagen’s “Nightfly” by CB was pretty amazing, so right after I ordered it I started my due diligence. That’s when I saw the Iron Maiden NotB & S/T. If it was available on Amazon I would happily take a flyer for the team, but it’s not, and the United info is keeping me from doing so elsewhere. My US Wally of NotB has some surface noise and could be bettered, but not as much surface noise as some United pressings.
Yep, I know similar to these things as follow the forums and get some really good information on upcoming and past releases, what to get, look for or what to avoid. I think I got some albums presses by United, can’t recall much but maybe I was lucky and have somehow managed to avoid the worst or so. Always interested in any Maiden releases (as I sort of collect them anyways), I got different pressings of all the albums but if they are going to get us buy these once again after the 2014 editions then they should use better pressing plants.
