Music Matters Definitive Blue Note 45 RPM and 33 & 1/3 RPM vinyl series (pt7)

Oh wow, I had no idea. Thanks for pointing that out. I guess I need to find an original now just for the OG artwork.

 

Im not sure it matters in all cases but this particular release it is...to me anyway. I realize for a lot of people these things are superficial

 

It is something I would like to have, considering it ties into the theme of the music.

 

The 75th anniv pressing of “Speak Like A Child” has the original unipak jacket and is one of the better sounding pressings from that erratic run of titles. I might just put it on right now! Thanks

 

Same here. This is a favorite of mine and I had not clue about the original photos, which really are something else!

 

Does anyone have insight as to how the 2x45RPM Analogue Productions of Idle Moments holds up to the MMJ 33?

 

My beautiful wife recently gave me four of the Music Matters SRX titles for my birthday (Wayne Shorter - Adam's Apple, Art Blakey - A Night in Tunisia and Free for All, and Kenny Dorham - Afro-Cuban) and I don't find the vinyl any quieter than on some of the other Music Matters releases that I have with their older formulation. In fact, I have not been able to tell any real difference in vinyl noise level than most other modern pressings from other labels that I have. The mastering generally sounds good, if a little hard on top. The good thing is that these are all 33 rpm releases, as I don't really like flipping sides between every song or two.

Am I the only one who is a bit underwhelmed by the SRX pressings, especially at $60 for each? Was I expecting too much?

 

I ordered three titles and upon playing them found them noisy (clicks and pops). Ordered a forth (Joe Henderson) and it was quiet all the way through. Though I haven't done a one to one comparison of an individual title I don't hear the benefit when records pressed on standard formulations such as some that I have that were pressed at Record Industry rival the SRX for signal to noise ratio.

 

I had lots of tics on the 2nd side of Afro-Cuban, and a few on the 1st side. All the other SRXs I got were perfect. I sent it back (just the record) and they sent me a new copy, which was perfect.

 

I'm not talking about clicks and pops. I'm talking about low level static throughout the album. I expect new records to be free of clicks and pops from any pressing plant. What I expected out of the SRX titles was a very black, quiet background and I have to say that it's not really any different on average than any other album from any other plant.

 

Gil Melle and Up at Mintons arrived yesterday. Gil is up first and, man, this record is GREAT! MMJ impresses me each time I play one of their mono titles. The depth they are able to pull out of these mono mixes is astounding. This one will get a lot of playing time. Highly recommended.

 

I'm with you.

 

Hmm, I found that over my system the SRX titles have significantly lower groove-noise, probably about -6dB worth. I noticed the same thing with MoFi's Supervinyl releases on the same vinyl formula. I think it comes down to what is the dominant source of noise in your system. If any one component of your reproduction system has a higher noise floor than RTI's already quite pressings, you wouldn't hear a difference. Quite a few systems that otherwise sound amazing (I'm looking at you tube-amplified systems) have a high enough noise floor that a slight improvement in groove-noise isn't going to be noticeable.

 

Kevin and Joe are wizards of mono. The world would be a nicer place if all mono reissues went through them.

 

This has been my experience as well. The noise floor is phenomenally low on my system as well as a friends system he has a Transrotor magnet drive.

I have one SRXtitle amongst my order of 5 to play tonight. Gonna be a great session!

 

My buddy called up and said come over. The tubes are warmed up. Spinning MMJ records on a Transrotor is special. But my Well Temple Amadeus is a super quiet player too. No metal bearings. Zero tolerance Teflon socket for spindle shaft. Tone arm is attached to a golf ball that is suspend by nylon line in a pot of viscous fluid. Really.

 

Nobody? Really?

 

Strange. I have eight of the SRX titles and can hear a very obvious difference in surface noise. After the initial bit of lead groove the silence, before the music starts, is astounding. Same thing between tracks.
I do have a small handful of non-SRX, recent pressings that are nearly as quiet at the surface, but not many.

 

I've been a huge fan of the MMJ series for a while now. I've gotten all of the 33s and cherry picked a few favorite titles from the 45s. I've picked up 3 of the SRX series so far (A Night in Tunisia, Adam's Apple, and Free For All). I've really been thrilled with the sound of everything I've heard. I'm planning my next order and wanted to see if any of you had any strong opinions about the 45 editions versus the SRX editions of Afro Cuban, Johnny Griffin Vol 2, or Sonny Rollins Vol 1. Both editions of each are still available and was wondering if any of you were in a position to compare. Getting up to flip the 45s more often doesn't really matter to me, I'm just looking for great sound. Thanks!

 

Rollins Vol. 1 SRX sounds fantastic, but the 45 is better to my ears. More spacious and more detail in the mids. I sold my SRX in favor of the 45.

 

I can only speak to the MMJ 33, which is fantastic but has the most surface noise of any MMJ in my collection. I did get a replacement, which was a bit quieter but not on part with the rest of my MMJ pressings. I believe there's some discussion in this thread about some QC issues with their run of Idle Moments 33's. Still a great reissue and I listen to it often, but just something to be aware of in making the decision between AP and MMJ in this case.

 

My Idle Moments is dead silent. It was my first MM coming from a really noisy BN75. The fact it was essentially perfect is what sent me down the MM rabbit hole with ridiculous expectations! That they’ve mostly met!

 

I remember that initially I liked the 33rpm better, but I have to listen again:
Music Matters Definitive Blue Note 45 RPM and 33 & 1/3 RPM vinyl series (pt7)

 

I personally found the AP unlistenable. I bought it on a whim unheard based on the praise for the album and after a first listen, dismissed the album, especially the title track, as boring and dull. Little did I realize it truly was the mastering! The AP sounds very flat and dull to my ears/system, and a bit sluggish groove wise. The MM sounds much more life like, dynamic, present, and doesn’t have the sluggish feel the AP had to my ears. My guess is the AP May be a flat transfer from tape, whereas the MM has a little more mastering love from Ron, Joe, and Kevin.

 

+1, me too.