The pure analogue LP purveyors, in order of excellence in presence

[Rensselaer]

Hi folks, I am looking for a list of companies that produce vinyl recordings that are pure analogue D-2-D, or tape to cutter, with valve microphones and no digital mastering what-so-ever, and your opinion as to their position in the hierarchy, which sounds best at the number one spot, continued down the list.

I personally think Analogue Productions has been putting out some great stuff of late (more variable in the past). fone' does it right, as far as limited released pure analogue recordings, but performed by unknowns to me (and perhaps by most not living in Italy) so that presents as an issue when looking for specific titles. I have one D2D by Berliner Meister Schallplatten (BMS 1817 V, LC 50121 Josh Stephan Trio; Paris-Berlin) which sounds very real/present, and a single Suburban Sound Studios (Winterthur, Switzerland) record that claims to be an exact reproduction of the original master tapes (LC-33268 Erik Satie Unities, Branka Parlic' on Piano).

I can only speak for myself, and my own equipment, but every record that I have ever bought that was cut from a digital source, or had digital processing applied, sounds poorer indeed. I curse the recording industry for not printing it clearly on the covers when they take the easy (read cheaper) route in order to cash in on the resurgence in sales of LPs.

 

[bonzo75]

Analog productions even be embarrassed by simple old records, not necessarily collectibles, Classic records did reissues much better than AP.

Fone can sometimes have good sonics but very poor performances. Just buy that Paganini one which is a decent one from their stand.

The chaconne on Fone, even my whistling can outperform it.

 

[Rensselaer]

Analog productions even be embarrassed by simple old records, not necessarily collectibles, Classic records did reissues much better than AP.

Fone can sometimes have good sonics but very poor performances. Just buy that Paganini one which is a decent one from their stand.

The chaconne on Fone, even my whistling can outperform it.

So, Classic Records is the only one you can think of, and you place it best of them all?

 

[bonzo75]

So, Classic Records is the only one you can think of, and you place it best of them all?

Just as a reissue compared to those that you mentioned.

Marc recently did a similar thread so whatever information can be distilled via online forum reading will be here

Thread 'Embarking on building a classical LP collection...in 2023!'
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...ding-a-classical-lp-collection-in-2023.36177/

 

[tima]

Analog productions even be embarrassed by simple old records, not necessarily collectibles, Classic records did reissues much better than AP.

Fone can sometimes have good sonics but very poor performances. Just buy that Paganini one which is a decent one from their stand.

The chaconne on Fone, even my whistling can outperform it.

I doubt you could out-whistle Musica Nuda on Fone.

 

[Rensselaer]

Are Tone Poet releases pure analogue, or, like MoFi, digitally processed?

I do have three Classic Records “Clarity” releases in red boxes (45RPM) that sound pretty good, but bought from Acoustic Sounds (I bought a faulty “Misty” from them as part of a group purchase exceeding £1000.00, but when I returned the faulty LP to them, they wouldn’t replace it until I spent another $300 on further records to make their postage cost “worth their trouble”). So any European makers of fine pure analogue LP’s?

 

[tima]

So any European makers of fine pure analogue LP’s?

LPs on the Lyrita label are old enough to be all analog. Mostly British music.
The Argo and L'Oiseau-Lyre labels should be all analog as long as they are not a re-press. All are european

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One way to look: does it have a bar code? That's not guaranteed.

 

[rDin]

Are Tone Poet releases pure analogue

I believe the majority are. There may be a couple that are digital - I think Blue Note have been open about which, and why.

 

[Rensselaer]

Impex records claim their LPs are as close as possible to the analogue tapes, but they also sell gold CD’s and SACD’s. Does anyone know if they use digital processing when mastering LP’s?

I am in the process of selling my three MoFi one step Ultradiscs, mostly at a loss (the near mint Santana Abraxis album astonishingly selling on Discogs for around £2000!), because of the digitally processed sound. I don’t want to keep buying and then selling at a loss any further hence this inquiry .

 

[tima]

You can check out Speakers Corners:

pure-analogue | Eine Vinylschallplatte entsteht

pure-analogue.com

I cannot answer your question about Impex. I can tell you, having reviewed both Impex and Speakers Corner re-issues, their quality tends to be on the high side. If I can remember I'll pull examples and look for indications of digital mastering.

 

[bonzo75]

Impex records claim their LPs are as close as possible to the analogue tapes, but they also sell gold CD’s and SACD’s. Does anyone know if they use digital processing when mastering LP’s?

I am in the process of selling my three MoFi one step Ultradiscs, mostly at a loss (the near mint Santana Abraxis album astonishingly selling on Discogs for around £2000!), because of the digitally processed sound. I don’t want to keep buying and then selling at a loss any further hence this inquiry .

MoFi are sonically poor apart from being unethical in their claims. I never bought a MoFi before I knew about their lies, but that was purely on sonics of the ones I heard

 

[bonzo75]

Speakers corner some are good as long as you don’t compare them to originals. Across speakers corner, analog productions, classic records, you will get some good performances. Just don’t compare them to originals.

 

[Rensselaer]

Analog productions even be embarrassed by simple old records, not necessarily collectibles, Classic records did reissues much better than AP.

Fone can sometimes have good sonics but very poor performances. Just buy that Paganini one which is a decent one from their stand.

The chaconne on Fone, even my whistling can outperform it.

The fone’ LPs are limited release, they only press 498 copies of any pressing so the Paganini you are referring to is no longer available.

One very nice recording I received two days ago (no. 140, of 498, so should be more available for awhile) was LP140 Girasoli (Mirabassi/Di Modugno/Balducci playing a clarinet, Spanish guitar, and acoustic bass guitar).

The music is just lovely to either sit and listen to, or to play in the background on a typically grey Winter’s day while you re-build a Swiss watch at your desk, or whatever one does indoors. Highly recommended.

 

[Rensselaer]

Speakers corner some are good as long as you don’t compare them to originals. Across speakers corner, analog productions, classic records, you will get some good performances. Just don’t compare them to originals.

Unfortunately, originals of the best recordings are rarely, if ever, for sale in very good, or better, condition. So it is a great service, not to turn one’s nose up at, when a company is able to secure the loan of the master tape (or direct copy) and make new pressings in a manner that is as faithful as possible to the original release. No?

 

[bonzo75]

Unfortunately, originals of the best recordings are rarely, if ever, for sale in very good or better condition so that it is a great service, not to turn one’s nose up at, when a company is able to secure the use of the master tape (or direct copy) and make new pressings in a manor that is as faithful as possible to the original release.

ERC does that. I have liked only two in classical pre pandemic will try new ones at some point. But just because the master tape is a source does not mean the LP will be good. ERC has good recording equipment too,. It then comes down to the engineer and I would rather buy NMs of originals

 

[Rensselaer]

ERC does that. I have liked only two in classical pre pandemic will try new ones at some point. But just because the master tape is a source does not mean the LP will be good. ERC has good recording equipment too,. It then comes down to the engineer and I would rather buy NMs of originals

If you can find NM of the originals!

 

[Rensselaer]

ERC does that. I have liked only two in classical pre pandemic will try new ones at some point. But just because the master tape is a source does not mean the LP will be good. ERC has good recording equipment too,. It then comes down to the engineer and I would rather buy NMs of originals

ERC looks to be exactly what I was searching for, thank you for the referral.

 

[microstrip]

(...) I am in the process of selling my three MoFi one step Ultradiscs, mostly at a loss (the near mint Santana Abraxis album astonishingly selling on Discogs for around £2000!) (...)

At loss? How much have you paid for your copy? BTW, what is your opinion on the GAIN 2 Ultra Analog 180g LP - MFSL 1-305?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

"Sarastro" is an all analog, all 45rpm pressing, French label. great sound, uneven 2nd level performances. a few gems.
'Jeton' is an all analog direct to disc late 70's and early 80's label, a few great titles, some 'meh'. make sure you get the original dtd pressings.

i think i have all of each of those.

i like more of the Fone than Ked, but he is a snob.

then there are the Three Blind Mice reissues which are all analog, again.....uneven performances but great sound.

honestly there are many recent fine sounding digitally sourced Lp's. i respect a strict all analog approach......but there are quite a few superlative performances with fine sound out there for the vinyl lover. i'll take "D" sourced vinyl with a good performance, well mastered and pressed over a tepid recording that is all analog.

 

[bonzo75]

Sarastro has two very good performances, Tang and I have both. I tried some others and they were disappointing. Just compare your Beethoven cello sonatas on Sarastro to the Rostropovich Richter one Mike and you will know what I mean