When Universal announced its entry into the audiophile reissue market, my first reaction was skepticism. I’ve lived through the era of EMI Heavy Vinyl, JVC SuperVinyl, CBS Mastersound, and other disappointing experiments. EMI seemed convinced that thicker vinyl alone equaled better sound. CBS never quite optimized equalization for half-speed mastering. The results, more often than not, were horrible.
With that history in mind, I ordered Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song with very low expectations. But let me get straight to the point: this pressing is fantastic.
As someone who owns the some of the best sounding Cole recordings - from DCC, S&P, Analog Productions, and RTR tape, I think I have a solid reference for how his voice should sound when properly reproduced. This reissue nails it. The presentation is rich, deep, and strikingly natural, capturing the unique timbre of Cole’s voice. The soundstage is impressively three-dimensional for a 65-year-old pop recording. The vinyl itself is flat, and the noise floor is virtually nonexistent.
The mastering was handled at Sterling and the pressing executed by RTI - an encouraging combination. The packaging matches the audio quality: a matte-finished gatefold with expanded liner notes and a photo of the original tape.
To my ears, Chad Kassem still sets the gold standard for reissues, with Impex, MFSL, Rhino, and a few others consistently delivering top sound. But based on this first example, admittedly a sample size of one, Vinylphyle appears to have entered that same upper echelon.
Available through uDiscover Music, this new line has enormous potential, especially given Universal’s vast catalog. If this release is any indication, Vinylphyle could be a home run for us vinyl enthusiasts.
With that history in mind, I ordered Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song with very low expectations. But let me get straight to the point: this pressing is fantastic.
As someone who owns the some of the best sounding Cole recordings - from DCC, S&P, Analog Productions, and RTR tape, I think I have a solid reference for how his voice should sound when properly reproduced. This reissue nails it. The presentation is rich, deep, and strikingly natural, capturing the unique timbre of Cole’s voice. The soundstage is impressively three-dimensional for a 65-year-old pop recording. The vinyl itself is flat, and the noise floor is virtually nonexistent.
The mastering was handled at Sterling and the pressing executed by RTI - an encouraging combination. The packaging matches the audio quality: a matte-finished gatefold with expanded liner notes and a photo of the original tape.
To my ears, Chad Kassem still sets the gold standard for reissues, with Impex, MFSL, Rhino, and a few others consistently delivering top sound. But based on this first example, admittedly a sample size of one, Vinylphyle appears to have entered that same upper echelon.
Available through uDiscover Music, this new line has enormous potential, especially given Universal’s vast catalog. If this release is any indication, Vinylphyle could be a home run for us vinyl enthusiasts.
