[net.audio] Re-issue quality

greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley) (01/17/84)

The recent postings with regard to the RCA "paper bag" 
records leads to the general topic of the quality of
re-issues of classic performances.  Is anyone interested
in this topic?  (If not, I'll cool it after this one).
My own findings with regard to reissues of pre- and
early stereo recordings are as follows:
   (1) British EMI - Generally outstanding.  Transfers
       of mono recordings from the early 50's often have
       an astonishing depth and transparency.  Avoid,
       however, those which have been faked into "stereo"
       (many of the Callas opera reissues).
   (2) French EMI - Outstanding of late.  They tend to
       preserve the original mono on performances which
       the British have "stereoized".
   (3) Decca/London - Generally inferior to the originals.
       So far, whenever I've been able to compare an
       "ffrr" original with an Eclipse, Stereo Treasury,
       or Jubilee reissue, the result has been a quieter
       pressing with thinner, less full-bodied sound on
       the reissue.  Since the death of the Richmond reissue
       label, they rarely reissue pre-stereo performances.
   (5) Philips - I've only heard the "Golden Imports", and
       can't comment on the Universo reissues.  The "Golden
       Imports" all stem from the Mercury "Living Presence"
       catalogue.  The pressings are much quieter and the
       occasional overbrightness and stridency of the Mercury
       issues are gone.  Unfortunately, also gone are much
       of the detail, vibrancy, and bass clarity of the
       originals.

   I'd be happy to go into more detail with specific recordings
if anyone is interested.  I spend a lot of time listening to
older performances (Toscanini, Cantelli, Flagstad, etc.) and
am therefore highly concerned with the quality of reproduction
on these issues.  I don't, however, want to clog up the net with
this kind of discussion if I'm the only one who is interested.

				Greg Paley
				Olivetti ATC, Cupertino, Ca.