Post by Owen Y on Apr 29, 2018 23:07:11 GMT 12
Wax Time appears to be a (Barcelona-based?) record label specialising in re-issuing public domain/out-of-copyright (in Europe) classic Jazz recordings. I picked up this 2017 release to try, from RG ($36) - 180gm, "DMM", "Newly Re-mastered", "One pressing limited edition", "Deluxe inner sleeves" (poly-lined paper, I haven't seen this much). Cover & artwork is nice quality, with new & original liner notes. Source material is not stated but subjectively did not suggest a digital constituent - overall warm toned. These were originally a Prestige 1953/4 recordings, so they are Mono - this disc is cut same on both ch's with central image. The vinyl is exceptionally clean & quiet (with the exception of a skip on track 1/3 - which I need to examine further.) There's around 50 mins of music compiled here & the recorded level is lower than usual, needing a click or two more volume level (3-5dB). Aside from lower vol level & some sound quality variation between different tracks from different sessions, playback quality is good, with subjectively decent dynamics,conveying the "swing" of these renowned bebop collaborations. Wax Time is worth investigating further, especially for hard-to-find/costly Jazz recordings. Pricing is a touch steep, but production quality is good. 
|
Post by Citroen on Apr 30, 2018 9:05:32 GMT 12
A lot of bad press on the various forums about Wax Time being sourced from CDs (or even speculation that some are high quality mp3s, or even needledrops!).
So am very wary of this label and other public domain reissues like Jazz Wax, Doxy, Not Now.
Having said that, if the CD version was any good to start off with, the vinyl should sound decent enough. And you get the art work, liner notes etc cf just buying the CD. Seems like quality can vary greatly between titles, so pays to do some research.
I only have one Wax Time record, Billy Holiday's All or Nothing at All, which according to Discogs I bought over three years ago for $20 and sound quality is fine, quiet noise free pressing.
Vocals set back, and not quite as clear as the instruments, which more than likely how it was originally mastered but don't have any other version to compare. But otherwise very acceptable.
|
Post by michaelw on Apr 30, 2018 10:43:02 GMT 12
generally agree with the above. but there are instances where the cd bests the vinyl - aimee mann's lost in space cd trounces the mofi plastic. ditto eleanor mcevoy's yola sacd/cd. caveat emptor. the only public domain lp i have is a 3 record julie london set - the albums calendar girl, julie at home and julie in one triple white vinyl package. sounds ok for $10  but if it was $30+ ? no way ! 
|
Post by michaelw on Apr 30, 2018 10:44:56 GMT 12
|
Post by guitardude on Apr 30, 2018 11:38:17 GMT 12
Plus one to all of the above. I would also add MOV to the list, although that said my MOV copy of John Zorns Spy vs Spy sounds pretty good. Mind you it was probably digitally recorded in the first place anyhow, and the music is fairly discordant so.....
If you really want to hear whats possible with jazz on vinyl check out the music matters 33 1/3 series. Classic titles beautifully presented, but unfortunately expensive. I've got mine from Elusive Disc in the US, and from memory run out about $80.00NZD landed. Japanese blue note reissues are probably the next best thing but even those are getting up there now, and not easy to find either.
|
Post by Owen Y on Apr 30, 2018 12:26:55 GMT 12
generally agree with the above. but there are instances where the cd bests the vinyl - aimee mann's lost in space cd trounces the mofi plastic. You know my experience with MoFi. It'd take some persuasion to get me to spring for another MoFi.
|
Post by michaelw on Apr 30, 2018 13:58:09 GMT 12
no big fan of the label either, i have some nz pressings that sound better than the mofi equivalent. 
|
Post by Citroen on Apr 30, 2018 14:29:41 GMT 12
I have some great sounding MOV releases, including 2010 Kind Of Blue, Eddie Vedder's Into The Wild, Hansard's Once OST.
Overall I'd say MOV are definitely a step or two above the Wax Time/Doxy's and even though use digital sources, they can be hi rez like most vinyl sources are today.
MoFi are generally good but can be overpriced. Ryan Adams Love Is Hell is superbly mastered and pressed. As is Miles Davis Milestones. I do recall being slightly disappointed in Ricki Lee Jones self titled album.
|
Post by Citroen on Apr 30, 2018 14:31:44 GMT 12
From that Fremer link Michael posted
"The Netherlands based Music on Vinyl label issues some albums cut from analog sources but mostly from high resolution files sourced from masters that they obtain directly from the labels (at least based on my experience)."
|
Post by sub on May 1, 2018 18:20:10 GMT 12
Wish this subject was up a couple of weeks ago, when I ordered on line a reissue of Cream - wheels of fire. A 2 LP set on the Vinyl Lovers label..
Arrived yesterday, and further info on the cover says 2008 Lilith Records Ltd, Russia! Under license from Universal Music. Oh dear, Google tells me their producf is made in the Czech Republic, but a sticker on the cellophane cover said made in Germany.
I see Vinyl Lovers label is on Fremer’s no go list!
Just played side 3, didnt sound too bad, mind you Clapton’s voice always sounds a bit dreary to me! Recently bought a copy of Clapton’s “Backtracking” and the sound quality is on a par with the one I just bought. So not too unhappy, but lesson learnt.
|
Post by michaelw on May 1, 2018 19:49:22 GMT 12
with classic recordings it's best to do some homework on which label the record was originally released on.
|
Post by Owen Y on May 1, 2018 20:31:35 GMT 12
How's the dynamics - Ginger Baker's drumming opening 'White Room'? And Jack Bruce's nice vocal range?
|
Post by cooksferry on May 2, 2018 7:07:06 GMT 12
I don't understand why quite a number of people, especially in the USA, reguard MOV as a pirate company.
I have around 50 MOV pressings and can't remember a bad physical copy that needed to be returned. They reissue a lot of music that never seems to pop up else where and they're always upfront about their sources. I've contacted them a couple of times and they have replied with the information I required.
From their web site
"We use the best audio available to cut our records. We receive and use different kinds of masters: analogue tapes, original metal parts, lacquers cut from analogue tapes and high res digital files 192/96khz/24 bit. Music On Vinyl does not use CD's as masters."
In the end they're like all pressing plants,totally in the hands of the label, groups etc and what they supply them with.
|
Post by sub on May 2, 2018 8:15:11 GMT 12
How's the dynamics - Ginger Baker's drumming opening 'White Room'? And Jack Bruce's nice vocal range? Had an extended listen last night. Alone so could turn it up. Not too bad at all. Dynamics about on a par with the few 1968 albums I have. The drumming now and again came to the fore, and Jacks voice came across nicely nuanced. He does have a much better singing voice than Clapton! Presentation of the album is very very good to excellent, nice glossy card cover, inner sleeves paper with a anti static plastic lining. Records are flat, heavy, well centred and have nice silent surfaces. Not that unhappy, but will use Google next time to check provenance in respect of the label!
|
Post by Owen Y on May 2, 2018 9:39:03 GMT 12
Wish this subject was up a couple of weeks ago, when I ordered on line a reissue of Cream - wheels of fire. A 2 LP set on the Vinyl Lovers label.. Arrived yesterday, and further info on the cover says 2008 Lilith Records Ltd, Russia! Under license from Universal Music. Oh dear, Google tells me their producf is made in the Czech Republic, but a sticker on the cellophane cover said made in Germany. Czech Republic would of course be GZ Vinyl.
|
Post by Owen Y on May 12, 2018 13:07:31 GMT 12
Warner subsidiary, Nonesuch Records have been re-issuing some of the Emmylou Harris catalogue. I eagerly grabbed this 2017 LP copy of Pieces of the Sky at Southbound Records recently & I can't say that I'm impressed. Packaging is excellent, heavy USA dble-side coated cardboard, nice artwork printing, flap-sealed plastic outer, heavy weight vinyl, poly-lined sleeve.... However the sound is disappointing - a bit peaky in the voice, lacking the openness & a lot of the dynamics I expect from this mid-70s masterpiece. (The deadwax has 'BG' hand-scribed - Bernie Grundman? Baffling.) I don't think I'll be wasting my hard-earned on the 3-LP Deluxe Edition re-release of Wrecking Ball. 
|
Post by michaelw on May 12, 2018 15:48:02 GMT 12
that sucks.
was it cheap ?
|
Post by Owen Y on May 12, 2018 20:45:13 GMT 12
It depends, on your mindset - $39.95 
|
Post by Owen Y on May 14, 2018 21:47:24 GMT 12
Update on Pieces of the Sky above: An ultrasonic wash & the sound opened up a little, there's a bit more clarity, soundstage height, nice bandwidth - there maybe has been some 're-mastering' but overall one still suspects that some digital process has taken place. To confirm my gut-feelings, I dug out the Emmylou album that I play perhaps most frequently - Blue Kentucky Girl (1979). No question, this beautiful album sounds splendid (I have a few copies, the best sounding to my ear, is a NZ pressed one) - nice tone from top to bottom, no unevenness in the upper mid-HFs, sweet HF extension without a hint of harshness, instrumental clarity, wide open dynamics & 'air'.... 
|
Post by michaelw on May 16, 2018 11:06:00 GMT 12
i'm happy with my nz pieces of sky and blue kentucky girl. but sacrilegious as this may sound, my go to copies are the cd's from the original albums 5 disc set. they sound good enough and are in mint condition whereas my used lp's are not. i wouldn't put MOV in with the waxtimes and doxys etc. they are an official re-release label and sometimes even come out with new stuff like the bride of frankenstein soundtrack. 
|
Post by Owen Y on May 16, 2018 12:33:45 GMT 12
I wouldn't put Wax Time in the same category as Doxy (from what I've read about Doxys). The music is often otherwise unobtainium, although the SQ sometimes may be subject to original historic recording quality. Their vinyl surfaces are exemplary, quieter than most modern pressings. (Based on this one example I bought & what I hear online.)
|
Post by michaelw on May 16, 2018 14:00:41 GMT 12
does that make wax time good or bad ?
there's two doxys.
one is sonny rollin's label.
the other is an italian public domain label.
|
