Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" Audiophile Vinyl Release

Posted by: jim learoyd on 28 May 2011

Has anyone heard the new Rumours Vinyl mastered by Steve Hoffman? Said to be fantastic!

 

I have a first pressing of this Lp and does sound really good. It should be interesting to hear your thoughts.

 

  jim....

Posted on: 28 May 2011 by fathings cat

I would be interested to hear views on this - which sites is it for sale on?

Posted on: 28 May 2011 by Martin M

Yes. I bought the (correct) 45rpm version. I must say that after the all hype, I found it rather disappointing. It sounded all rather rather hi-fi and boring. I didn't enjoy the album and sold it on. However its new owner seems to like it a lot - so YMMV.

 

 I didn't like the Steve Hoffman Moondance either. However, I still think his old DCC stuff is fantastic.

Posted on: 29 May 2011 by jim learoyd

fathings cat

 

http://www.whatrecords.co.uk/s...t.x=0&submit.y=0

 

Not cheap and rather expensive. It will have to go some to beat my 1st pressing.

 

     jim...

Posted on: 01 June 2011 by JeremyB

I've had it on pre-order for like 3 years. So long that the credit card I gave had expired! I was thinking of making good on the order now I don't think I'll bother.

 

Posted on: 02 June 2011 by JWM

If it's the one made by Rhino, the courier has (literally) just delivered the 33rpm version which I won on their Facebook page draw.

 

Recently compared the Nautilus version vs my 1977 original, with Julian H and Fixedwheel, and the original won - more cohesive as a musical experience, if not as detailed.  So it will be very interesting to listen to this new one.

 

Best wishes.

Posted on: 02 June 2011 by JWM

Just listened to Side 2 (on hol this week, yipee!).

 

Firstly, congrats to them for creating (physically) a lovely piece of vinyl, clean and shiny looking and near-silent in the run-in and out and between tracks.  An object lesson to many other current makers who should be ashamed of what they produce (eg the new Elbow).

 

Soundwise, very much better than the Nautilus, with none of that 'saturation point on the levels'  school of remastering.  And it was quieter than my original LP, requiring around 11 o'clock to get the original vinyl's 10 o'clock (which is the equivalent of around 8.30 o'clock with CD input).

 

If I wanted an absolutely pristine, never played before LP, I'd buy this and be happy.  Will it replace my 1977 purchase, with its sellotaped sleeve?  No.  It's just a bit too polite.

Posted on: 02 June 2011 by john101

That's interesting, as I had been considering the 33rpm. Thanks for taking the time to post.

Posted on: 02 June 2011 by jim learoyd

Guys

 

Has anyone heard all of the Pallas Pressing with 45rpm?

I would be very interested in the sound quality, hoping it's good especially for £50!

 

  jim...

Posted on: 04 June 2011 by ewemon
Personally I love it.
Posted on: 05 June 2011 by jim learoyd

Ewen

 

Hope you are well. Have you herd this 45rpm? If so is it it better than a 1st pressing in your

opinion.

 

  jim...

Posted on: 09 June 2011 by Jono 13
Originally Posted by jim learoyd:

fathings cat

 

http://www.whatrecords.co.uk/s...t.x=0&submit.y=0

 

Not cheap and rather expensive. It will have to go some to beat my 1st pressing.

 

     jim...

sh*t that is dear. There is a nice copy sitting in my local Oxfam for 99p perhaps I will treat my self tomorrow.

 

Jono

Posted on: 09 June 2011 by Gale 401
Originally Posted by jim learoyd:

Ewen

 

Hope you are well. Have you herd this 45rpm? If so is it it better than a 1st pressing in your

opinion.

 

  jim...

Its a bit hard to do that with the CD.

Posted on: 10 June 2011 by Sloop John B

slight tangent.............

 

I recently bought this on cd in a HMV 500 CDs for €2 type promotion as having been dipping my toes in the Steve Hoffman forum while going through a messy divorce with the Naim Forum ( we're trying to patch things up for the sake of the kids)  there was plenty of talk about Rumours.

 

Well the original WB cd sounded shite (no other word!) Today the 2004 remaster (with bonus stuff) arrived form Amazon and it sounds so much better it's unbelievable that they are still selling the duff remaster.

 

This has rocketed in to No. 1 in my list of CDs to prove to disbelieving frineds that mastering is a HUGE issue in audio.

 

 

SJB

Posted on: 11 June 2011 by naim_nymph
Originally Posted by jim learoyd:

Guys

 

Has anyone heard the new Rumours Vinyl mastered by Steve Hoffman? Said to be fantastic!

 

I have a first pressing of this Lp and does sound really good. It should be interesting to hear your thoughts.

 

  jim...

 

jim, i can't speak from experience cos i've not ever heard Rumours on 45rpm...

but some say the EU pressing (Reprise) is easier on the ear than the HiFi-Hoffman/Rhino of USA.

 

It's also a lot less money, EUR 27.99 from jpc in Germany.

They also sell the Reprise Rumours 33.3rpm version for EUR 26.99

 

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poproc...-45-RPM/hnum/4949862

 

Both presently in stock

 

p&p EUR 5.99 for any size order (...so good idea to buy a few other albums too - for the journey)

 

Debs

 

Posted on: 12 June 2011 by count.d

Jim, I have the 1st USA pressing and the US Hoffman 45rpm pressing is better.  

Posted on: 12 June 2011 by jim learoyd

How much better, bearing in mind it's £50?

I have a 1st press UK version and does sound really good. It would be ideal if I could compare at some point.

 

 

  jim...

Posted on: 12 June 2011 by count.d

We're getting into the "Is it worth it?". I can't say, but I can say it's quite a bit better. Considering the expense of my hifi and more importantly, the effort I've taken to optimise it, £50 is not a lot to me for the source.

 

Just bear in mind the 45rpm pressing is limited due to the fact that there is only so many they can make from the analogue mastering, so I would grab a copy whilst you can. 

Posted on: 13 June 2011 by ewemon
Originally Posted by Gale 401:

       

         class="quotedText">
       
Originally Posted by jim learoyd:

Ewen

 

Hope you are well. Have you herd this 45rpm? If so is it it better than a 1st pressing in your

opinion.

 

  jim...

Its a bit hard to do that with the CD.




Not if you have a cd copy of it as I have.

Personally on my system it sounds better though I do notice there have been some bad reviews of it on the net. For me it is much smoother and I personally find it more detailed.
Posted on: 13 June 2011 by jim learoyd

Looks like I will stick to my original Lp which sounds wonderful.

 

I do have a lot of respect for Hoffman's mastering on vinyl. Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' is amazing.

Me thinks I will buy the 45rpm eventually, I just NEED to know if it's better because I love

this album.

 

   jim...

Posted on: 18 June 2011 by J.N.

Remasters and re-issues (CD and vinyl) very rarely sound better than original recordings (on a good system) in my experience - and sometimes downright awful. That said; I do like the results of most of Steve Hoffman's mastering, and a 45rpm cutting and playing speed should bring something additional to the party.

 

But £48 is taking the piss. I too will stick with my great sounding original LP and Japanese 'Target' CD.

 

John.

Posted on: 18 June 2011 by Julian H
Originally Posted by J.N.:

Remasters and re-issues (CD and vinyl) very rarely sound better than original recordings (on a good system) in my experience - and sometimes downright awful. That said; I do like the results of most of Steve Hoffman's mastering, and a 45rpm cutting and playing speed should bring something additional to the party.

 

But £48 is taking the piss. I too will stick with my great sounding original LP and Japanese 'Target' CD.

 

John.

Spot on John, get a good original!

Posted on: 18 June 2011 by count.d

Usual rubbish. No wonder everyone has fled to Facebook.

Posted on: 18 June 2011 by BigH47

Useful post.

Posted on: 18 June 2011 by count.d

That's true BigH, sorry.

Posted on: 08 July 2011 by vinyl_junkie

well ... I have just received my 2 X 45rpm copy (I only bought it because I managed to get it at £28 (!), so thought I'd buy it before the online company realised!). I have to say, after playing 2 tracks (Dreams and Never Going Back Again) I thought hmmm, not bad, pretty clean, not very involving though). So, I thought I'd compare it with my German 180gm re-issue from a few years back.My German re-issue knocks spots off the 45 rpm re-issue. It's much warmer, much wider soundstage, much more involving. The 45rpm sounds pretty lifeless in my opinion. So, I personally wouldn't recommend the 45rpm re-issue (I have the states version I think). I CERTAINLY wouldn't pay nearly £50 for it, that's scandalous.

Then again, I can't quite remember the last re-issue I bought which actually sounded better than an original pressing - and I include recent Hoffman re-issues which I have been quite disappointed with (Fragile/Yes for eg).

 

Lee.