To watch the unboxing of the 50th anniversary UV printed vinyl, look here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-smaRKCMLSE0.html To watch the review of the 50th anniversary remaster, look here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RIDXayjo-a0.html To watch my review of The Dark Side of the Moon itself, look here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xwQ2gFD-Q14.html And to check out my full Pink Floyd Discography review series, look here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Siqso6iyzwI.html
Very interesting video; one of my fav. album ever ! I used to own dozens different versions in the last 45 years including MFSL, 30th Ann ,;Whenever I was sure I understood exactly which copies had the best sound, again and again I would be proved wrong. The best-sounding parts of this record are nothing less than ASTONISHING. Money is the best example I can think of for side two. When you hear the sax player rip into his solo as Money gets rockin’, it’s almost SCARY! He’s blowin’ his brains out in a way that has never, in my experience anyway, been captured on a piece of plastic. The best copies create a huge soundfield, with the music positively jumping out of the speakers. They’re not brighter, they’re not more aggressive, they’re not hyped-up in any way, they’re just bigger and clearer. Breathe is my favorite test track for side one for any version of Dark Side Of The Moon:. On this track, when the voices come in about halfway through the song, you can hear that most copies are too bright. The cymbals might sound wonderful, lots of other instruments might also sound wonderful, and there might be plenty of ambience, detail and transparency. But all of that counts for nothing if the voices don’t sound right. And on most copies the voices are bright, aggressive, grainy and transitory. (This is clearly the case with the 2003 180 gram 30th Anniversary pressing I’m sorry to say. It fails this fundamental test badly.) And of course the tonality can be wrong in the other direction. Oftentimes the voices are muffled and dull, which turns out to be every bit as bothersome as voices that are too bright. Tonality on this record, like most records, is key. It’s not the only thing, but it’s probably the single most important thing. At the end of the day i have kept just three in my collection : UK A3 / B3 , Gramophone label, no EMI, in NM condition + 1st Japan Pressing, and the 2nd (1976 ?) German pressing A2 /B2 (the one with the very narrow deadwax on side B, yes, like the Zep II RL Hot Mix..😉).... aha !! ( i'm pretty sure a Hot Stamper from Better-records (Tom Port) could be a german pressing BTW !!) Ps : yes , Harry T. Moss did a great remasterin job back in the years.. his Abbey Road (approx 1980) -6 HTM / - 4 beats the early -2 / -1 !!!
I owned 1974 Japanese repress (Tan EMI), 2016 & 50th Bernie Grundman cut, and currently own a 1977 UK 5th repress (HTM). I can tell that UK 5th is the best, like a truly virtual reality experience of this masterpiece. Besides, it is far cheaper than A2/B2 or A2/B3 pressings.
Just picked up a mint 30th anniversary copy for $30! The gatefold is in perfect condition and the vinyl looks like it was never played. Still had all the posters and everything!
Now that is dedication! Awesome. I used to have a Canadian pressing similar to that. Got it for free at the local dump when I lived in Massachusetts, which is a state in the USA not too far from Canada. It was a nice copy, too. I just checked my "files." It had "TLC.T" on Side 1 and "Mastered By Capitol Wally" on Side 2. I sold it on Discogs in 2016. I should have kept it. I do not remember how it compared. Maybe that's for the better so I don't know what I am missing out on. I still have my US pressing (I don't have the runouts on file, and I am across the country at the moment) and the UK quadraphonic. I got the US when I scooped up my neighbor's records at a yard sale in 2007. I remember it sounds good, but didn't blow me away. Gotta play it again and also document the runouts. The UK quad I also got here in the US at a different yard sale in 2012 for only $2, and it's immaculate. But I've still never played it! I keep telling myself, "Wait until you get a quadraphonic system so you can hear it the right way!" Well, still no quad system in 2024. And it is SQ quad, so I can play it on a stereo system without any harm. It just won't be the same stereo mix. I would love to hear that UK 2nd. That under-the-radar "HN" Dutch pressing really intrigues me. If I don't enjoy my US when I hear it again, I will buy the HN cut!
Thanks for the post. I personally have multiple copies of " Dark Side of the Moon" as well. I guess I need to do a sound test myself. Cheers from Indiana in the US.
1973 US copy, Australia Quadraphonic copy, Japanese blue triangle copy, 30th anniversary, 40th Anniversary, and multiple copies of the 50th Anniversary.
My UK A2/B2 first pressing is the best DSOTM that I've heard . It plays flawlessly , absolutely no problems with " Money " . There was a bad batch with the " Money " flaw , but the majority of the 1st pressings were perfect .
I bought a Mint/Near Mint UK '77 5th pressing for £20 about 10 years ago, and knew nothing about it. I just wanted a very clean copy. Delighted to know that it's one of the best sounding versions!
I appreciate re-releases because not every collector is born the same year. I never had the opportunity to buy the original or the 30th-anniversary edition; therefore, I am happy to have the 50th-anniversary edition, which is still affordable. In 50 years, people will be happy to find the 100th-anniversary edition in their stores at a reasonable price. Only the audiophile sound, close to the analog master tape and as intended by the original artist, should matter, not the question of multiple re-releases.
I agree here. I have bought my Solid Triangle many years ago for less than $20.00 (before discogs😅). Before that, my favourite was a Japanese Copy. But I didn’t like the 30th Anniversary Kevin Gray pressing at all. I believe it would be helpful to know what Turntable and Cartridge these Comparisons were made on. Still a very interesting Video. Thanks a lot.
I’ve got 3 Harry Moss pressings and they do sound the best of all the vinyl copies I have. I still enjoy the copy I bought in 1973 just because it was my first and I also like my German Quad version.
Great shootout - as usual. I’m still grateful for the tip for the Military The Wall which does barely beat my US Promo by a smidge which is that it is a bit more airy, has a bit more space around the instruments and defined mids by a small, but noticeable amount. For the topic at hand, I had somewhat similar results although I disqualified my UK A3/B2 due to condition, it still sounded excellent in some parts and would have likely been 2nd pl. Your 3rd, the UK 5th (mine is an A10/B9 btw) is my first place although I have never heard the German. To me the HTM is one of my very favorite records of my collection. I think maybe at least part of the reason I like it so much is that I like to listen loud - 87-95 db and it holds together beautifully with nothing peaky or harsh with unbelievable imagining and a sound stage you could go swimming in - if that makes sense. It is THE greatest experience in my Hifi room. It is also perfectly balanced IMO. However now I’m going to have to find another /cleaner UK 2nd and try again! My 2nd was a surprise to me which was an inherited ‘75 Wally, 3rd was the 1st Japan and 4th was the 2003 which is slightly bright in my system and a few others after that.
PS while I did find the 1st Japan a wonderful listen and has more detail than the HTM, I didn’t get the same emotional connection as I do with the UK 5th. I’m going to say it is the same with the UK 2nd although to a less degree , meaning it was very close to the 5th but, my 2nd was a lower VG+ and my 5th is almost M which probably impacted that connection at least some.
I truly consider myself lucky for overlooking Pink Floyd my whole life, as well as The Rolling Stones and the Beatles and many more that I started listening to at age 33
@@top5records796 I have the ability to discover these bands for the first time - rather than having gotten use to their music from listening to it my whole life. Make sense? For example, I had heard a few lines from Money, and Shine on you crazy diamond, never knew it was that band with the prism and rainbow on the black cover. Fast forward to now, I’m getting ready to go home after work to listen to The Dark Side of the Moon for the first time in my life. So my friend, as you can see if you thought my original comment had anything to do with the continuation of overlooking them, I’m sorry what I meant to say is I’m so lucky that at age 33 I stopped overlooking Pink Floyd, and that I still have true adventures to embark on that most have memorized to the point of desensitization.
Excellent review. I own a NM 1973 uk A5/B/5 pressing, 1997 EMI Anniversary Pressing, 2011 UK & 2016 UK pressing, 30th, 40th and 50th Anniversary pressings. I play these on my Rega P6. Salutations from Belfast Northern Ireland 🇬🇧
My favorite: 1st Greek Pressing with A3/B2 UK stampers that I paid $40 bucks for. EMI Greece used UK stampers so its a great way to find an OG UK press for a lot less.
@@top5records796 I'm stateside and would say its as good as anything Capitol in America were putting out at the time in terms of pressing quality. The sleeve is a glossy outer not unlike a Garrod and Lofthouse sleeve. I have had two Greek EMI pressings, this and a copy of the White Album. Both used UK stampers. Both had laminated sleeves and both sound really good.
I thought the first German pressing has a white star in front off the catalogue number on the album back. Title: The Dark Side Of The Moon (Harvest Records 1st issue) Record Company: Harvest Records Catalog Numbers: Cover: 1C 062-05 249 D Label: 1C 062-05 249 Matrix Information: (side 1 / side 2) 1) 05 249 A-1 / 05 249 B-1 (both stamped) Release Date: 1973 Release Information: Original issue. Back cover has a star in front of the catalog number. Mispressing: Some copies of this release were mispressed with two side ones, or two side twos. Description: Gatefold cover Front Cover: Black with prism. Back Cover: Black with prism. In the upper right corner is the catalog number 1 C 062-05 249 D, with a star in front of it. Inside Cover: Heartbeat, tracklisting and lyrics. Printed in Germany. Spine: Catalog number. Title. Cover Sticker: Some copies have a black sticker that says "PINK FLOYD THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON." Inserts: 1) Pyramid Poster: A blue pyramid poster with "1 C 062-05 249" in the bottom right corner. 2) Group Poster: A six-pane group shot poster in landscape style with "1 C 062-05 249" in the bottom right corner. 3) Yellow graphic insert: Yellow Pink Floyd graphic insert (not a sticker), printed on a thin piece of paper. Back is blank white. "1 C 062-05 249" in the bottom right corner. 3) Brown graphic insert: Brown Pink Floyd graphic insert (not a sticker), printed on a thin piece of paper. Back is blank white. "1 C 062-05 249" in the bottom right corner. Labels: Black with light blue prism. GEMA. Text around the top edge of the label starts at 8 o'clock, and says: Urheber- und Leistungsschutzrechte, besonders Vervielfältigung (Ausser zum persönlichen Gebrauch) Vermietung, Aufführung, Sendung, vorbehalten Text around the bottom edge of the label starts at 6 o'clock, and says:
I thought I had a lot with 6 different pressings. The 30th seems to be my favorite. I also like my first German pressing, Ken Perry and Wally cut. The new UV printed one had a lot of surface noise.
Hey man good show lots a passion! Any chance you might take the time to show or talk about what you’re listening to these thru. It would give the audience (well me anyways :-) an indication of where we are in relation to what you’re hearing? I have a 4th UK of this and Im happy with the sound. The track money throws really lightweight arms (like those on a Sony usb player) right outta the grooves haha. Ive been to the Netherlands and it was lovely when I was there around 2010 for a couple weeks. Your ’67 top 50 was a real treat. Lots to investigate there.
Thank you! I’m happy to hear that! To be quite frank I really don’t know what to tell about the gear. I have a Thorens TD160, with a blue Ortofon for stereo and a white Ortofon for mono. The receiver is a Marantz 2216 and the speakers are Dynaudio BM6a Mk I. I am incredibly happy with it but talking about it an entire video would be hard for me.
I have an original Canadian 1973 Pressing. by Harvest , an EMI record trade mark manufactured in Canada by Capitol Records EMI Of Canada Ltd. Marked 1973 The Gramophone Company Ltd.
Yes I have, didn’t buy it back in the day but heard and compared it at a friend’s place. It wasn’t bad but I didn’t found it necessary to buy it because it was not close to the Dutch pressings in quality.
Good question! I heard and compared it back in the day at a friend’s but didn’t find the need to buy it. It’s not a bad pressing but if memory serves me well I’d say it would be in the same league as the 50th anniversary one. It was at least not as good as any of the Dutch pressings.
Like photographic film, audio tape is not a stable medium. Earlier pressings are more likely to have greater detail across the full audio spectrum in large part because the tape is still 'fresh', and presuming the mastering and pressing quality are good to begin with, are generally more likely to sound better. I got this album when it was released in March '73, and the simple truth is that, at that time most people: (a) did not own decent turntables with good or properly aligned cartridges; (b) didn't know when to replace a worn stylus; and (C) didn't have a clue how to handle or store records. As many copies of DSOTM as were pressed in the '70s, the vast majority still out there 'in the wild' are probably in at least somewhat ratty condition. I was/am obsessive about record care, but in my experience very few people cared one way or the other.
I understand your conflict! But there were so many pressed that finding one in VG or NM condition isn’t that difficult in my experience. Then again; I live in a city with a lot of stores (Amsterdam) and frequently travel and check out other recordstores. But if you are willing to pay a little extra for NM it should not be impossible. In this video the Dutch repress, 1st German, UK HTM and Quadraphonic are NM. But even the 1st Dutch with scratches sounds incredible and has little noise or pops.
Not all UK 1st pressings had the Money nuance/skip, mine doesn't. The UK 1st press is still the clear winner in my opinion for outright dynamics and punch, with the German 1st press behind it. I do recommend the Japanese 3rd press if you really want to fully test the better presses.
I guess you’re very lucky to have a UK first without the flaw. If I ever find one of those I’ll do an update; thing is; collectors and sellers have warned me about the flaw in that pressing so it is a tough one to advice to people.
1973 LP German 3rd issue, A-1 B-1 1978 LP German Quad 1st Issue 2003 LP 180g 30th Europe 2003 SACD USA 2011 CD Experience Edition Europe 2023 LP 50th Europe 2024 2xLP's Clear Vinyl Europe 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition(x2 each) 30th and 50th all still sealed, the kids have got to inherit somethin' Quad played once, then bust my setup. Went on to CDs Now playing "Live at Wembley 1974" LP
Not all first pressings have the pressing defect on Money. I have a first solid blue triangle pressing which plays excellent. The sound is amazing, imo betters the 2nd UK. Anyhow, great and informative video!
I would recommend second UK A3/B3 or the 30th anniversary (2003) AAA. I think the new mastering on clear vinyl sounds very good BTW and better than the 2016. I would say the best digital sourced version.
@@PeterPrism "Sacd is superior in every aspect to every analog lp". Only for people who always get in their minds that the new is always better without any context,. Digital always has to have mandated resolution which cuts off further frequencies and is entirely speculative with the digital signal. Analog's only limitations is how good the mastering and the quality of the material is. So for that alone, Analog is significantly better. It is pretty illogical to suggest that Digital does better for Analog recorded albums than Analog. It's a very silly and tired argument that was pushed by corporations that wanted to push CD and that's it.
@@CuriousEnthusiast956 nope you live in a DOGMA BRO…the DAC (every DAC even the worst, and there are very good DACs in the scene) rebuilds the steps in the curve, so the Khz and the bits are the parameters and the curve is “infinite”. Dynamic range is also superior “physics is physics”. Example with some very deep bass the pickup would jump away so the vinyl record is mastered in compressed way. Furthermore, unfortunately the SACD project failed. Ps NOW, liquid listen is better than SACD. As vinyl the one included in that box is anyway spectacular. Qobuz is the best service to listen in hires and gapless at the moment. Pps I have more than 3000 LPs and 15000 Cds and a dedicate room just to listening. If I weren't a disgusting fetishist I would throw everything away and just keep the Qobuz subscription 😀
@@PeterPrism You can't have better dynamic range if you don't have a higher frequency response and you suffer from mandated resolution and speculative computer signals. You even admitted that you would throw everything away for a silly subscription in which you never own any of the music and it's highly compressed. So no man, i'm not convinced. There are good DACs, but that doesn't automatically mean that CD or SACD has higher dynamic range or is better in general.
I think you have fallen into the trap that a lot of people have . You should enjoy the music for what it is , You can end up chasing your tail trying to find Ultimate L/P. with a slightly different sounding piece of music .
Every new version I discover the album once again, especially when it’s even better than the pressing before that. It makes me fall in love with the album again and again.
Yes, part of the fun is the research and then the hunt for the best sounding versions of the albums I love. I personally keep the top 4-5 and sell off the others.
Why are "enjoying the music" and wanting to hear the best presentation of it mutually exclusive? I can understand saying that collecting different label variations doesn't contribute to the listening experience, but the whole point of this video is he is trying to maximize enjoyment of the music. And he's not agonizing over it. It's fun.
I think he should enjoy it however he chooses, and if he gets enjoyment out of comparing different versions and hearing all the different nuances then who are you to judge? People always accuse audiophiles of being snobby, but I think the anti-audiophile reverse snob is just as bad
You're missing the point it's the music that counts. Any system can have an effect on the sound. I have first edition promo. The other versions sound great and the remixes are well done. But I don't over think it. Just saying
I've never really enjoyed the pulse live version with Pink floyd in 94 , Gilmour and the contract players, Gilmour tends to mess up the Waters part and noone can duplicate Roger's parts . Bot even older Roger. I rember in 1997 holding out hope but stubborn rich pricks never cared to and I can't blame them cause we all have tht asshole friend that was a nightmare and one day people want a truths, it's like f......k off im over it .
I cannot understand why anybody would want 10 copies of the same album. The expense let alone the space it takes up. Each to their own but I do not get it , sorry.
Well, it started off with one. Then I heard a better one… and then another better one… It has never been my goal in life to own 11 copies but hey… stuff happens.
If you don’t get it, you don’t get it. It is the pursuit of the best sounding versions of my favorite albums. I won’t know until I hear for myself. For me, I’ll buy anywhere from 5-12 pressings, compare them all, keep the top 4-5 and sell the rest of them.
As a collector of all things, a lot goes into it. It’s a legendary, legendary album, and as time goes by just like anything else collectible, more and more get wrecked, thrown out, damaged , missing inserts such as posters and stickers. With that’s said, it’s all about the chase. Sounds insane, but chasing something for months or years and finally finding it and adding it to your collection is so satisfying. I collect sports cards, comics, vinyl, vhs tapes and it’s all the same. You’re collecting pieces of history.
You're confused an audiophile means you're always in pursuit of the beautiful sound that a stereo can make budget stereos can also sound fantastic.. someone that has money and buys a lot of gear is a gearhead.
@@top5records796 Only your personal interpretations and hugely subjective descriptions of the sound. In your system, in your room. Again, what is the point? Which one of these is closest to the master tape?
@@nyquist5190 I don’t understand why my description would be “hugely subjective” or why it would be more subjective than any other. And indeed it is on my system, in my room. And all have been compared on the same system, so that does count for something. The way I read your comment you would prefer to do a test yourself. My anwser to that would be; Go ahead and compare them yourselves. It is fun! Please enjoy!
Certain pressings within the first issue have slight issues on the B side,but that flaw was limited, DSOTM first UK issue has over 100 seperate pressings all carrying the solid triangle centre label and over 90 of those pressings have the A2/B2 lacquer number,most of which play perfectly well..but i agree the second issue A3/B3 is the best sounding UK issue..the third issue also has some A3/B3 numbers which are not far behind 🎶
The A2/B2 is the one collectors really want and lots of people say its the best sound,most would agree but i always seemed to have preferred the A3/B3,i suppose it boils down to personal taste@@CuriousEnthusiast956