Led Zeppelin - II - LP Review And Comparison What Version Is The Best 

"im not a fan of digitally sourced records". yes you are, you just didn't know it yet.

Really appreciate that you've done this for Zep I & II. Would love to see the same for Zep III & IV

I really love your videos. I have the RL SS on both sides hot mix. My copy is probably VG but it sounds great. It doesn't skip and I rarely hear pops. It is one of my favorite albums of all time so thank you for letting me know that I have a great press. Have a great week.

I love watching these videos, just love them

I just cannot say enough great things about your "shoot out videos" it's like taking a class in how ALL releases go using a very well known example. So much covered, stays focused, gets to the "real" point (condition, in this case) All explained in a nominal time... You're great. Thanks for all.

The German half Ludwig is insane! I found a very clean copy and when you flip it you can tell that side 2 is not as punchy. Thanks for all the info.

One record that i think would be really interesting to compare would be Queen II. The reason being is that its quite a challenge to get a decent sounding copy of this.

Love this series! Very interesting facts! Keep 'em coming!

That was really cool to see your Zep 2 collection and thanks for all the info you have shared with us.

I'm brand new to the vinyl collecting and I love your channel. Its a real help on what to look for when buying albums!! You have a new subscriber here, thanks for the hard work and hours you put in to make these vids!! Keep up the great work 👍 👏

Mike this is on the money i finally found VG+ a RL SS on both sides mine is very close to near mint only flaw some one wrote Mark Dewalt on the label Page acoustic on "Ramble On" is sensational it's like hes in the room with you Bonham drums is upfront and slammin' I know you really get the best out the record with you gear .I had a MoFi it was clean this RL killed it i sold the classic immediately

Great video man! Thanks for sharing this with us, very information. I have a early us pressing I am happy with but want to upgrade sometime. Thanks and stay safe

Absolutely love this album, have a 1977 George Piros in -NM and absolutely love it!

I have saved my Zeppelin collection from every catastrophe you can think of. My old best friend passed a lot of his vinyl down to me. He's American from Virginia and Moved here to my home and still current town of Montreal, Canada. That means a lot if not most were purchased in the States. I have 3 copies of Led Zeppelin II and the first one I pulled out for this video was his and guess what? *****A DOUBLE RL!!!!!!

You're the best. Please keep doing these awesome videos!👍

Before the "RL craze" was a thing, I bought a 1st pressing of LZ II many years ago. I put it on --whoa! The sound = kick ass. A couple years later I looked in the dead wax and saw the RL, so the hype is justified.

You Sir ...are one heck of a Ressource. NOBODY dares do what YOU do. Thank you so much. I just found out about the real worth of my NM-NM copy.

I bought a RL/VG++ copy many years ago when it was still affordable.It is alive. Soooooooogood.

PLEASE DO MORE "What Version Is The Beast" by far one of my favorite series on RU-vid!!!!!!!!

The RL is a sonically brilliant album, definitely my favorite record out of the 1,000's I own. Both my copies are VG-ish, but they still sound amazing.. If youre a Zeppelin fan, this is a must get.. Thanks for the info Mike!

i have the 1977 US press with ST-A 691671-X @t GP (PR) ST-A-691672 X @t GP (PR) on matrix,It sounds superb to my ears. It has dynamics cut loud,bass and drums are thunderous,but i would like of course an RL copy.

Stay safe Mike!!! Thanks for the vids

The first album I ever bought with my own money, at nine years old. I still have it, a UK plum pressing. A customer played my his white label promo RL on his ultra high end system. A pretty mindblowing experience.

Really enjoy your channel!

I got a 77 copy with five digit numbers and it is near mint I paid 17 dollars sounds great

This was insane to listen to..... only VG+...?? well people played them back in the day because it is a great LP. I still always hear stuff i hadn't noticed before when i listen to Led Zep LPs..

By far the best researched and honest record reviews on RU-vid! Will you be doing any future episodes comparing early 1980s West German and Japanese Target CDs compared to American pressings?

feeling blessed. I snagged a RL SS in Oneonta for $5!!!! it was in VG condition and th man had no idea what he had. I cleaned it up and it sounds/plays great!

Beautiful Video Brother 🌹🌹🌹

That wood artwork is so eclectic and interesting. I'm an audiophile and no offense to anyone but I immediately thought that you would be somewhere like Boston but Phoenix was soo surprising. You bring about pleasant head trips! I wish you the best.

Bob Ludwig said that the records with his initials on one side and a different engineers initials on the other side are still his mastering. He said sometimes acetates would get damaged but he and the other other engineer would still master the replacements at the same levels from the notes they had.

The early ‘69 non RL SS pressings sound great too.

I have owned the mofi pressing and have not played it for years-i recall liking it. I got the big 45rpm box when it was first released and i don’t think it has ever been opened. Shocked to see what this thing is going for now. Plan to a/b the mofi and 45rpm when my new airtight opus 1 cart arrives in a few weeks-my old cart had an accident. Enjoy your show-don’t always agree but always informative-thanks

great video thanks

Hi Mike, love the video. Would love to hear you do one on the many versions of Cream - Disraeli Gears. (I have four different pressings) ~Peace

True about how many trashed rl copies that are out thete...but 2 years agi i had a copy come in that still had the shrink on it and it was buried in a collection of generational records... elderly couple selling them... it was the only rock record they had...i said to them that this seems out of place...said it was probably their daughter's... the vinyl was so clean that i heavily doubt it ever got played... by far the best copy I'll ever see

LOVE YOU MIKE. YOU'RE THE GREATEST.

I've always had a German pressing and the sound is rich and full. Years later I bought a sealed Canadian version and the sound is flat and lifeless lacking energy whatsoever. I wondered why and now I know thanks to this video!

Great video! Please do a similar review for LD’s Physical Graffiti. Thanks!

These reviews have been great, keep em coming! Would love to see one of these for Elton John Madman Across The Water, Jethro Tull Thick as a Brick and/or Aqualung, Steely Dan The Royal Scam

I love these videos. Make a bunch of this. And John coltrane's albums, please! congrats!

I have an original Japanese pressing from ‘69 and it sounds WONDERFUL. I don’t typically buy Japanese records but I had to check this one out. Look for the blue / green Atlantic label!

Got a presswell variant 2. To those hunting, stop worrying about the deadwax other than the RL. RL, RL SS, LH SS all sound good. Mike said it best when he said worry about condition first.

Another great comparison video.. Priceless. would love to see any review of Radiohead albums like Ok Computer, or others you have experience with as well as any Nick Drake.(pink moon or any other..)

just great u are the best,,btw this is my alltime favorite record of LZ..its a landmark masterpiece. i have the french original 1st press and i think its sounds good....but i never heard another version on vinyl..i also have cd versions.... i own this record for over 30 years now..its my everything..greets from swizerland

Thanks Mike, just what I wanted to hear. Really like your videos.

I've listened to every pressing except the last two and I love the music so much I forget to use my ear instead of my heart.

My first album after winning my turntable on eBay a year ago was Led Zeppelin II. It's my favorite LZ album and I thought it should be the first album in my collection. I bought a 1977 NM Club edition from Discogs not understanding all of the details regarding pressing, etc. About six months ago I ordered a VG+ RL from Discogs and when I got it, it skipped and was probably in Good+ condition. The seller was gracious and took it back. Several months ago I saw a VG++ - NM copy on eBay for crazy money. It was a 'make offer' so I offered but got rejected. About a week later we settled on an acceptable price north of my initial offer. The vinyl is NM, the jacket VG+. It's RL SS on both sides, Presswell Press. I was a little nervous watching your video but relieved in the end! The record brings me a lot of joy.

I actually worked at Columbia, Pitman in New Jersey and have many first releases.

Great comparison Mike. I know the reason the Zepp II RL copies were re-issued and sounded bad is because the average record buyer played it on crappy turntables. Chance are the rest of their audio system was also poor but the turntable is the source so that's where the garbage in garbage out idea is apparent. The old conical turntable cartridge stylus rode on the shoulders of the groove. This was before the subsequent eliptical stylus (v shaped tip), that could track right in the groove became available to the consumer. As such, Warner Brothers(WB) had many copies returned because they skipped. Yes, the great Robert Ludwig mastered first issue of Zepp II skipped because the so well defined groove modulation was just too much for those crappy tables. So, WB reissued an inferior sounding version which lacked the heavy bass modulated groove which caused the skips. The label forfeited sound quality just so no one would return their copies. $$ The buck wins out even when it comes to great truly classic records like Zepp II. Robert Ludwig was not happy about this but he was a mastering engineer who had no say in what the behemeth WB could do about this. Greg Calibi did the next best mastering for Zepp II. It's more or less like the Ludwig mastering.

Every word is so true. The RL is the one to rule them all. The Piros copy is probably second best along with the classic and pretty good. I’m glad to hear someone else really dislike the modern digital remaster which just doesn’t have the life to it at all. I also ADORE the RL Houses which is very common and an ESSENTIAL record!

Just found a copy in the wild this past week. It’s a VG at best and Mike isn’t kidding. This lp sounds amazing.

The new remaster is a really great sounding album and likely to be the only one anyone can find that plays clean for under $300-500.

Cool video! Mine is a Ludwig CTH (Columbia Terra Haute). Probably EX to EX+ and paid $200. Worth it. When I described the sound difference to my wife she said "how different can it be?". So I played it. She said yeah sounds like what I remember. Then I played a standard US 70's version for her. She told me to throw it out. lol The difference is huge.

Have a listen to the original Australian pressing on the green Atlantic label from 1969. A fantastic issue of this great LP. It has a different artwork as well in the centre of the gatefold. But hard to get beyond VG+ but not impossible.

Great video, thanks. Ever come across the early canadian pressing?. Mine has RL on both sides. A little easier to find I think.

Hi Michael I suggest the following titles: Electric ladyland Led Zeppelin IV Beatles White album Cheers

This is very helpful. Thanks. If you're taking requests, please consider doing the same with Physical Graffiti.

nice gear you got there by the way. only thing that is missing is a Studer A807 Tape machine^^ cause that would be the machine of my choice if I had the money to buy one^

Mine meets all the RL criteria, it hasn't been played since around 1970. It looks to be in great shape. I've been trying to find time to sit down & revisit it, just can't find the time. I'll keep you posted.

I bought an LZ I and ll in Europe in 1971. Sounded great to me and have never saw another. I let my sister borrow it for a few days; went to get it and she left it lay in hot sunlight. Needless to say, it was a very bad day. I always wondered if that copy was a very collectible.

Good video. I like the current reissue. Imagine spending £9K to get the box set of single sided Zep and then finding they are all warped.

so funny I have 2 RL's of this album (Zeppelin is my favorite band) I have cleaned them 5 times, still noisy in between tracks but once the songs start the noise is gone and Zeppelin just punch's you in the face!! Robert Ludwig's "Hot Mix" Blows anything i have away! Great video!! You nailed it!!

I have a minty A5/B4 UK 3rd press (Killing Floor on label) which sounds phenomenal! It has the oomph and the grit but also a huge soundstage and especially on Whole Lotta Love! Super dynamic mastering and if all other early UK pressings sound as good as this then they are def not overrated. Mine has really quiet vinyl too - UK Polydor pressings from this period are normally top notch and on virgin vinyl. Hard to find a copy on Excellent upwards cond however.

Great video. I have a few of them, however, I’d like to hear what people think of the 69 SP cuts and the record club, which I find quite ok. Thanks!

I recently became aware of the robert ludwig mix of this record so I decided to go digging through my collection the very first record I ever bought was zep 2 I paid 6 dollars for it back in about 94 or 95 so I look at the dead wax sure as hell it's the robert ludwig mix but what's more exciting is that it's in great shape I've always took really good care of my LPs I'm about as stoked as a man can be for a record right now its really clean and here it was sitting in my collection unknown to me I have had a jewel just sitting there and the fact that it was the first album I ever bought for basically nothing has got me rather excited

Great video! Was the 1st Japanese press (MT1091) included in your shootout?

100% agree with #1. Though I am not agree with you everytime. Fortunately, I obtained "RL" press in Pour condition with moisten cover. It is much better than other 70s pressing and 90's CD. But I could't sure by myself. Thank you for this Clip.

Used to buy every “Broadway Zep II I came across in VG++ NM. I’ve given away a bunch to most of my friends who are into records. I’ve got about 8 copies of II. One RL Monarch and one with RL on one side only.

A comparison of a Velvet Underground album and its pressings would be cool

Good stuff!

Thanks for the video great comparisons I reviewed the Jimmy Page 2015 Digital re master and I compared it to my classic records reissue by Bernie grundman and of course as you know it's no contest a lot of my subscribers let me know that RL sounds better I guess I need one Thanks again great video enjoy your stuff

I maybe a little late in commenting on this video, but… I have just found a near mint RL SS Presswell copy, took me a lot of years to find… no scratches, nothing…. it came from Switzerland to me here in England, I have a reasonably decent system, Kef reference 5 meta’s, Mackintosh MA 7200, Mackintosh MT5, Ortofon Quintet Black, I am an extremely happy man, it’s glorious…

I have 3 near mint double RL SS copies (all are still in the shrink), the Classic I bought new, the ‘80s MoFi I also bought new. I disagree that the 2014 digitally sourced version isn’t good. I think it sounds great and it’s worth buying if you want a clean copy and not want to spend a lot of money. It sounds a bit better compared to the digital version which doesn’t make sense since it’s the same source. The vinyl has bass that’s a bit more present. It’s only noticeable if you do an immediate a/b comparison with the levels perfectly matched. Regardless, it’s not “bad” - it’s a solid quality pressing and mastering.

got a "G" graded copy monarch double SS for 50$, needless to say it's more like a G+ minimally and a VG mayyybe + maximum, it's incredible! I feel like I STOLE it!

Hail Mike ! Keep up the good work. The Velvet Underground [1969] in the near future, perhaps ?

I have the German copy with RL mastering on side 1 in VG++, sounds amazing. Fyi: side 2, which is not RL, sounds pretty good too. Also have the 2nd original pressing, which came after they stopped pressing RL's, it's by far the worse. Very low volume, loud noise floor. I wouldn't even give it away to a 15 year old. My 70's version with the SD in the catalog number is a decent copy 2014 digital sourced is not too bad. Great for youngsters.

It would be great to hear your thoughts on The Mars Volta’s “Deloused in the Comatorium” on vinyl. It’s rare and expensive and hard to find and it seems shop owners come across them more. It had 2 or 3 differant versions. A pic disc, and a colored MOV press. Maybe one more. If your a fan that is.

I LOVE your shop! Easily the best in Arizona. Are you guys back open yet?

God that's an awesome looking stereo

Another amazing review!! Sadly I feel it’s just not worth the price for a RL cut when VG is about what you can get without totally breaking the bank. 😭😭😭

Great review. Have a few versions of this album including the Japanese version. Have to admit they're all in the "worst category" according to what you've said. But I have noticed the Japanese versions of all your reviews pretty much get the same treatment. I bought into the whole Japanese LPs being "quiet" = great! Thank god I never bought into that "MFSL" given they're price. Thanks

For a conversation topic I sometimes ask people their 3 albums to take to the proverbial desert Island. Mine are ZepII, Love Over Gold and Dark Side of the Moon.

An original UK press still packs a punch I must say

Would love a video like this on Animals or maybe Let it Bleed

You should be checking them to see if first pressings glow under ultraviolet light. Or more correctly, display markings that look like marble. RCA, Capitol, Sire, Atlantic, King, Motown all did it, but never bothered telling the public "put your albums under a black light and be amazed." That record companies in competition would share a practice, and NOT capitalise on it, is pretty remarkable. But finding a 1st pressing Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band that glows under ultraviolet light gets pretty easy once you know the system in which it was done. Just because it's a 1st pressing doesn't mean it will glow. BTW -- don't bother checking non-USA copies. This was pretty isolated to the USA, UNLESS it was distributed through West Germany to the rest of Europe.

yea i back that up i sold my classic records NM after comparing it to my RL VG + ... for the other pressings the classics are really good ... but i still cant wait for analouge productions to get the right ´s and use all the mettal parts and reissue it as 33 adn 2x45 rpm ... .. its really possible they did it with other stuff b4 :-) cross fingers

Buyer beware, picking up a German press will only make you want to buy a RL mix on side 1 & 2. Bought myself a German pressing to see what all the fuss is about without spending $300+. I'm a believer now, I get it. The drumming specifically is absolutely thunderous. Vocals are also very clear and powerful. Listening to side 2 in isolation sounds okay but listening directly after side 1 is very disappointing, efforts to lower the volume and dynamics are apparent. Thanks for opening up my ears to the best sounding version of my favorite album, cheers Mike!

The 1978 mail-order japanese pressing blows all other japanese pressings away. The catalog code for that pressing is FCPA 1040. This one is really worth getting.

Will you do a video for LZ III? I made my first Discogs mail order purchase tonight, a 1977 Monarch Mastercraft pressing (I believe). Did I do reasonably well?

Somehow, I've managed to score two double RL US OPs in the past year, both in bulk buys. Paid maybe $1 for each of them. Kept the Monarch VG+, sold the VG for $99.

Finally broke down about a month ago and spent the coin on a VG++ PR RL SS both sides... UPS LOST it!!! I always purchase with PayPal, so not worried about the money , but my GOD UPS!! You couldn’t have lost a pair of Nikes or somethin... word to the wise, ship with someone other than UPS

I have my turntables hooked into a numark mixer just in case the mastering leaves something to desired. I usually keep the eq settings straight up at 0, but I can basically remaster it myself on the fly if needed for my preferred listening experience.

I haven’t noticed you testing any Australia pressings yet?

I got a new copy at Wal-Mart the other day. Right before coming down with Covid. Maybe I'm just happy to still be alive but the new one sound fantastic. Much better than the old Gold Seal copy I have which sounds flat on its face. Maybe it's my garbage equipment; AT120, Reloop Ortofon Concord Cart, going through a Pioneer DJM900 mixer to a cheap poor man's Yamaha amp and Klipsch Icons? Anyway, your setup is incredible. I have a scientist friend in West Austin who has all Makintosh or however you spell it? And B and W speakers. I'm not rich and music isnt much more important than audiobooks these days but I do like a decent poor man's sound nonetheless

Bro, I love your comparison reviews! But, I do have to take exception to your comments about the Japanese pressing. I believe I have the one with yellow/brown light Obi. On my system which has two tall open baffle dipole line-arrays with 13 drivers a side and a tri-amped system with 2 amps running dual-mono for the two towers and a Crown 2502 400/side running the 2-15" dipole woofers, this pressing sounds GREAT! It is super dynamic and not 'anemic' in any way, shape, or form. It is actually my 'go to' pressing for this album and I have a few original US pressings. Yes, being a Japanese pressing, it may be lacking just a TAD on the low end, and I know that the low end is very important for this album, but to me the tremendous spacious and dynamic soundstage really is outstanding. You mention the 'swirling 3D effects' You *REALLY* do hear that with this Japanese pressing, it sounds like it is spinning around the whole room! 😁 I wonder why you thought it sounded so bad...? I'll try to put a link to pictures of my system if that is okay with you in the reply to this post if anyone wishes to check it out.

I must say that the very first Japanese pressing of this record with the blue and green Atlantic label and the black obi strip in my opinion sounds amazing. Of course it's not a Ludwig but it's pretty close, the sound is punchy and in your face, and John Bonham's drums sound like he's got his kit set up right in your living room. Maybe I'm crazy but it's definitely one of my favorite versions.

I actually really like the MFSl version a lot. I listen to it on my KLH speakers and it seems to have enough kick for me. The 2014 digital version actually doesn't sound as bad as some say, but it is anemic. I'd say I love my MFSL and George Piros versions the most. Do not have a RL copy, though.

I really appreciate you laying out some options, since the RL pressing and other high-end copies are escalating out of reach for most of us. How do you identify a George Pieros copy? Mine has what looks like a small cursive gp I think. It also says HT (PR)p, W, AT ST-A 69171 J. You can spend hours researching these on discogs and still not be sure!

Cool diffusion wall.