Comparing Pink Floyd The Wall - Best Pressing?

What is the best pressing of Pink Floyd’s 1979 masterpiece The Wall? The result might surprise you!
#1979 #pinkfloyd #rogerwaters #davidgilmour #thewall #berniegrundman #tml #audiophile #lp #vinyl

[@top5records796]

For the review of the album itself click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoi5pH98brebgaMsi=-i0ZlbW0Yp18IJHW

[@Jamko1970]

Wow! You are 100% right on the Military pressing! It is the BEST! Just received mine a NM copy sent from Germany. The vinyl is dead silent and the sound is absolutely amazing. Wow!!!

[@top5records796]

Awesome! I’m happy to hear that! I also really enjoy my Military Copy.

[@pauljarman4433]

I love this post. Thanks. Like you, I find that this masterpiece is not just a listening experience but an event. When we have a 'Wall' night, we do it loud, candles, everything right. I have six copies. Like many, often, side one is very worn out or damaged. Side four usually spotless! But recently, I found a mint condition UK TML. It is far better than all the others for me. Fat and warm. The worst edition is the remaster. I have not liked any of the remasters of the other Pink Floyd albums (although Animals was OK). They take out the dynamic range. No drama. I play my records through a set of BW's into a Rotel 150W...Loud. When the plane crashes on side one, you really duck for cover. THANKS!

[@Jamko1970]

I agree with you. No difference in sound with the US Promo & 1st issue non-promo. Now I need to find that Military pressing. Wow, just compared the 1st US and 2016 Bernie cut, that one is weak. No comparison, the 1st US crushes it.

[@top5records796]

Completely agree!

[@brianwilliams2637]

I happen to own both 1st Uk & 1st Us press I concur the US has a slight edge in sound quality

[@vinylisbetter5950]

I have a german harvest military copy that wasnt stamped as such, and must say it is much quieter than my US copies. With this album and so many quiet passages between cuts clarity is a must. Great vid. Thanks.

[@top5records796]

Thanks! It wasn’t stamped as such? I didn’t know they had military copies in Germany, could you tell more about the pressing? Sounds interesting!

[@zundap100]

I have many of the Wall pressings and I love the most the first made in Holland pressing. UK , US, Canada, Germany and Sweedish pressings are very good too and probably a litle bit more sharp sounding, but this is the reason why I love more the Holland pressing.

[@darthwarren4599]

I got a clean first pressing of this album us pressing. Its amazing compared to the 2016 cd 😊

[@johnnyocvinylrecords1079]

Military pressing! Who knew... interesting video. Mike at the in-groove, phoenix arizona has some more digging to do.

[@dimebagdave77]

Very interesting, thank you!✌️

[@top5records796]

You’re welcome!

[@GregCooper-be1ty]

Curious, have you listened to the Japanese pressing? I have one and have marveled at it’s dimension and warmth. Super quiet vinyl.Thx

[@rubenrodrigues4924]

Opinion on 2011 and 2023 versions? This is the only copies i can get in a few days to offer to an old friend.

[@top5records796]

I don’t believe there are 2011 or 2023 vinyl pressings of this album, are there?

[@rubenrodrigues4924]

@@top5records796 sorry. My mistake. Opinions of 2016?

[@R3TR0R4V3]

He already mentioned the Bernie Grundman digital cut, from 2016.. The 1st US pressing smokes it. 👍

[@FredsDead-fv7hf]

My NM Military Only arrived yesterday and : mind blown. I haven’t compared it B2B against my US Promo but confident it sound better- another layer peeled off. I also have the Japan 1st and Canada and those two aren’t in the same league (although they do sound very good) as the US Promo and of course the Military Only

[@top5records796]

I am happy to hear that!

[@ed.h2743]

According to mike from the in groove the vinyl from the german 1th pressing has the least noise out if the 3. Did you get to test that out? I have a german copy on the way since its still “ affordable”

[@top5records796]

I haven’t tested a German one but I saw a sample comparison on Stevehoffman with the German pressing and the response was positive. I might just give that one also a shot.

[@johncalvo8420]

Quick question: if I have NM TML US first pressing is the military version worth hunting, does it really sound that better than a noise free first US pressing?

[@top5records796]

If you have a noise free NM TML 1st US pressing I wouldn’t start too big of a hunt. If you come across a Military pressing for a good prize, I’d say go for it, but we are talking about tiny differences here.

[@officialwillieg2001]

Put it up against The Wall

[@slistone1940]

Think Mike from the In Groove said it was the promo copy with the timing strip (for radio stations) on the cover that was the best. So not the regular promo. Don’t think he tested that military copy you have, which is really cool!

[@AyupME]

So I am looking for a standard 1st US non-promo copy, which pressing plant should I go for?

[@unbindingfloyd]

This might not be the best place to ask but im having trouble figuring out what pressing I found today at an antique store. I've been a huge Pink Floyd fan for a long time so I picked up an old looking "The Wall" vinyl and tried figuring out when it was made. Heres what I can see. It sais "TML-M" on the disk itself. It also has the numbers 36183 on the album I googled about it and im kinda confused because im new to this but on the inside sleeve it sais "Produced by David Gilmore" rather than "Written by Roger Waters". As far as I can tell this all means its an early press or maybe even a first pressing? I think so but maybe im wrong? If anyone reading this knows please let me know.

[@top5records796]

I am not quite sure about this. Do you know the country of the pressing? And have you compared your sleave with the different pressings the country has on discogs? Having a TML is a good sign!

[@unbindingfloyd]

Im pretty sure its a US pressing. I picked it up in San Diego California. It sais PC2 36183 TML-M on the disks themselves and 36183 on the title cover sticker and the back of the album itself. The album sais Columbia Records also. The record sleeves have the lyrics on them for every song on the record they enclose. The cover sticker on the front of the album that sais "Pink Floyd The Wall" but its off center and tilted like it was done by hand. I know those stickers were sometimes put on the shrink wrap and sometimes on the album directly similar to what happened with DSOTM and the Studio wanting the bands name on the album art. I know at least the UK 1st printings said "Produced by David Gilmore" instead of "Written by Roger Waters" So I think that would be similar for the US releases maybe but i dont know for sure. That seems to be the info I can gather off the album itself. I've never used the website you mentioned so I'll see if it has some info thanks for the reply dude.

[@unbindingfloyd]

I ended up looking on discogs and based on what I was reading it seems like the copy I picked up is a first pressing US edition from 1979. Everything seems to match up that way.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

My Australian pressing sounds sensational, i doubt anything sounds better.

[@top5records796]

Interesting! What do the stampers say?

[@DarkSideOfThePepper]

Michael is 45RPM. I have 2 Canadian OGs....I dont like to play OGs, Im currently wondering how the 2016 Remaster sounds..

[@top5records796]

Why don’t you like to play OG’s?

[@DarkSideOfThePepper]

@@top5records796 just certain ones, playing over time degrades them. Many of mine have only been played a dew times, to record on 8track, then cassette, then CD after connecting my stereo to my PC. Now with digital files , I buy the vinyl still but listen via digital. If I'm still alive I will buy the 50th Anniversary.

[@samsungnote20backup-bc5rm]

Please let me have this copy pls 🙏🏽

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Get one on Discogs ya bum! ;-)

[@Zevis48]

I got the military pressing. Totally agree, it sounds excellent.

[@pvdosselaar]

Mee eens…ik heb 3 copies. Echter, krijg vandaag een NM 1e Spaanse persing, en die heeft me ook weggeblazen! TML

[@xsm5525]

Military? don't you mean Harvest?

[@top5records796]

Thanks for your question! With Military I mean a specific US edition, pressed and sold only for the ‘military market’. They used to be cheaper so soldiers could enjoy records aswel.

[@BilKojak]

If you should go skating on the thin ice of modern life...

[@top5records796]

Dragging behind you, the silent reproach of a million tear stained eyes.

[@brucehanon8945]

I think the Sony Japanese pressing sounds best.

[@stephenhill1319]

Too much bableing didn't learn anything from this still more questions that answers

[@top5records796]

What question remains unanswered?

[@R3TR0R4V3]

It was pretty straight to the point actually.. Maybe you have adhd.

[@thor7564]

It said the military press was the best. Can't get much clearer than that :)

[@Darrin.Crawford]

Everytime I watch your videos I feel you're going to break down in tears. Dude....try not to let the words digitally "cut" influence the way you hear....which is exactly what you're doing. Listen to the 2016 remaster again....put the digital component out of your head....use your ears....not the "words" in your brain. Check out Goodbye Blue Sky...if you listen closely you can actually hear the tape being turned on.

[@top5records796]

I didn't know it was digital when I first heard it. But I did notice it was not as good as a first pressing.

[@Jamko1970]

The 2016 remaster is not good compared to an original.

[@Darrin.Crawford]

@@Jamko1970 Oh yes it is. Get some Q-tips and clean your ears.

[@Jamko1970]

@@Darrin.Crawford I think you should pick up a US 1st pressing with TML and listen. The 2016 cut is not even on the same planet.

[@pauljarman4433]

@@Darrin.Crawford I have six pressings. I was so excited for the 2016 remaster but never gave it a second listen. Compressed far too much, small dynamic range, no excitement. The Animals remaster is OK, but the Wish you Were Here remaster, while nice in moments, also doesn't have dynamic range.