David Bowie Ziggy 50th 1/2 speed compared to 40th

[@BSomme]

Awesome video Rokin Roni! I love Ziggy Stardust such a killer album! Many thanks for the epic video my friend! :) 🎸🎸🎸

[@RocknRonni]

Thank you, appreciate you my friend 🔥

[@BSomme]

@@RocknRonni Awesome!!! Thank you so much Ron I really appreciate that you're a legend brother! Hope you're week is going good! :)💗💗💗

[@RocknRonni]

@@BSomme interesting that you should say that. One of my subscribers that lives in Scotland he said that I am a legend in they're part of the country. what are you supposed to say when somebody says that? pretty cool ❤️ thank you very much 👍

[@BSomme]

@@RocknRonni 💗You're very welcome brother! Sending a ton of love from across the pond my friend! I'm so happy I found your channel and your good self! Stay awesome Ron! :) 💗🎸💗🎸💗🎸

[@RocknRonni]

@@BSomme I'm happy you found my channel too You're always a good source of inspiration. 😊

[@juanmeowmix1530]

Congrats on the 6K subs! I'm enjoying your videos.

[@RocknRonni]

Thank you very much so glad you're enjoying the videos ❤️ and thanks for liking the video most appreciated.

[@ccyi-gs6um]

The 50th version "it ain't easy" song is a little noisy background but other songs sound amazing and fulfilled..

[@craigphillips884]

Another enjoyable video Ron..Good to see you back..

[@RocknRonni]

Thank you so much for the encouraging word my friend. ❤️

[@MelindaMurphy]

What a great album. ♥️ I think we need a better version. I would love to see AP or MoFi make a current reissue. Rhino would be amazing as well. Take care.

[@derosa1989]

Get the 2016 version, which is a repress using the same AAA plates from the 40th anniversary version, it's great and cheap, was pressed at Optimal in Germany.

[@RocknRonni]

I agree I think the only hope is that one day the UK starts using DSD because all those iconic tapes are locked in the vaults

[@latheofheaven]

@@RocknRonni Yep! 👍

[@dimebagdave77]

Good morning and Manythnx Ron🤘

[@RocknRonni]

Thank you sir most appreciated. 😊

[@EddieJazzFan]

Ron, I was surprised at Amazon's improved packaging when I got the new Bill Evans OJC back in July, double boxed and also plastic bubbles to keep it from damage. I was impressed enough that I ordered another record, the new Woody Shaw 2-LP Blackstone Craft reissue. It arrived in a large box and the record was just loose in the box, no double box, no bubbles or anything inside the box. Amazon's shipping methods are one of life's bitter mysteries.

[@RocknRonni]

Yeah I was hoping they were improving but it looks like it's very erratic. thanks for the updated information much appreciated

[@MrFizzleGa]

Keep ‘em coming! Great video as always

[@RocknRonni]

Oh thank you very nice much appreciated ❤️

[@pinkrudy]

those miles showell abbey road 1/2 speed masters are really digital sounding as well imo...

[@latheofheaven]

Yep...

[@RocknRonni]

Abby road stuff seems to be hit and miss some sound pretty good and some sound digital and not so good. I just did a review of the Roxy music and I found the Abbey road stuff to be very good when compared to the original pressings UK and Japan and that surprised me.

[@latheofheaven]

@@RocknRonni Yes, just about everyone has spoken very highly of the Abbey Road Roxy stuff, especially Avalon. Since just about all the reviews were so positive, that is one where I might take a chance on it (Good ol' Amazon if it doesn't sound good 😁)

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

I need to have that album in my collection

[@RocknRonni]

I love the new Avatar oh my God it's so good 😂😎

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

@@RocknRonni thanks Ron it’s appreciated!

[@MitchellHang]

I have two versions, the 2016 repress of the 40th anniversary edition (US mix) and the green-label RCA International pressing (UK mix). Both sound great.

[@RocknRonni]

I had one of those green label RCAs and had good sound on it it was actually a Spanish language on it pretty pretty unique. Thanks so much for your commentary much appreciated.

[@latheofheaven]

Excellent point about the 192 PCM vs. the DSD, or better yet Quad DSD. That's why David the owner of Positive Feedback said that those guys at Abbey Road should get off their antiquated @sses and dump the PCM format and go to Quad DSD. I Couldn't agree more 😁 That is likely why I've not been terribly impressed with the sound of the last couple of Abbey Road 1/2 Speed pressings. My early US Tommy was quite a bit better than theirs. LOVE your comments about your comparison. That is what I THINK I'm hearing also with some of these recent Abbey Road pressings. The soundstage, on my system, just does not strike me as 'Organic' or natural sounding. There always seems to be some sense of artificiality, at least to me. My system strongly lends itself to a good, open, and very organic soundstage and really shows up any 'anomalies' that way (two tall multi-driver open baffle dipole line arrays with 13 drivers a channel, bi-amped with 2-15" open baffle dipole woofers. The line arrays are usually driven by an all tube Class 'A' Ayon Orion II amp, and the dipole woofers are driven by a bridged Crown 2502) I've had a Japanese pressing of Diamond Dogs (my favourite Bowie album!) forever, I got it over 30 years ago at a used record store for about $7. I don't know which pressing it is. But, I was reading about how good the 1st UK pressings are, so not too long ago I did get one, and you know it does sound a lot better. I think I have the 30th anniversary edition of Ziggy Stardust, I'll hafta check. I think I had compared it to my early US pressing and it was better, but I'll have to go back and recheck that. Great video Ron, most interesting! ***EDIT Oh, I just checked, I DO have the 40th anniversary pressing of Ziggy Stardust mastered by Ray Staff - Now, i'll hafta go back and listen to it! 😁 BTW, I also checked, and I have the 3rd Japanese pressing of Diamond Dogs. Probably why it doesn't sound as good as the 1st UK pressing.

[@RocknRonni]

Wow your system sounds amazing dipole open baffle Ayon very very nice It was mentioned the other day that the folks at Abbey road have all their half speed mastering set up for PCM that's why they don't want to change over if those dummies would just realize the half speed mastering is antiquated technology just record the master tape with DSD quad make records from that they would be so much further ahead better yet why don't you just make records from the damn tape folks like I said again. But when you make a DSD quad tape now you've got that brand new master that sounds pretty good this is the big problem I had with mofi they have a master tape they can reuse over and over to make many many records but they created a product based on the scarcity of the master tape so their records can be worth a lot more. I did a shootout of the Japan UK and digital remaster have diamond dogs a while back here is the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qn6xpJireNVrbdU

[@latheofheaven]

@@RocknRonni Thank you sir for the nice comments 😊 And yes, I can see that you also feel quite strongly about the DSD thing too, I'm glad you took the time to watch and then post a link to that great discussion about it. I'll check the link about Diamond Dogs, but I'm thinking that you likely had a 1st Japanese pressing which almost surely was a lot better than my 3rd pressing. But, the 1st UK was a nice step up. BTW, really enjoying that Double Dimple album! I was able to get a really nice, clean 1st UK pressing very reasonably actually and it sounds great! VERY bass heavy, but that is why I have always had a bi-amped system, so I could have control over the balance between the highs and lows, but WITHOUT having the dreaded tone controls in the signal path. Another excellent album I knew nothing about until you mentioned it, thanks Ron! 😁

[@davidayers362]

I have a UK original which has the loud morse code version of Starman unlike all other releases. I also have the EMI100 reissue, which sounds excellent. The original is better, but sadly my copy isn't in the best condition. Interestingly the EMI100 reissue goes for slightly more money on Discogs than the original.

[@RocknRonni]

Yeah EMI 100. I know Michael fremer was really talking up those EMI 100 reissues. From what I can gather the UK original and the 40th anniversary are the two top contenders for best sound. Thanks so much for sharing your story so much appreciated. And thanks for liking the video 👍

[@charlesgund4812]

I heard a rumour that although the current standard remaster did use the 40th stampers (I have one as I bought it very early)…apparently there are now some variations and copies coming through that don’t have the 40 stampers. So I think you need to check the deadwax to make sure it matches the 40 matrix info maybe?

[@RocknRonni]

Okay I'll have to check mine and see what the stampers say thanks for the updated info

[@jasonsmith2032]

I have the 40th and it's great but by friend has the original Mobile Fidelity and it's incredible. Of course it's $200.

[@RocknRonni]

I haven't really heard anybody talk about the mofi That's one that's always alluded me because I never found one that was reasonably priced it's always been expensive. it's going to just get worse so here I am. thanks for the very informative commentary much appreciated

[@77MovieFan]

can´t wait for the record cleaning video I´m running a 2step solution with 6LP Ultrasonic (~500€) and a Levar Twin (3000€) and I´m still not happy with the final solution. Sure the records are really shiny, might even sound a bit better, maybe but for sure I can´t get many records to become "silent, without noise". If I get a record from a dealer and it isn´t GREAT from the beginning I have the feeling that my 2 machines don´t solve the problem either. Sure it might be in the record and no cleaning tech can fix it but I can say I have some dealers where I can say for 99,9% that I will get a perfect sounding NM firstpress and I don´t think that this is always coincidence The Clearaudio Double Matrix is too expensive and almost the same as my Levar Twin, the KLaudio is too expensive too so can´t wait what you will show us

[@RocknRonni]

From what I understand when you do the six packs in the ultrasonic the bubbles can't get at all the records properly next how are you removing the water I use a vacuum to extract all the loose dirt in the grooves and I use TERGIKLEEN for my surfactant best stuff ever but it has to be rinsed off so I have spin clean for cleaning another spin clean for rinsing. A record Dr 5 for vacuuming the record and drying the record it takes me 3 minutes per record. The difference in the sound of the record is remarkable they are very quiet and the fidelity is much improved.

[@77MovieFan]

@@RocknRonni YEs doing all six doesn´t make much sence, most I do is 3 or sometimes even only 1. I have destil water, Isopropanol and Tetenal Mirasol 2000 and I´m using an external aquarium filter to keep the dirt out. From time to time I remove all the liquid and fill it up new. Sometimes I do up to 30min of Ultrasonic (3 different modi) After that putting them into a dishwater holder and starten with the first LP on the Levar Twin which is filled with their special Liquid (ever brand has their own magic one). I use the vaccum of the Levar which does dry both sides in seconds. After that putting on their liquid, let it move-in a bit, turning on the brush, change direction. Doing this for over 10min at least. So enough time for the "special liquid" to go into the grooves. All together it should be enough to get rid of the noise but at the moment I would say, if the record wasn´t good in the first place, this amount of cleaning work will not save it

[@RocknRonni]

@@77MovieFan well that's quite involved That's a lot of work and you're not getting the results you feel you deserve you might want to put some TERGIKLEEN in your washing ultrasonic then try rinsing the record in an ultrasonic or whatever, then vacuum the record. The cleaning solution is so inexpensive I change it every 10 records. 👍

[@77MovieFan]

@@RocknRonni does this Tergikleen also work in something like the Levar Twin (Brushcleaner incl. vaccum) or is it just for ultrasonic? What about Isopropanol? Not needed? only dest.Water and Tergikleen?

[@alexbowman7582]

What percentage of that album was down to Mick Ronson?

[@machinehead6564]

Its also missing stuff eg french horn on rnr suicide

[@RocknRonni]

Ah good ear I didn't even notice that. Yeah when are they going to wake up start doing DSD if they can't do analog all the way because I really like those mofi one step. But I do prefer the original Master tape remastered by Kevin Gray and pressed at QRP but hey that's just me and everybody else it seems. The big record companies are not motivated to change because they're selling all the records they make. Why change all their equipment it's just cuts into their profit margins. Thanks for your most appreciated comments. 😊

[@Jamko1970]

I would really like one of the best to cut it, AP or Rhino.

[@RocknRonni]

You and I both. The OG tapes are in the UK at this point they're two valuable. To be released from the vault. My only hope is we can get a nice DSD cut like mofi does. I think that's realistic. But I say hey if you're going to dream, dream big. analog productions all the way. Thanks so much for your commentary most appreciated and thanks for liking the video. 👍

[@victorsthought]

I have the org and the 45th gold which is the same as the plain press i got that half speed and wish i didnt so not getting others like that again.I did message Abbey and got a free sub to their site i suggested they are just lazy

[@RocknRonni]

Hello Victor! so good to see you my friend. I hope you're doing well. You know you're right they're lazy just like all the big record companies taking the lazy way making digital records. The problem is they're selling all the records they make. Therefore they have no motivation to change. Mofi already showed them the way with the DSD. And I believe it's well known in the industry that the DSD is superior to PCM. Thanks Victor for your most welcome comments always appreciate you my friend.

[@jbvinyl]

Og RCA us dynaflex has better dynamics than 40th ,mofi ,simply vinyl and current pressing.Have them all tested them all,don't waste your money on expensive pressings get a vg+ or better us og.

[@RocknRonni]

Very interesting I do remember the OG did have good dynamics but it's been years since I heard that record. Thanks for all your commentary most appreciated and thanks for liking the video.