Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Remaster vs. UK First Pressing + Discogs Sucks So Far with OG´s

Germany
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Remaster amzn.to/3QaApSP
USA
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Remaster amzn.to/3p34jwo
United Kingdom
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Remaster amzn.to/3QpBg1M
Upon its release in 1975, ''Wish You Were Here'' rose to the top of the album charts in both the UK and the US. The album reflects the band's views on the music business at the time and explores themes of absence and loss, particularly in the classic ''Shine On You Crazy Diamond,'' a tribute to founding member Syd Barrett
The legendary ninth Pink Floyd album finally back on vinyl
This is what the vinyl lovers among Pink Floyd fans have been eagerly waiting for. The rock legends are gradually re-releasing all their albums as LPs. In June 2016, it already started with the first four records of the band, followed by more albums in August and September. Now the series is continued another time, namely with "Wish You Were Here".
The songs on the reissue have been remastered by James Guthrie, Joel Plante and Bernie Grundman. All reissues of the series are released on 180 g heavy vinyl. The cover artwork is the original design in each case.
Finally: With "Wish You Were Here", Pink Floyd's legendary ninth album is available again as an LP in 2016.
pink floyd wish you were here pink floyd greatest hits discogs tutorial vinyl community vinyl collection discogs how to discogs collection

[@big_burly_bro]

Some music fans take this album for granted on account of its ubiquity. Honestly I had kind've done the same because I listened to so much Pink Floyd as a teen. I bought and revisited this album a little ways back. What a phenomenal album.

[@alejandromcruzado]

Wonderful comparison Michael. Thank you very much for your work! It is very useful for many people like me. Greetings

[@bronco_billy]

Fantastic!! Really enjoying this new type of content Michael, great work!!

[@buzzhughes2889]

Very glad you are doing the OG comparisons now. Top notch, it’s much appreciated!

[@Cookingwithsteveg]

Most excellent assessment, M45! For myself this title is a must to be in NM condition or better for my listening pleasure. It has so many quiet sections. So difficult to find OGs in satisfactory condition for a reasonable price. I’m very fortunate to have 2 copies of the 2016 remastered releases. Both were sealed in a recent collection I purchased with 1500+ pieces. One I opened to spin while the other remains sealed to take with me to that desert island everyone is talking about lol. I was more than impressed with the SQ of the 2016 issue. Hearing your assessment was further confirmation that my ears aren’t playing tricks on me! Thank you, Steven

[@SamuelRivera_DAMN]

Excellent review, Micheal. Excited for these next videos comparing New Reissues to Ist pressings.

[@adamweeks4258]

Just ordered the remaster from your link. I love these comparisons. Thank you.

[@FendersRule]

Keep doing these, I'll watch them every time. I just got done comparing Zeppelin OGs (and re-represses) and the new digital remasters, and the results were all over the place. For example, The LZ IV remaster couldn't touch my Promo IV, but it killed my mid 70s US press and my German WEA press. My OG US LZ III had this dynamic analogue sound that the LZ III remaster couldn't touch--even though the remaster sounded "clearer" it also sounded flat and uninspired and really felt like I was listening to a CD. Always compare if you can, every time!

[@nickthegun]

Great format, really useful, thanks!

[@liammolyneuxmusic]

Michael did your Og have HTM in dead wax , Harry Moss. Very hard to find a NM Og of this album 👍 Loving these comparisons Michael, You deserve a lot of praise for moving your channel up another level ,keeping it fresh and for the common man. 👏🏻👏🏻👍

[@trupax2210]

Thanks Michael, this channel is getting more and more interesting

[@contemporaryhomeaudio]

Thanks for this video Michael. I gave up trying to find a quiet OG of WYWH. I'm not sure they were ever quiet. This video will stop me from thinking I may be missing out on something with the 2016 remaster. I bought all of the PF 2016 remasters. Last seller I purchased from on Discogs was a scammer. He'd take your money for a record he doesn't possess and then proceed to try and find it for less than he sold it for and do a flip. No concern that it may take weeks to locate. I questioned his practices and got a warning about my language. Immediately left negative feedback. Your channel is a big reason why I don't look back, I mostly buy new records.

[@solidmyke]

Looking forward to more comparison videos. Good job!

[@SaschaAlmoneit]

So good to see this kind of comparison, I really appreciate it…👍🏻

[@TheHSIHP]

Great content. I love this og idea

[@rudolfappel7236]

Nice Video, my record dealer recommended the re-mastered wish you were here to me and I like it a lot. I have more fun plying the record than streaming from Apple Music. I do not have the original master to compare too, so thank you for sharing your experience. I own je of the first pressings of The Wall, got it 38 years ago second hand. Still love playing it.

[@fts81]

Hallo Michael, nice review. I actually went the opposite way when it came to those remasters. I had some early pressings and some OGs, ended up getting those remasters after a Black Friday sale and did not regret, my impression was quite similar to yours. Plus, you get the benefit of a brand new artwork ;). If Bernie is involved, you can expect good things

[@christianevans4449]

You have just saved me the effort to seek a first pressing. Thanks!

[@danb6843]

Wonderful video, I love the comparison to the OG. About Discogs, I have had some very good experiences on it, but yes, I have struggled to get true OG pressings when the difference is subtle. I tend to ask loads of questions on those, but the condition of the vinyl is hard to correctly list for many people. Also wanted to say that you recommended Dawuna's "Glass Lit Dream" It is wonderful. I have played it over and over. What a strong album.

[@rastheike4329]

Hello Dan, I love these comparisons too. :-)

[@minglian3803]

I have uk og, 2016 remaster and japanese master sound pressing. The og and 2016 remaster both sound good as you mentioned, but the master sound pressing is on another level. Great soundstage and warmer bass. Probably the best sounding version of this album.

[@michaellourie4252]

Michael, you should try to get a German 2nd pressing from 1975...It sounds absolutely amazing and does not cost an arm and a leg. The soundstage is very wide, the bass is tight and also warm, and this version just begs to be turned up really loud! A powerful and boomy lp. Bonne chance.

[@HoomanR17]

ML, have you listened to any other version that you can compare this version to?

[@michaellourie4252]

@@HoomanR17 Yes!...UK original, USA CBS 1/2 speed mastered, both releases, Japanese pressings but not originals, and the first pressing Japanese SOPO 100. My notes that I wrote down are as follows: German 2nd...fantastic sound...powerful...bright but with powerful bass (really tight and warm as well)...boomy super wide soundstage...like a mix between the CBS 1/2 speed and Japanese style...great loud...wow...tight. Japanese SOPO 100 first press...smooth, nice warm bass with power...clear highs with no shrill, likes volume...boosted mids...wide soundstage...sounds awesome. As for the CBS first 1/2 speed, my notes are mixed...I need to go back and listen to it as well as the second press of the 1/2 speed to be able to share accurately what I think, so I won't include any notes on either of the 1/2 speeds. However I do recall that I much preferred the 2nd press German and the 1st press Japanese to the CBS 1/2 speeds. I also compared to the 2011 180gm done by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab which was definitely inferior to my current 2 top copies. Hope this helps!! Take Care.

[@HoomanR17]

@@michaellourie4252 Thanks for sharing all of this. . Very helpful.

[@michaellourie4252]

@@HoomanR17 Anytime!

[@lucullus6127]

@@michaellourie4252 hi there, funny, just today i was listening to my UK 1st A-1/B-5 and comparing with my German 2nd (1976 ?) pressing with A-2/B-2 stamper. I could not believe how good this german version is! Even better than the UK !!!

[@jamesk990]

Just received copy of 2016 remaster Wish You Were Here which I bought on your recommendation! Opening it took me back to 1976 when I first bought it and I must say they have done a fantastic job recreating the packaging - top quality. The black plastic outer is thicker than the original which was shrunk wrapped and did not last long once removed. I was glad to see BG in the dead wax as this proves it is mastered by the man himself and all the information on the sleeve mentions a 2016 Parlophone pressing in Europe. I will comment again later when I have played it tonight and write a few thoughts on how it sounds!

[@musicsurgeon]

The grading is not a “Discogs” related problem. Wether you buy on eBay, record stores second hand Amazon market… it’s always the same problem. And even nowadays, buying sealed brand new records, some are warped, some are noisy, some have pressing issues… It has become a lottery. 5 out of 5 of the last LPs I bought were warped, 1 of them severely. It occurs with 180 g vinyl as well. Considering that almost none of my “ancient” records bought in the eighties, are warped or have other issues… I really wonder what’s going on. Something is wrong, that’s clear.

[@londonrecordlover965]

It is partly Discogs’ fault because (1) they do not have the facility for the sellers to display photos of the records they are selling (and actually you can tell quite a lot about a record’s condition from well-taken photographs) and (2) Discogs takes no responsibility for the records sold on its platform so in turn cannot hold unscrupulous / incompetent sellers to account

[@terrywho22]

The key difference is that Discogs has an established grading scheme and clearly states that sellers are to use the Goldmine Standard (expanded to CDs.) eBay leaves grading up to the seller's discretion, so one would expect a little more variability in the specific grades on eBay.

[@charlesgund4812]

@@londonrecordlover965 I’m sorry but there’s no way you can grade a record properly from a photo…it’s a complete nightmare to take a photo showing the surface of the record with all its flaws. It can look NM on a photo but be VG/VG + in reality

[@nickghough]

Although at least Discogs have a grading system. The issue is it’s not policed. They should be doing secret shopping tests with sellers and weeding out the rogues.

[@terrywho22]

@@nickghough Agreed!!

[@markkopernicky3489]

Another good video. The issues you have with these OG records is not with Discogs. ..it's with the sellers on Discogs. A lot of people don't know how to rate their records properly. ..especially in the UK. I have a few sellers I regularly buy from. .this helps a lot. Also I try to find sellers who have large collections or who own small record stores. These people usually have a lot of different genres to sell. As for the two copies of Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here...while the reissues do sound great...the UK 1st pressings sound much better.

[@rastheike4329]

Good to know Michael. I also had my doubtes as to Wether the information was correct for all orders. I've been lucky so far. Anothr great video from you and a great comparison. Easy col video. But there is a lot of work behind it. Pink Floyd great. That's why I love you videos. :-) Thanks Michael. ❤️Heike

[@p0wnn00b]

The great piece of Discogs advice I read was "stick to sellers rated 99.5% and above." Nothing is guaranteed, but with the absolute highest rated sellers, there tends to be less hassle.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

Thanks Michael - I noticed the UK OG you showed had a large dead wax area which, to me, means they could have cut with more spacing between grooves and use some of that space. You didn’t show the 2016 LP and I wondered if it cut closer to center with less dead wax visible? I have the US CBS Half-Speed and the US CBS Quad both and they have been cut closer to center with less dead wax. Thanks

[@fredbrunetti7256]

Great idea keep them coming

[@jamesk990]

So I listened to the 2016 BG mastered Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here last night and I must say Michael your thoughts on the re issue are absolutely correct. This is a very good remaster indeed and in fact I would say it is very close to the the OG pressing as you suggested in your video. As you said the sound is dynamic and I thought very well balanced with no loss of detail. You can still hear one of the members sneeze in the studio just before the song Wish You were Here starts! My copy was perfect, very flat, very clean with only a few clicks which i hope to resolve with a wet clean using a VPI machine. I must say the pressing quality is fabulous done by optimal media. Anyone wanting to buy a copy should try and go for this European issue as it is so good. No static, no dust and fantastic quality sleeve and packaging. The only thing i would say as a negative is the inner card sleeve is a bit tight so i have used a Nagaoka inner sleeve to protect the record from scratching in the cover. This really is a fantastic job and thanks very much Michael for you recommendations and analysis, I will certainly be looking out for your reviews on other albums I am interested in including hopefully more Kraftwerk!

[@pbthal]

A-1 B-3 is the first UK pressing, and this makes a difference. Another contender which is super expensive is the Nimbus cut.

[@rachelsghost]

Nicely done, Michael. I have the 2016 version only and it sounds good but would likely lose out to the version Patrick The Vinyl Archivist was referencing. But then how the heck am I to find that and at what price point and how clean will it be? (as you point out in this video). 👍

[@spda242]

Very interesting, thanks

[@JeffersonDD]

Now that you’re on a kick with OG pressings, can you do a deep dive on the best stones releases? Especially the “gritty” era around mick taylor? Say Let it bleed > Tattoo you?

[@Michael45RPM]

Yes i will Jefferson

[@JeffersonDD]

@@Michael45RPM thanks Michael, and of course great shootout on WYWH.

[@CharlieMessing]

I think you're doing great. And remastering the Barrett albums? Let us hope! [I saw him (the Floyd with Syd) in San Francisco in 1967. The legend says Syd was losing it on that tour BUT the show I saw was fantastic. Each of the first album's songs was 10 minutes long - great jamming. Syd led the band! He tuned Roger's bass!] I appreciate your thoroughness and scholarly comments. I still have my original "Piper:" and both Syd albums - all UK. Thank you!

[@speaktome4778]

I'm not the biggest Pink Floyd fan so perhaps someone else can shed more light on this, but I seem to remember hearing that the song(s) on this album dedicated to Syd Barrett is actually Shine on You Crazy Diamond. Meanwhile the song Wish You Were Here is about the band and how fame and stardom had changed them. Either way it's a phenomenal album and one of my favorites, too! Thank you for the comparison on these pressings and the insight on Discogs grading! Haven't purchased much from sellers on there, but have been considering it in recent months.

[@AI_Surfer]

'Wish You Were Here' is one of those albums where you can almost say there really isn't a bad pressing of it, be it on vinyl and CD. I have numerous pressings on vinyl, with the original UK, the U.S. first pressing, and the 'Mastersound' being my top three favorite pressings. All three sound fantastic and I could live with any three of them individually if I had to. Another excellent video Michael!

[@ronbegnaud8520]

Since you have different versions for a direct comparison, which of the vinyl pressings that you have do you feel is the best?

[@AI_Surfer]

@@ronbegnaud8520 If I had to pick a single vinyl pressing of 'Wish You Were Here', it would be the UK first pressing. The U.S. first pressing is also great sounding, so it would be the UK first pressing by a very narrow margin. Hope that helps.

[@ronbegnaud8520]

@@AI_Surfer Thanks... I need to hunt for a UK first pressing...

[@lucullus6127]

@@ronbegnaud8520 It is important : only a NM copy is worth picking. UK 1st Pressing would be expensive (collector value), BUT, there is a german pressing , 1976, 1 C 064-96 918, Matrix / Runout (Variant 2 Side A runout stamped): 96918-A2-C Matrix / Runout (Variant 2 Side B runout stamped): 96918-B2-C. I have this one (A-2 / B-2)!! The sound is just fantastic, and you won't believe it: as good, if not better than my UK 1st A-1 / B-5 !!!

[@AeroModule]

I'm not sure. I have an 80s US reissue and it's not that great. Frankly I never thought this album sounded that great anyway, so that may be part of the issue.

[@davidbagnall335]

Great Video ! The Reissue Inner has one right angle and 3 cut corners like the UK Original which jumped on side 2. New Releases are more pricey in the High Street Shop, new Pink Floyd Vinyl Reissues are now a very good price !

[@Michael19841]

Great video. I’ll pick up the remaster. I wonder if you could do a similar video on Dark Side of the Moon and the most recent remaster available at retailers.

[@Michael45RPM]

yes i will

[@murch13]

I compared a NM 2nd UK press (HTM initials in the deadwax) with a NM Canadian 1st press, and a NM CBS Mastersound edition (the second RIAA corrected version) and the Mastersound is to my ears the absolute best this album has sounded. Your results may vary but if you ever come across a Mastersound pressing, sounds amazing to me.

[@simonemurray1345]

Definitely. I have a 1st UK, 1st us, and the Japanese mastersound edition and the Japanese mastersound blows it away. Supposedly the Japanese one is even better than the normal US HAL ones. The Japanese one goes for like 300-500 NM. I was so lucky i was looking for a regular US but I got a NM for only $100 shipped just missing the obi. One of the best scores I ever had It is amazing and shows how a digital step can make an album sound much better if done right. It's the album that made me feel a bit better about the mofi drama since it sounds so amazing. It's catalogue number is 30AP 1875 and came out a year or two before the US. It's supposedly slightly different mastering/better quality vinyl but I never heard the US to compare. But either of the mastersounds are the ones to get depending on the price, there's rumors one of the US variants had EQ issues while others say they're the same in 1981 they had HC 33453 and then 1982 they made HC 43453. Supposedly the 33453 had a few issues with being too harsh and brittle sounding so they fixed it and changed the number. However others say they sound the same, but I believe something was changed because they wouldn't change the code for no reason within a year. However all of them sound great even if they have slight flaws. The mastersound is the best the albums ever sounded. Maybe that'll change if we ever get an analogue productions one though!

[@mcgjohn22]

nice review. Glad you were able to find an original British pressing to do your comparison with. What many forget, was before CDs, when vinyl or cassette were the only options to buy music, British pressings were usually among the best you could find sonically. Most of the time, much better than any US pressings of the same title. The only other locale that could give the British pressings a run for the money were the pressing plants in Japan. King Records did some amazing releases, Nippon Phonogram was always top in sonics, as were others, such as Victor Music, Warner-Pioneer etc. And what few seem to know is many of the first pressings in Japan had the lacquers cut in the UK. So in a way you can get the best of both worlds; excellent UK lacquer cutting, with superior Japanese pressing quality.

[@SpyderTracks]

This is such good news for any Floyd fan. I've been umming and aahing over a couple of OG pink Floyd's, but it's a significant investment as it would have to be NM. I'm very happy with the 2016 remasters that I have and will stick with those. Really looking forward to the animals remaster.

[@Drivehead103]

I don't have others to compare it with but the 2016 reissue is so good I made notations on the outer protective sleeve about the exceptional sound quality! Possibly digital but I do not care because it sounds fantastic.

[@londonrecordlover965]

Very interesting video thank you Michael! You have sent me scurrying back to my UK original Wish You Were Here, it’s been too long since I dusted it off. I would love it if you could get your hands on some 1970s Led Zeppelin pressings and compare them to the Jimmy Page remasters - let us know if the current versions are really that bad!

[@NickP333]

Hey, Michael. Sorry to hear about your experience with Discogs sellers. If I’m buying an older pressing from someone and it costs more than X amount, I’ll ask for pics and for what exactly it says in the deadwax of the particular copy being sold. As them whatever questions you may have. After all, you’re the buyer. It’s saved me a good amount of headache. Good luck 👍 🎶😊

[@marcgoecke9401]

Thanks for recommending the Remastered Version. I have two (not first pressings) from 1975, but both are not in their best condition.

[@nothingimportant4504]

I haven’t had these issues with Discogs; one time, a record vanished within the US postal service system and never turned up, but the seller gave me a full refund. Everything else has been tops. Don’t ever shy away from asking for more pictures, a brief sound sample, etc.; in my experience most buyers have been willing to share those things if the records are opened. If not, I pass on that purchase.

[@michaelandrew4488]

This is my FAVOURITE Pink Floyd album . I luckily still have my copy I picked up back in the 70s, it's the local Australian CBS pressing SBP 234651. It still sounds great .. to me. 🙂

[@booom4849]

Do you by chance walk in your room/house while listening to it? I found the analogue versions have way more harmonic reflections, it really fills the room. Surprised by your finding. I only checked the digital/PCM dark side of the moon, and much preferred the sound of the vintage release of the wall. Still looking for an analogue DSOTM, I regularly check my local shop, haven't bought on Discogs yet.

[@Bozlee22]

Ok for this masterpiece I normally listen to the SACD in 5.1/ with pink floyd, due to continuous music and quite passages I have not been tempted to get them on vinyl. Except my 2018 vinyl of Animals! Love your channel 🙏🏼

[@BOBBRADLEYCHANNEL]

Sourcing original pressings can be dark waters Michael, I wish you the best of luck my friend. You need a WYWH in the original shrink with hype, your collection deserves it :) I like most of those 2016 remasters . I am super interested to hear This animals.

[@Michael45RPM]

true words Bob and thx

[@DC-xx4kv]

Hey Michael. So yeah in my experience there are too many amateurs out there thinking they are qualified to fairly grade used records. I had an experience once with Atom Heart Mother and the grading wasn’t even close. I got a price adjustment and cleaned the crap out of it. Literally. So I kept it. IMO the vinyl craze has resulted in many people trying to cash in and want their stuff to be better than it is. Some of course simply lie. I’ve pretty much stopped online purchases of used records. Too often it’s just a real hassle. Good luck with your future acquisitions. ☮️

[@suffolkaudiophile]

The Japanese Mastersound halfspeed is on another level...

[@nickghough]

Michael - I very much agree with your comments on Discogs. I had bought very few things there before I started selling some of my own records - for the first time in 50 years of collecting. I simply had too many that I never played. I graded them very honestly following their guidelines to the letter. Mine were (and still are immaculate). It was only when I started to buy that I realised I was grading on average two grades down (as I say following the guidelines) than the majority of sellers. I bought an OG US pressing of Neil Young’s ‘Everybody Knows This is Nowhere’ that was graded Near Mint. It was trash. Honestly I couldn’t get past the first half of the first track. It sounded like someone had driven a truck over it. Basically it was worn out and scratched. I couldn’t get my money back but the seller was de-listed by Discogs after I complained. I now only buy Mint and sealed from sellers with a 100% positive rating. I don’t trust anything else. It means I can’t buy anything old but I’d rather listen on Qobuz than have a very expensive noisy vinyl version. There’s no joy in listening to a very crackly record for me no matter who mastered or pressed it!

[@archifi9978]

Very nice review. I’m with you. Unless one is a completist, the Grundman remasters are fabulous and should make anyone happy.

[@thesoundofbrynmawr1467]

Welcome to the lives of vintage vinyl listeners everywhere! There is something about the records up for sale which makes them different from the ones sitting in people's collections for sure. Grading is almost always overstated on Discogs unless you are familiar with the seller - recently I bought a NM- "Master of Reality" on UK Vertigo Spaceship which turned out to be VG+. I recommend avoiding sellers based on your experience, and generally I've found that record stores selling on Discogs, or those with 100% positive feedback, do a better job than others. Reading the seller's reviews in detail can help to get best results, but there's no silver bullet. As for the album at hand - I have gone through a great many copies of Wish You Were Here, almost all of which have cleaned up super-nicely on the VPI. The BG re-master is no slouch but maybe a bit muted - my preferred listens are the OG US Gold Stamp Promo (found for $5 at a local shop!!), and the second Japanese pressing on "Rock Best 100" series both of which you can find on discogs. Good luck!!

[@davidellis5141]

I still have my original Wish You Were Here - It sounds awesome 👌 & is by far my favorite non Syd Barret Pink Floyd album. To bad he missed out on the phenomenal success of the band.

[@lovbladkarl-olof3975]

I would say that my experience with Discogs has been ok so far. The gradings vary sometimes but I have not had any disasters. I guess it also depends on what you expect. Of course ideally one should buy mint copies but that may not be available or may be too expensive. Besides that, great video again

[@jonnyringo]

Over-grading is a big problem with sellers on Discogs. I've had numerous issues and returns because a VG+ or NM record I purchase was far below the grading the seller listed. It's incredibly frustrating.

[@derricktoppert8145]

Maybe you can ask people in the vinyl community to lend you an original. Since you have over 25.000 followers, I'm sure some of them might be able and willing to help out.

[@rastheike4329]

That's good idea. :-)

[@TheAudioGeek67]

I’m enjoying your “new” method of comparison with the OG. I’m sure it takes more work, but the results have been interesting.

[@georgealanlpsandcds9311]

I have found the key to Discogs is the dealer. However, like you stated once you start roaming for an OG you can be in murky waters! What a shame 🤔.

[@Universityofvinyl]

I have pretty good luck with Discogs because I try to be very selective with the sellers I deal with. Checking their reviews and how many sales they’ve handled helps to ensure a good transaction.

[@bat2137]

Totally agree i have most of the pf reissues and they are all good sounding, pressing are quiet and flat no returned discs great value the nick drake reissues are super also.

[@mikakauppinen3391]

Nice review Michael. I have to ask that are you sure you have UK first pressing? When you show the vinyl I noticed right away that the groove area is smaller than in my UK ”first” pressing (SVHL 814 A-1 RGT; SVHL 814 B-3 GTD). In my UK pressing run-out groove is about 1cm but in your pressing it looks like 2cm. When I compared my UK pressing to the 2016 pressing it was clear that the UK pressing was cut more ”hot”, more dynamics and punch. 2016 is still a very good pressing and I like Bernie Grundman’s works. What comes to Discogs I have had same kind of experience, but I have also been lucky. It would be nice to have EX condition between VG+ and near mint.

[@Michael45RPM]

in this case i am quite sure .....

[@user-in3it2id4p]

@@Michael45RPM you have a first pressing if it has got A1 B3 in the deadwax ...you should check and share the info . Perhaps you have a later re cut by Hardy Moss (htm initials in the deadwax) mine is an A4 B10 htm and it's wonderful...the synthesizers on welcome to the machine are out of this world...

[@simonemurray1345]

The best version of this I ever heard is the japan CBS mastersound half speed by Stan Ricker number 30AP 1875. It's acknowledged by many to be the best pressing of it ever and it honestly shows how digital steps done right can sound amazing. I have a 1st UK and the Japan mastersound blows it out of the water. It's absolutely amazing and anyone who can get it for cheap should. However it's often $300-500 for a near mint. I was so lucky to find a fully NM one just missing the obi. It was like brand new and I don't even think it was ever played. It just had one small hairline but no other marks and no spindle marks at all. And after shipping I only paid $100 for it. The seller was pissed I'm so happy they actually sent it cuz they took 2 weeks to ship it obviously mad they didn't get more. I was lucky cuz they weren't a real vinyl seller and didn't know how to grade so no one else bid. But yeah that CBS mastersound is amazing. There's US variants but the Japanese is supposedly the best. However theyre all supposedly better than the 1st uk. For the US they had a 1981 copy HC 33453 and then in 1982 HC 43453. Supposedly the 1981 had some EQ issues sounding too harsh so they went back and fixed it and thus that's why there's different numbers. So id get the 1982 if buying a US. They run for like $100-200 for a NM. Some say they sound the same but I wouldn't risk it. But supposedly the Japan is the best which makes sense with their vinyl quality. It's noticeably better than the 1st UK. With all the mofi drama that record makes me realize that a digital step done right can be superior if mastered correctly. Seriously it's a stunning record I never thought anything would beat the 1st UK but it really does. If you like pink Floyd michael you should definitely be on the look out for one because it's the best it's ever sounded and is a good investment. Getting the Japan near mint was one of my best scores ever. I got a cymande promises heights promo from the same guy for $30. I was extremely lucky, there's only one hairline on it and the jacket looks and even smells new. It's one of my favorite pieces of my collection.

[@JeffersonDD]

Thanks for that detailed summary!! You just saved me 1/2 day of reading the Hoffman forums!

[@charlesgund4812]

I like these videos….very much appreciate these comparisons. Original pressings can sometimes be superior….and compared to a bog standard reissue done with not much effort, they usually are. However, I think people put all original pressings on this pedestal like they will always be the ultimate and never beaten. But I think this is overstated a little. I think sometimes people makes their minds up before they’ve even heard a comparison. Also, if the remaster is 90 odd per cent as good as the original that may go for big money…it perhaps makes more sense to go for the reissue on a clean pressing. I know that these Pink Floyd originals can sometimes be tough to get a clean quiet copy.

[@zeppearl]

Can't go wrong with the OGs !!

[@Boatzerama]

I received a UHQR of Jethro Tull Aqualung from Discogs which said it had a Mint cover. It had a split in the top of the cover as if the album had cut through it. I kept it because I couldn’t be bothered sending it back, but it annoys me😬

[@kevinturchin]

If all you have is the 2016 remasters I think you will still be very happy.

[@1770Vinyl]

Unfortunately that’s the way Discogs and most sellers are. If I’m planning to buy a pressing that’s more expensive I’ll ask for a play grade and sometimes an mp3 so I can somewhat hear for myself the surface noise. If you decide to do a DSOTM shootout I would definitely recommend the A3/B3 second pressing. Sounds almost identical to the A2/B2 first pressing for a fraction of the cost

[@Texacate]

I really enjoy your thoughtful videos. I've received drastically over-graded LPs on occasion from discogs sellers. It sucks, and I leave appropriate feedback if they wont correct it. But most sellers I've done business with grade according to the standard, most of the time. For me, it's how they respond after I bring a problem to their attention. But, yea, there are a couple sellers I wont ever do business with again.

[@brianbillings6815]

IMO, the remaster should sound very much like an excellent example of an original (provided the original was of engineered and pressed well). It's the lack of availability for excellent examples of the original pressing some 50 years later that makes the new one so essential! Thank you for comparing the two as I don't currently have a copy on LP and will now happily consider the remastered version.

[@markborland2681]

Michael, I may have missed it one of your videos but how do you conduct your comparisons... do you listen to a full album, side or individual songs before you change over?

[@Michael45RPM]

this depends its different from title to title

[@txc500]

My recent discogs experiences haven't been great either. The seller missed a bad scratch on a NM graded record and when I brought it up he blamed me! Said he'd never miss that, but he did. Other sellers are not customer friendly when asked about play grading instead of visual. I've found so many awesome used records for little money, I'm going back to hunting for vinyl instead of buying online.

[@davidbarnes3232]

I have UK first pressing and remastered also. Not much in it but your description “fresher” is a good one. I’m torn with quality OG vs remasters generally, some remasters make them sound like they are a modern recorded record, which is nice. But the OG sounds more 1975, and because I was there at the time that to me is how it is supposed to sound.

[@bernhardfritsch818]

The situation to buy records on vinyl is not satisfied at the moment, I had a lot of bad experience on Discogs bad communication, wrong grading, and often wrong listed. All in all it is a very frustrating situation for a collector, but the most frustrating thing are all the warped new records, I had a quote of 80%. Ok, I don’t buy only audiophile records, but these records are new, I don’t understand this situation, a flat vinyl should be standard. And Michael i am a great fan of your channel, congratulations it is always a pleasure to watch the channel, because you got a lot information of coming up records, about quality and and background information to compare different releases of records.

[@Atodaso]

I have a NM/NM Japanese first pressing on the way from Japan/Discogs - I'll update this when it arrives :)

[@leland242]

I've had the same issues with Discogs, where the wrong version shows up after you order it. It's hard to understand, since the whole point of discogs is to identify the very specific version in your collection.

[@papabear1417]

I prefer and always order new online or go physically to a store. If looking at pre owned, I must see the disc. Make sure I clean it before playing. Not failed so far.

[@ergloo6660]

As a lifetime collector of UK 1st pressings you need to understand the matrix info and the label, sometimes you can have 2 records with identical matrices yet 1 may be much later than the other so you must then master the differences in labels e.g. does it have a boxed E.M.I. or not? Then you have differences in the jackets and even the inner sleeve which will determine the age and pressing. Unseen wear by a 1960's or 70's cartridge can lead to inner grove wear. I find that on average I have to buy 2 or 3 copies before getting a very good sounding OG and yes it's expensive and time consuming, but for me that's the fun.

[@Michael45RPM]

:-) sounds fun .....

[@ronbegnaud8520]

I wonder how the 1980 CBS Mastersound 1/2 speed master holds up to those. I have the CBS half speed and I think it's brilliant, but don't have another version for direct comparison.

[@festersuncle6298]

I've owned 2 original copies, a German and a U.S. I settled on a 80"s pressing....the sound is so vibrant and detailed. 1983? 1985? I don't recall.

[@jasonsmith9845]

I've had good and bad experiences with grading on Discogs. It can be very frustrating. I know if I am selling something on there I'm going to grade it really tough. So it's hard to know why other people don't grade like that. I've hesitated selling on there because I'm worried I'll get complaints even though I would grade things lower than they might ought to be.

[@novisnick6928]

I’ve been very lucky but I only purchase sealed or mint. Otherwise I just wait and look for it again at a later date. The older LPs were mastered and mixed to play on lesser systems and still sound good but of course you already know that

[@rodrigollanes7619]

Hello Michael. I have a ver clean copy of the first UK pressing, with the full package (bag, postcards), the Columbia Half speed master and the 2016 reissue. My conclusion is similar to yours: I prefer the original, but not by much. I think the same about Animals (Og vs 2016 reissue). The first UK pressing of Dark Side of the Moon does seem superior to the 2016 reissue and other UK and Japanese editions that I own and/or have heard. Unless you're a hardcore Pink Floyd fan and willing to pay a lot for originals, I think the 2016 reissues are excellent enough. Oh, AP's WYWH SACD is great too. It is a more “clinical” listening. Sometimes I listen to that version.

[@Michael45RPM]

thx a lot for sharing this Rodrigo

[@keeferdog5617]

So, are all the PF 2016 Grundman,Plante, Guthrie a digital transfer from the analog tapes???

[@Boatzerama]

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 30th Anniversary is fantastic.

[@TheJoelSwaney]

Great pressing, IMO -- the UK og. I have one with blue shrink. I buy a lot on Discogs, but I ask a lot of questions. And I don't pay until I confirm what their shipping method is if not included in their seller terms.

[@91pastor]

So you didn't get a UK original with the black shrink wrap with a round Wish You Were Here sticker on the outside of the shrink wrap?

[@Michael45RPM]

right

[@luis6379-q7k]

My experience at Discogs has been good overall, but I have had to return several records whose condition was misrepresented. I try to stick with sellers with thousands of ratings.

[@darrens7040]

Hi Michael, I am with you on the discogs front I used to buy from a guy in the states who was superb in every way with his records he ran out of records lol. So now I just use Discogs for cataloging purposes.On the Wish you were here front I have an OG copy from New Zealand which gets plenty of run throughs as do all their albums in my house.

[@Michael45RPM]

You bought him empty Darren? :-)

[@darrens7040]

@@Michael45RPM Not quite lol But he had some outstanding releases I was after and just couldn't resist he cut a great deal on shipping too when I bought 10+, A true collector who was passing on his collection as his family had no interest.

[@delleceste]

Across several listening sessions of disparate releases through different systems I've always thought that the wish you were here album has some distortion here and there. For instance, the drums in Shine On (probably in conjunction with bass). Notably, right before the singing comes in and, less noticeably, very few times during the instrumental section. In the song that gives the name to the album, it can be spotted right before, during, and after the chorus. Probably distortion is not the right or only possible word. I could describe it as "over compression", "saturation", as if we are right at the limit of electronic saturation. By many, it is considered an audiophile album. For me, it sounds pretty good but there's a constant impression to stand on the brim of saturation Don't you think?

[@spinningtheblackcircle8554]

Michael, my tip on buying from Discogs is to purchase only from merchants with 99% + ratings and at least 500 ratings. In terms of this video, my view on the original pressing vs the reissue is that the repress sounds clearer and crisper but very slightly less musical. A bit like polished furniture that loses a little of its character vs the original hew.

[@rossano.balloco]

I came to the same conclusion having compared with an original German first pressing both sounded great to my hears and i had the same result with TDSOTM. Cannot wait to listen the Animals remaster!!!

[@ondrejglembek]

Discogs issue: same here, I always ask for confirmation of the claimed version and I can say that in 60--70% of the cases, the seller replies "sorry, made a mistake, not this version..."

[@mikejeffries8630]

It might be mentioned elsewhere, but it’s very hard to find a quiet OG WYWH because of the card inner sleeve.

[@Fontsman]

The original black cling film was so delicate that very few have survived. I remember buying the original UK pressing in '75. At that time, with the oil crisis, the quality of vinyl was terrible. Had to go through three or four pressings to get a decent disk.

[@nickghough]

You’re right there. I bought mine on the day of release. I went through several copies before I got a perfect one but I still have it and it sounds great. To my memory it was in plain black plastic without the round sticker the new one has. My black bag fell apart as soon as I opened it.

[@Jeremy-yf2jd]

"UHQR-like" version is the UK Nimbus SuperCut. 1,000 - 1,500 Pressed on specially formulated vinyl from ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries). Just a plain inner sleeve - not printed - and no "Diver" postcard. Some have these transplanted from regular first pressings. Yes, it is clearly THE best version - very clearly to my ears with an Ortofon Black Cadenza MC - and goes for "unobtainium."

[@JBLClassic]

My dad would play this all the time when he got a new stereo back in 1995. My little sister would be screaming for him to turn it down. The best one I've heard is actually on CD - Sony Super Bit Map. That CD was my first experience with this album, so it's one where I don't like the surface noise.

[@dgross2009]

I've had good luck with Discogs. I usually don't worry too much about the pressing, I'm more concerned about the condition. My preferred method is to go to a reputable record store and go through the bins. I only use Discogs if I'm looking for a specific record. One way to ensure success with Discogs is to visit the sellers site and look at other listed offers. Just from this observation you can get an idea of the veracity of the seller and you may see other titles for sale. You can sometimes get a deal on shipping if you order more than one title

[@smkordis]

I have purchased albums on Discogs that where better than what was described, ie listed as VG+, but probably NM. There are specific sellers that I try to buy from.

[@voicesofvinyl]

I own two original Japanese pressings and the 2016 remastered/reissue. The Japanese pressing is much more analog/warm sounding, especially in the mid range, but it also features clipping/distorting on some harsh crescendo's, especially in Shine On You Crazy Diamond. I thought my pressing could be defective, so I bought a second Japanese copy in NM condition to compare, and the problems are the same on both. The distortion is not nearly as heavy in the remaster, so I typically listen to that copy most. I hope to eventually find an original UK, but like you, I haven't had the best luck with Discogs.

[@booom4849]

Maybe you can improve distortion by realigning your cartridge via test lp, and making sure the turntable was in balance. I did this successfully, as I had similar issues with original pressings which were cut pretty hot.

[@voicesofvinyl]

@@booom4849 There are only a few sections of the LP which have distortion, and majority of my LP's don't have any distortion, so my table is likely not the issue. I imagine they just cut it hot, especially in the mid range, because there is certainly more detail on the Japanese version vs. the 2016.

[@booom4849]

@@voicesofvinyl Ahh ok, I see. Yeah in my case, the voices would distort if they were really loud. Checked the test LP anti-skating test track which got louder and louder, at 2/3 of the way I had a buzzing distortion, after optimizing the setup, the track almost played without distortion. Then the voices would not distort anymore. But yeah, just sharing my story.

[@voicesofvinyl]

@@booom4849 Vinyl is such a unique medium. I literally bought a second copy of the exact record because I thought it could have been groove wear due to a previous owner having a misaligned cart, but it's likely that the engineer didn't compensate for the loudest parts during the cutting process.

[@booom4849]

@@voicesofvinyl Hehe, yeah I thought it was groove wear as well. Previously I had listened to the records on my old hifi which was pretty forgiving, but now with studio gear I pick up distortions pretty quickly.