Nirvana ‎- Nevermind - LP Review And Comparison What Version Is The Best

[@crazymusicgeek9233]

Nice to see that Krist Novaselic is helping us find the best sounding Nevermind album

[@R3TR0R4V3]

😅 I guess he does look a little like him in recent years. 😜

[@erikcontrerasmollinedo4265]

jajajajajajaja

[@mortimer81]

And the best comment on the video goes to... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@leakiin]

Hahahahahaha

[@gregoryirwin263]

😂

[@utub1473]

Yes! I'm very happy that Mike is doing the pressing comparisons again. It's been much too long.

[@TwentyTwenty90]

I've got the Pallas press. One of the best 'bang for your buck' records I own. Thunderous.

[@The90sGamingGuy]

I have this version too and its thunderous wall of sound which is how this album should sound.

[@bryanakers6023]

What is on the deadwax for that version?

[@eeb7269]

@@bryanakers6023 will have BG in the deadwax.

[@rockoutkids]

I don't even have a record player but this shit is interesting to me.

[@estherp4867]

We're really lucky with Nirvana right now. The newer BG Nevermind, and Albini remastered In Utero sound ridiculously good on vinyl. And both are fairly inexpensive right now.

[@casperguylkn]

Look for the currently in print Back To Black 320 of In Utero with the original Albini mixes for the whole album.

[@boogiewoogie9770]

@@casperguylkn Yep it's incredible!

[@quikspecv4d]

Yes! I haven’t purchased this album because I wasn’t sure what to get. I’m sure I’ll know by the time I finish the video. Thanks Mike!

[@davidturner2974]

I have the Pallas pressing and have never heard any other one, so good to know it's regarded as highly as it is. I just know I love mine.

[@MrSmity413]

I love the pressing comparison videos, I've watched everyone you've done before and I'm so happy to see another!

[@life5161]

Ordered in Utero and Petty's Greatest from U last week. Seen its been shipped!! Hope it shows up today!! Thanks for what u do. It's entertaining. By the way those speakers are INSANE!! AWESOME

[@dondraper217]

It's been too long. About time we see Mike take an expensive record like that Japanese press and shit all over it extensively and in detail. Also, to see him give the MFSL press an honest review and not rank it on price or reputation. Video did not disappoint.

[@Digginbehindthedikes]

You would hope some of these crappy pressings would drop in price considerably but no one seems to care.

[@jakespencer431]

It’s nirvana related every thing of there’s is $$&

[@austinhunt4260]

Great shootout Mike. I was scared there when you pulled out the ORG halfway through the video. But you were just talkative, which we love. You’re getting loose on your videos. Fantastic. If I’m ever passing through Phoenix, would love to hear this original pressing if that would be at all possible. I’ll stay content with ORG unless my crypto blast off. Thanks!

[@bradleykay]

I have an original CD, original LP and the ORG ... all fantastic. The original LP is king of the hill. Great sonics and kicks you in the groin like Mike said. The original cd ain’t too shabby either. That’s what I grew up on.

[@GhostFace_OG]

The original CD mastering is a little thin, but it's AAD. Can't beat it for 5 dollars!

[@BogoEN]

I have the exact same set, grew up on the CD as well in the 90’s. Original vinyl is king, agree 100%.

[@MOOGIO1]

Again, much appreciated video, CEO of saving people's time and money with unfiltered no-bs pressing comparisons.

[@mchervino]

I just got my first copy of this on lp. The pallis Grundman press from my local Walmart for $23! Good enough for me.

[@casperguylkn]

That's the one! 2nd to the original(S).

[@mikebalasia1095]

I picked up the silver copy from Target for $25 also pressed by Pallas with the Grundman cut and it sounds spectacular

[@garrettmcnabb8471]

Great video, Mike! I've seen all of your shoot-outs, and this is EASILY the most enthusiastic one! Haha.

[@michaeltrochalakis6526]

The original also has ‘MASTERDISK’ stamped in the dead wax. My copy has a gold promo stamp over the bar code on the back cover. I’ve had it since it was released, as I used to work in rock radio.

[@michaeltrochalakis6526]

*etched*, not stamped Masterdisk. My apologies

[@reynoldswrap36]

Just got the newest Bernie Grundman Pallas pressing because of your recommendation. It sounds AMAZING! Thanks Mike!

[@jamesirvin9147]

Great review on a great lp! I have and been listening to a copy of the Mofi version and I thought it was really good and the only version I had at the time. Took your advise Mike and sought out a first pressing. Found one on the internet and 4 days later and after a good cleaning on my Loricraft PRC machine it was on my turntable. The sound is incredible and incomparable to my Mofi and I now own a piece of history! Thanks again Mike on a most excellent review!

[@gary5248]

I just bought the original 1991 DCG pressing in mint condition for $15.

[@michaellourie4252]

MIKE....YOU ARE THE MAN....Wow....BG HOT MIX....What a special pleasure it is to listen to this album properly mastered. What an amazing difference over the mfsl. Sincerely dude, Thank You Again !!!!!

[@UfukDirim]

Thanks for the review. Based on your recommendation, I’ve got the Universal (Back-to-Black) edition, here in Europe. It has a BG stamp and says made in the E.U. but I’m not sure which pressing it is. Anyhow, it sounds great, which is what matters. 😁

[@analoguecity3454]

I have the "black" Bernie Grundman reissue, your right its fantastic!

[@damianp564]

Fascinating how things have turned around. My local record shop stopped selling vinyl in the 90s. Just got rid of it. It always pained the owner but he could no longer justify the space for it. Now, it's all back. He can barely sell the CDs that were so dominant then. I bought Nevermind on CD when it first came out. I don't recall even seeing the vinyl, only the discs and cassettes. I recently picked up Mike's second best pick at Walmart of all places. $22. Only copy they had.

[@et88b]

Mike, great video, I really enjoy your LP review and best sounding version comparison videos. I checked my collection and found I have the Mobile Fidelity and an original US release I bought at a record show in the nineties for about $5.00. It is opened and still has the shrink wrap. The vinyl appears to be in mint like condition. I will play it tonight to see how it sounds!

[@georgeprice4212]

How can the 2009 pressing be cut from the original master when it was confirmed destroyed in the 2008 Universal Vault fire? Krist Novaselic stated as much.

[@seansrecords]

there could be a backup tape OR some metalwork from the original tape still exists.. or the tape wasnt destroyed ?

[@enriquepastor3626]

@@seansrecords I think I read that the fire didn't destroy anything related to Nirvana, but I'm not totally sure

[@another5544]

The stampers are not the master tapes, even if the master s are gone the BG mastered metalwork can still be pressed

[@bobbyjones1055]

I completely agree with your assessment here. I have the Original Vinyl Pressing ripped at DSD 256, it is better (slightly) to the Bernie pressing. It is raw and it's F'N amazing!

[@festersuncle6298]

I was in my 20's when the lp came out, wasn't a fan right away as I was into other things. The Unplugged thing hooked me a few years later. RE Pallas pressing is the one I own. Had a 1992 German copy but it was scratchy and crackly. $25 record all day long for me.

[@GhostFace_OG]

I just want to say, your assessment is spot on. I have 2 original copies because I was never fully happy with the BG copy, although it's miles better than any other pressings around. You can't beat 25 dollars for an excellent pressing at Pallas.

[@arronbiber5823]

Well thanks mike for inflating the price of the original press even more, every time you do a shootout my purchase price just doubled

[@zackamania6534]

Yeah, this is a troubling aspect of buying records right now. From 2010 til, say, 2016, there weren’t HUNDREDS of social media influencers talking record prices up OR down

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

Thank you for going into detail. I’ve told people for years the Bernie cut on the Universal Pallas reissue is the best deal in new vinyl. Astounding for the price. I’ve often wondered about an original pressing. My wallet isn’t happy about the news about an original pressing!🤣

[@realmackle]

30th box set (assuming it's the same as the 30th/7 inch) sounds solid, for those wondering

[@knobbshots]

Makes me feel older(er), I was a senior when this came out. VH1 played SLTS every day at the same time. I would run home for lunch every day to see the video

[@unabonger777]

so you're 95+ years old now?

[@booom4849]

I just compared the BG, the 320 and the 30th. The BG can sound a bit too bright at times, but I agree that it's the best of these three, by a long shot! The 320 is pretty low-end heavy which I like, but it sounds wrong, the timbre of Kurt's voice and of his guitar is off. The 30th generally sounds a bit like the BG cut, with more compression and a bit less ear-piercing highs, but it sounds super sterile compared to the other two, so digital is still pretty bad compared to AAA.

[@devildart]

Great review. I have an original US first press that I bought new in 91. I might just buy the Universal BG copy so I can preserve my original copy.

[@Fettelmotze]

I have the German firstpress since 1991 and despite I played the crap out of it over the past three decades, I have never thought about getting any other version. Then I watched that video last night at 3am and ordered the Pallas pressing in a friggin' heartbeat. Can't wait.

[@itsmeguitarkid]

Any thoughts on the silver Walmart pressing? It’s also a BG master and sounds pretty decent, in my opinion. I’m no audiophile though, nor do I have another pressing to compare it to.

[@daveharttify]

I got the silver target one, bg, pressed at pallas, sounds awesome, i got like the 96 japan one and the 320 as well. The cheapest one is the best one by miles.

[@autocrossstar17]

You’re definitely right about the 90’s not caring about vinyl. Although that’s not true for the very early 90’s, as there were fantastic sounding albums. One that comes to mind is Toad the Wet Sprocket’s first album, Bread and Circus. It was mastered by Brian Gardner at Bernie Grundman Mastering. It’s actually one of my favorite sounding vinyl albums, and I have a lot of audiophile recordings. The same can be said for their second and third. Their third was mastered by Grundman himself. So there is some good 90’s vinyl just not much. It’s also incredibly expensive because they’re rare as well.

[@renemies78]

Nirvana is one of my all-time favorite bands and I couldn't click on this video fast enough. I'm actually shocked at your conclusion. I wish I didn't sell my original copy years ago.

[@PTJarman]

Love these videos . . . have you done one on the best pressing of 'Thriller'? Curious on the sound differences between the original '80s pressings vs Half Speed vs Japan pressing vs remastered pressing. Cheers!

[@shaner9641]

Stumbled across this. Finally someone with ears. Well done Mike. I own the original US pressing and totally agree. It's the best sounding Nevermind album and it kicks arsse. Cremes the mofi version I own.

[@cadmantheaviator]

loving your videos. watched loads of them this weekend.

[@xmagellanx3614]

Great video! I have the same thought on Superunknown orig pressing (orange). Any other pressings of that album I should consider?

[@travisw6378]

Nice video… glad I picked up my first press nevermind years ago, think I picked it up for $200, crazy it’s shot up in price so much!

[@lucalone]

Kurt wanted this album to sound like a mix of a beatles and black sabbath album, and that 320 german pressing (from 2001 as far as I know) sounds that way ! my original vertigo german pressing of paranoid from 1970 by sabbath has 320 written in the dead wax, too, assuming that it was pressed in the same pressing plant. my favorite version I own is the first german pressing from 1991. sounds absolutely fantastic.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Sweet! Thanks for doing this, Mike! I know you were after a 1st pressing for a while now, so glad it worked out eventually. I have the recent Target edition on silver wax, also cut by BG and pressed at Pallas, so I should be in good hands. 😎

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Please do In Utero next! That's my personal favorite... Really curious to hear your take on these, especially the anniversary remixes from a few years back. Cheers ✌️

[@brentpietrok4758]

I knew about that Pallas press for a while now but after watching this I finally pulled the trigger. Thanks Mike!

[@epg2501]

What a gorgeous Wilson/VTL setup!

[@gustercc]

Jesus Mike! Finally! The shoot out we’ve been waiting for!

[@silentlyunsteadycollecting]

LOL! The I Love Lucy reference....priceless : )

[@TheInGroove]

😀

[@pbthal]

I agree with you on your ordering of these pressings. The OG is king

[@renzonovara2728]

Any idea if they are also using the Bernie Grundman ORG metals for current In Utero pressings?

[@petrirantanen]

I have German misprint copy of this album. Upside down text and monkey pic on a inner sleeve. I have In Utero 2009 pressing. Cream colored and cut by Bernie Grundman. 4000 copies made. Both great sounding presses!

[@casperguylkn]

I had a Simply Vinyl pressing bit I did not like it and sold it years ago. I like the 320 I have now and it's a very thick pressing, B2B issue, just like my In Utero 320 (which also has the all Albini mix). I did buy my 21 year old son a Pallas BG re-issue and watching this video I may now pick up one myself.

[@melovemusic69]

Mike what brand of jacket sleeves do you use as they are pretty noisy. But want to know your preference and on your inner sleeves. I believe I already know you use the mobile fidelity inner but if you could let me know I would appreciate it. Man would love to hear what your system sounds like. Thanks

[@farrellmcnulty909]

Lisltess and un-poop-ular (LOL) - I love it, AND I agree wholeheartedly. I got my club edition from Columbia Rip-off Club at the height of Nevermind's pop - - poopularity, and I think it was buy one, get the other half off, or something like that. C-Fuckin'-RC were so cheap with everything, no custom inner sleeve, the grooves were not as wide as on a different pressing I picked up later. Now I have the 180G thing and it comes with inner sleeve intact, etc., and it's the best I've ever had of it. Now I'm going back to enjoy the rest of your video.

[@lucillechilds9767]

Hello Mike, Great video as always! I own the BG at Pallas 180g the one Mike said was the second best after the OG to my ears it sounds perfect but I'm no expert like Mike. I do have a question for Mike, ORG put out In Utero pressed at Pallas 45rpm is that a good pressing? They are asking like 140.00 and up on eBay.

[@ngt1977]

Are you familiar with Simply Vinyl reissues? Have you listened to them? Thoughts?

[@The90sGamingGuy]

Wow 1,500 for a record that went for sixty to a hundred dollars in 2015. I bought a mint to mint minus original 1st press 90s Nirvana lp lot minus Bleach from an Ebay seller for 230.00 USD. I was so excited and amazed when i looked at the albums when they arrived. They all sound fantastic. Awesome they got the sound right on the 1st pressing. I have that one and it does sound great a keeper for sure. Have you heard the Simply Vinyl edition of Nevermind? Simply Vinyl one sounds pretty good to me. Great comparison video!

[@theboomerscalper]

It’s silly not to get the in print version with Bernie’s mastering. Best $23 bucks you can spend.

[@mikexlr8]

I got mine for that same price and it sounds great.

[@murch13]

Please do more pressing comparisons!

[@kevinwest1607]

That setup is savage af!

[@Artroomrecords]

This was helpful! I’m glad my Palace pressing ranks high in the list. Lol. It’s sounds amazing!

[@Rodri8bit]

Thank you Mike! always valuable information.

[@Anewleaf1975]

You missed The Target limited edition Gray vinyl pressing found me one in Targets back stock been sitting there for two years lmao.. Thinking they didn’t want to have a naked baby and I’m the only one who asked for it.. I’ve got the 180gram Audiophile pressed in Germany mixed by Andy Wallace in the dead wax BG and USA are there same goes for the Target pressing just info

[@nrodulfo]

Thanks for this comparison and your other videos as well, I find them very helpful. I just got the Tone Poet reissue of Dexter Gordon - One Flight Up and was blown away by the sound. I think it’s fantastic but I would be curious to know what and expert like yourself with such an impressive sound system thought about this particular record in comparison to other version... so maybe you could do a shootout of that record some time?

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

It would be very helpful if you put time stamps.

[@rothamps]

I have a production master tape for the original 91 pressing for this. Sounds amazing. No vinyl can touch it.

[@The90sGamingGuy]

How did you get the tape? Could you upload it to You Tube?

[@pizzaz6171]

Believe it or not I don't have a single copy of this on vinyl.Looking for the cut that is current but it shows as sold out at the site. Thanks for the intimate review.

[@zackamania6534]

Go to target.

[@latheofheaven]

Heh, Bro this was amazing! I was hoping from the beginning, do you suppose his 'best' one is actually going to be the 1st pressing. And, YEP! Wow... I've been collection vinyl for over 40 years, just for what I like and up until very recently not really caring about the monetary value at all. Well... When I saw this on Discogs going for $1200 I sat there in shock! I thought, OMG I think I have one of those... I checked... Yep, I bought it when it came out 😊 Whooda thought? AWESOME shootout man, those are my VERY favourites, when you do that. Glad you are there man doing what you do! 👍

[@giovannigobbi4832]

Any chance you'll do a "Selling England By The Pound" episode? That's a tricky one (many don't like the Classic Records one)

[@brandonburroughs7128]

Mike could you please comment a link for the second to last pressing you talked about here? The $25 one that still sounds good and uses the BG mastering? Would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[@Budd1234]

What outer sleeves do you use for your records?

[@montyperkins3590]

“Some of the Back to Black pressings” Any way to tell which B2B pressing was cut from the BG work without looking at the dead wax? My local shop has a copy but seems kinda like a roll of the dice after your comment

[@memyselfmyvinyl894]

I just can't get over this speaker setup.

[@glen-scott]

You know what's really crazy: check out the girth of those speaker cables.

[@utub1473]

Pretty incredible

[@richardmackenzie9551]

Just ordered a Back to Black copy. Hope I get lucky with it. Great comparison Mike. Waited a while for this one... any ideas who may be next??

[@patricknaron]

not gonna lie, my brother and I joined Columbia House and every selection was Nevermind. I think that is the only time I bought something to flip it. I lived in the Pacific Northwest and knew this was going to be special. I was 15 at the time.

[@EricMason0321]

I have the 2013 release which is a Pallas release and has BG and ORG in the dead wax. I have often looked to pick up the MFSL press but haven't, and honestly I can't imagine the album sounding any better than what I have, outside the original of course. Glad to hear the MFSL copy isn't worth picking up.

[@michaelhorgan9525]

Newest version says + BLACK BELT - LEVI + in the dead wax and has no hype sticker. Same barcode as all the other pressings so there is a chance that you might get this if you were to buy it now. My BG has a 180g Pallas sticker but i have no idea where this new one is being pressed. Discogs says it came out in 2022 and maybe the label did not like the RKS cut so they chose to do a new one.

[@michaelhorgan9525]

It also uses the same UPC as the BG and 320 cut.

[@MitchsVinylCorner]

Mike great video! I went out and bought the Bernie/Pallas press for $25 and was blown away! Have you considered doing a shoot out of Pearl Jam’s Ten? That would be a great video.

[@beeswax8901]

I just got an original 1991 US pressing on vinyl. I played it and it sounded really good. Didn’t even pay the 800-1500 that it’s going for these days.

[@jeffwurstfinger3389]

I own the first german release from sonopress with the misprint. Not the european one from harlem. i bought it when i was 15 and it still sounds best.

[@josefbuckland]

WOW I’m surprised a little with the first one

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Great video Mike as always..thanks

[@HoomanR17]

Mike, great shoot out. A related though off topic question about CRC. The CRC of this record was cut in the same year but different matrix #s and as you put it, sucks.. I am considering a Led Zepelin II "RL" cut on both sides record that is also a CRC.. are CRC versions to be avoided or is this related to just this record and would not be the case with the zeppelin?

[@SSSweeper]

Really glad my impressions of different pressings (although I only checked the comparison on YT by Russian vinyl enthusiast Valeron, whose ranking also went similar to what Michael told here) are pretty close to those presented in the video. I'll just add a couple bits just for information: - the original early 2000s (I bet 2001) 320 pressings that were released in Germany by Universal had a sticker that the master tape was used (Discogs has some photos on those entries) and at that factory in Hannover, to which 320 refers as noted by collectors, tapes were the usual starting point as late Willem Makkee mentioned in an interview. - interesting thing for me was that both the original pressing and ORG/BG cut had much more details in the midrange in comparison even to MFSL. I remember some SHF members noted that ORG sounds bright in their systems, but that's probably because the midrange was a bit bumped overall, but not to an unbearable extent. Regardless, I felt that after ORG/BG the original seems to be a bit "V-shaped", but still better then other pressings. Would've been interesting though to see Simply Vinyl copy in the shoutout as well (even though it's said that it doesn't sound as good as other pressings). Anyway, another great review which really covered I guess most of the important versions of this album.

[@yevernotice9408]

Used to shop at your store often. Pretty cool to find you on KZbin.

[@BeholdTheVision]

What's the best record to get some low-end for - Metallica "And Justice for All" ???

[@justcoolthings]

Thank for all the great video’s Mike. What about the 180 grams reprint? Do you have Any listening experience on that version? Thanks, Mark

[@SamuelRivera_DAMN]

I would say the original pressing from the country of origin is 90% the best-sounding version. Now I'm on the hunt for a 1st pressing. Thanks Mike!

[@michaeledwards7668]

Need to do best sounding Unplugged an or In Utero!

[@austinhunt4260]

UNPLUGGED would be cool, but it’s probably the recent 25th anniversary. I’m just guessing. But IN UTERO would be awesome. I just listened to Albini’s 20th anniversary pressing and it’s just fantastic. I’ve heard it’s not the best necessarily (depending on your preferred mix), but the 2013 is just an incredible experience. Puts you right there for sure.

[@HeyLiem]

I remember buying cassette tapes, before CDs became popular in the 1980s. I would often make my own anthologies by recording my vinyl records onto cassette tapes for the car. But they never sounded better than the factory made cassette tape of just one album from the official record label. That's what I think of the Columbia record club. It was quite tempting to get eight albums to join the club and then one album per month, but even the CRC LP vinyl albums sounded like they were secondhand recordings, like I made at home, as if they used the original record label copy to make a brand new master which was obviously second generation. Thanks for the memories in this video episode, but no thanks to the Columbia record club.

[@joesuburb]

Thanks for filming and posting, I'd be interested in hearing your opinion of how the first European pressing compares to the first US pressing if you ever get a copy of the former, thanks!

[@TheInGroove]

I have. They are not close. The US Maserdisk it in a league of its own.

[@joesuburb]

@@TheInGroove thanks, much appreciated!

[@reesdog1]

Hey Mike, great vid man. I have a Euro original of Nevermind, which sounds absolutely damn awesome. Is it comparable and/or as good as the US original pressing for sound quality?

[@sonicyouth29]

Yes thanks for doing this Mike

[@lanakias1]

Anyone knows if the masterdisk original US version is all analogue or not?

[@Kevin_Hanrahan]

Excellent video. Would love to see an In Utero shoot out.

[@simonwilliams1952]

Thanks Mike! Do you have an opinion on the 1st European pressing vs the U.S one?

[@matt6587]

was wondering about this myself

[@marcallain]

yeah I wished he would've done it. I guess I should just do it myself as I have both.

[@simonwilliams1952]

Be interested to hear your thoughts. I’ll be dammed if I’m spending £900+ on a US copy to find out 😂

[@RoseannaMay98]

How do I find out which is the Bernie Grundman release when buying online or in store without opening it?

[@MrKelleyzinho]

What's the consensus opinion about the sound of 30th Anniversary LP? It's remastered by Randy Merrill, the lacquer is cut by RKS, and it's pressed by GZ Media. Given that the consensus is that the Bernie Grundman Pallas pressings are great, why is this an entirely new version?

[@booom4849]

Not everyone likes the BG cut, cause it's a bit ear piercing when playing loud. I guess that's an issue with the mix in general. My first impression is that the 30th master turned down the cymbals, which is a good thing. It's not AAA though, so it's a trade off.

[@booom4849]

Ohh well, I just compared it to the BG, it's really night and day. The BG is so much better! Doesn't mean the BG is perfect, but digital needs to get much much better before they should try to improve upon an AAA cut again.

[@gotham61]

Yikes, guess I’d better put my US original in a nice new outer sleeve! I had no clue it had gone that nuts. I never stopped buying vinyl when a title was available in the format. That’s proving to be a good investment.