However, the bottomline is, in my opinion, this LP is a very respectable production. I have quite a few newly produced LPs of Bollywood films, paying more than what I paid for this one.
Incidentally when i first got the LP i found it thin sounding and lacking body for several songs ................ better than the Flacs i have heard by a huge margin on my setup
Couple of folks mentioned about the CD sounding better though. I do have a view on A/B between LP and CD and why it is never a great idea
When we compare 2 mediums we are not just comparing a CD vs LP but the LP+ TT++ cartridge+Phono to the CD + CD player (+ dac)
too many variables which change sound to do an objective A/B. a A/B works well only if you are able to change one parameter...here there are too many
I dont have any of the original CDs ( Indian pressings anyway are not great)
Given that the masters are digital, the pressings are very very good, I must say. I think the efforts put in by arjun and prem (after the birth of the initial idea) have been worth it. A sincere and hearty congratulations to both of them.
The Saathiya songs have that slight edge reminding us of their digital origin. But in the vinyl form, the vocals are devoid of any sibilance that my CD version unfortunately carries. Saathiya songs are also remarkably clean (sonically). The original recording and mastering, albeit digital, was indeed of high quality. Overall, the vinyl is much better than the CD, one just needs to listen to the "Chupke se" song and listen and compare Sadhna Sargam's voice. That voice comes out gorgeously well in the vinyl, sparkling yet not biting (which the CD is, at times).
Takshak songs are more full-bodied, I agree. And, there is a tad more instrument separation in these songs. I just loved the initial tabla pieces just before Ashaji's passage. Asha ji and Roopkumar sound fabulous and involving.
If this is the result, I think we should do it again. I have paid much much more for vinyl, and got much less quality, in the past.
At the end, I must admit of one disclaimer here. Both my amp and phono pre-amp are fully tubed instruments. Even my CDP has a tube in the output stage. Hence all my judgements may not be valid for people who are using completely solid state stuff.
well, congratulations everyone for success of this venture. arj prem and others who wholeheartedly took pains- a huge round of applause from my side.
now lets talk about whether this vinyl revival and higher sales kinda stuff is worth or not.
i have no qualms with this vinyl. its great.
i have seen many posts with members claiming they would love to be part of such projects in future too. that might even be me.
but for future ventures, ( and i m thinking not just a few titles, i am thinking of a possibility where a lot of titles get released) we have a lot to consider.
since people up there are listening and are equally sincere in improving the vinyl ecosystem, few things should be discussed.
the cost of lp to us was around 800 a pop, although sony sold them @1.5k, these songs on wav format are available at 100-200rs max. as a dedicated listener, if a listener has to go for 20-30 such vinyls, it makes much more sense for him to invest on a good cdp. especially since there might be a 100 more titles from 1995 onwards that may not even get released on vinyl.
what would you choose? songs on vinyl by paying 1.5k or on cd for 150inr? is the difference in sound enough to justify the price gap?
lets face it. there were many members who ordered the lp without even owning a TT just as their token of support to this venture. hats off to their spirit. a few more who increased the numbers of lps they ordered just to meet the minimum requirement of 300 lps. unless we have really better sound to talk about on vinyl, i dont see lot of people returning to next venture. moreover
in its peak, vinyls offered sound unmatched by any other medium and were sold at even twice the price of a cassette. today, if its only as good as a wav that costs 1/10th of lp but offers comparable sound, we need to improve things. and we can because people higher up are taking our feedbacks seriously.
i d love to buy a lot of newer music on vinyl if it retails for 2-3 hundred a title. but not if newer formats offer same clarity at any level.
at 1-1.5k a title, it s not sensible to be a mainstream source again which is a pity.
i d love to see lots of new latest titles releasing on vinyl hereforth and proudly say, we at HFV did a lot towards that revival.