Better late than never! The more people share their thoughts on titles with a reasonable approach the stronger the Jazz vinyl community grows. Keep up the good work!
I watched this 'after' I received my copies of the Tone Poets mono and stereo. Your channel showed up in my feed for some reason, and I hit play. You confirmed my reasons for purchasing, which was nice but I want to echo what @xentakis said below. I subbed because this channel seems to be "...better informed than most other channels." Thanks.
Nice review! I enjoy your Instagram posts as well. I’m regards to the sub bass, Rudy and most mastering engineers back then used a high pass filter that would cut out low frequencies below a certain threshold. Too much bass would skip the needle on commercial turntables back in the day. We don’t have that problem now since the average turntable people are using these days is much better. Because of that, Kevin Gray is not high passing the masters on these new reissues. I think that the bass vacuum sound your referring to is probably somebody bumping into a mic.
Aloha Thank you for your review, I purchased both Stereo and Mono versions of the Tone Poet Blue Train, I do have other versions also, a Japanese Pressing & a Color Pressing that sounds ok, now I can get rid of those 2 Pressings, & Keep the Tone Poet ones. Thanks again for sharing your review. Mahalo Ed
Great video! I have a Liberty stereo with RVG stamps that I always enjoy listening to. After watching this video, I decided to buy the Tone Poet stereo too 😄 Very curious about the improvements!
Your review on this subject was very complete. You were the only one mentioned about Lee Morgan’s horn sound, I heard the same sound only from his soles, I thought he was probably moving too close to the mike creating a form of feed back through my speakers, or something, this was on the stereo copy. It only happen with Morgan, plus there is another cut where it happened but not as bad as on blue train.
great review, thanks for sharing your opinion. I am also a MONO fan but I did buy both when they initially came out and feel i never have to buy another copy of this
I only bought the mono because I figured I wouldn't listen to the extra stereo Disc more than once, however, the booklet could have been done on both editions. Great video!
Not heard the TP presses of blue train but have a lot of others TPs. My take is that RVG master have a live rawness or heat that I never found any reissue that is even close. If you just listen to the sound TPs is probably better but for me it is not just the feeling of an old pressing is it some other magic. With that said just keep it up! Think you’re videos is awesome.
thanks, I don't know what exactly has happened to my listening preferences lately, as I preferred the originals exclusively for so many years, and then recently either the reissues have just gotten that much better, or some of the reissue labels have convinced me that their sound is how I should be hearing this music. They don't win every time - the Grant Green Sunday Mornin' shootout is a good example where I preferred the original, I guess it just depends. And in the end, there isn't a right answer, just our subjective preferences. Appreciate the kind words!
Hi Chris. Thanks for another great comparison/review. I also did A/B test between my US OG mono and the Tone Poet mono. I agree with you, both sound good. Like you said, it’s intimacy/presence (OG mono pressing) vs. lower noise floor and more detail/clarity (Tone Poet mono). The OG is bit brighter, while this 3rd Kevin Gray cut is darker with more bass. I couldn’t choose one as the definitive/best version, I enjoy them both 🤷🏻♂️
I would say keep all four copies because it’s a historical point in time. You have a test press another stereo from earlier (this puts you into Vangelder’s headspace) and the tone poets, it’s an old vs new, but those older copies bring content to what the Tone Poets are all about
Very well presented. I do have one question; the general consensus is that we don’t need a mono cartridge to play mono releases. I have both cartridges and I just don’t see how these can be fairly evaluated with out using the specific cart. I absolutely love my Music Matters mono Blue Train played with the mono cart even though it is relatively inexpensive compared to my stereo cart. With the mono cart there is so much punch and detail. I want to say that if it really doesn’t matter the cartridge you used, then the only thing that matters is that you enjoy and keep the one you prefer. Enjoyed your thoughts and professionalism!
I was fortunately enough to first get a Music Matters original and then an SRX when it was first released and then another SRX when they released the 2nd batch. I was gonna flip it, but I haven’t flipped anything I’ve purchased so why start now. But anyway I’ve been listening to the SRX only since it arrived a few years ago. Until I got the KOB UHQR last month this SRX was the BEST sounding album in my entire collection. Now I was a little confused because my Liberty is a stereo and the SRX is a mono, but there was not separation in either. It sounds like both sound stages are smack in the middle. So I ordered both Tone Poets for the mere fact that the stereo had a booklet and I wanted to compare both mono’s. I still give the SRX the edge because of the detail I here especially in the opening Curtis Fuller into. Like I can actually hear him spitting into his mouthpiece on it. Well anyway. Thanks for the post. Great job as always.
Very interesting. I’ll have to see if I can’t find someone local with the SRX so I can hear it. That series has such a great reputation, I don’t doubt it sounds great
Maybe late, but this was the best comparison I’ve seen. Definitely better informed than most other channels.
Much appreciated!
Better late than never! The more people share their thoughts on titles with a reasonable approach the stronger the Jazz vinyl community grows. Keep up the good work!
I watched this 'after' I received my copies of the Tone Poets mono and stereo. Your channel showed up in my feed for some reason, and I hit play. You confirmed my reasons for purchasing, which was nice but I want to echo what @xentakis said below. I subbed because this channel seems to be "...better informed than most other channels." Thanks.
Nice review! I enjoy your Instagram posts as well. I’m regards to the sub bass, Rudy and most mastering engineers back then used a high pass filter that would cut out low frequencies below a certain threshold. Too much bass would skip the needle on commercial turntables back in the day. We don’t have that problem now since the average turntable people are using these days is much better. Because of that, Kevin Gray is not high passing the masters on these new reissues. I think that the bass vacuum sound your referring to is probably somebody bumping into a mic.
Well that’s a very interesting and likely theory. Hmm.
Aloha
Thank you for your review, I purchased both Stereo and Mono versions of the Tone Poet Blue Train, I do have other versions also,
a Japanese Pressing & a Color Pressing that sounds ok, now I can get rid of those 2 Pressings, & Keep the Tone Poet ones. Thanks again for sharing your review.
Mahalo Ed
Great video! I have a Liberty stereo with RVG stamps that I always enjoy listening to. After watching this video, I decided to buy the Tone Poet stereo too 😄 Very curious about the improvements!
Your review on this subject was very complete. You were the only one mentioned about Lee Morgan’s horn sound, I heard the same sound only from his soles, I thought he was probably moving too close to the mike creating a form of feed back through my speakers, or something, this was on the stereo copy. It only happen with Morgan, plus there is another cut where it happened but not as bad as on blue train.
Oh interesting. I mean it is weird I was thinking about adjusting my levels just for this recording. Hmm…
Very well done review video! I wish I had the OG.
Thanks!
great review, thanks for sharing your opinion. I am also a MONO fan but I did buy both when they initially came out and feel i never have to buy another copy of this
I only bought the mono because I figured I wouldn't listen to the extra stereo Disc more than once, however, the booklet could have been done on both editions. Great video!
Not heard the TP presses of blue train but have a lot of others TPs. My take is that RVG master have a live rawness or heat that I never found any reissue that is even close. If you just listen to the sound TPs is probably better but for me it is not just the feeling of an old pressing is it some other magic. With that said just keep it up! Think you’re videos is awesome.
thanks, I don't know what exactly has happened to my listening preferences lately, as I preferred the originals exclusively for so many years, and then recently either the reissues have just gotten that much better, or some of the reissue labels have convinced me that their sound is how I should be hearing this music. They don't win every time - the Grant Green Sunday Mornin' shootout is a good example where I preferred the original, I guess it just depends. And in the end, there isn't a right answer, just our subjective preferences. Appreciate the kind words!
Hi Chris. Thanks for another great comparison/review. I also did A/B test between my US OG mono and the Tone Poet mono. I agree with you, both sound good. Like you said, it’s intimacy/presence (OG mono pressing) vs. lower noise floor and more detail/clarity (Tone Poet mono). The OG is bit brighter, while this 3rd Kevin Gray cut is darker with more bass. I couldn’t choose one as the definitive/best version, I enjoy them both 🤷🏻♂️
And there’s nothing wrong with that, each of the available copies seem like winners
I would say keep all four copies because it’s a historical point in time. You have a test press another stereo from earlier (this puts you into Vangelder’s headspace) and the tone poets, it’s an old vs new, but those older copies bring content to what the Tone Poets are all about
Very well presented. I do have one question; the general consensus is that we don’t need a mono cartridge to play mono releases. I have both cartridges and I just don’t see how these can be fairly evaluated with out using the specific cart. I absolutely love my Music Matters mono Blue Train played with the mono cart even though it is relatively inexpensive compared to my stereo cart. With the mono cart there is so much punch and detail. I want to say that if it really doesn’t matter the cartridge you used, then the only thing that matters is that you enjoy and keep the one you prefer. Enjoyed your thoughts and professionalism!
Great review👍 And which cartridge do you use to listen to mono recordings?
Nice in depth review!
Great video man. Thanks 👍
Maybe I will try and adjust the settings on the phone pre amplifier also….
... now you just have to get the stereo 45 to do a 5-way comparison ;)
I was fortunately enough to first get a Music Matters original and then an SRX when it was first released and then another SRX when they released the 2nd batch. I was gonna flip it, but I haven’t flipped anything I’ve purchased so why start now. But anyway I’ve been listening to the SRX only since it arrived a few years ago. Until I got the KOB UHQR last month this SRX was the BEST sounding album in my entire collection. Now I was a little confused because my Liberty is a stereo and the SRX is a mono, but there was not separation in either. It sounds like both sound stages are smack in the middle. So I ordered both Tone Poets for the mere fact that the stereo had a booklet and I wanted to compare both mono’s. I still give the SRX the edge because of the detail I here especially in the opening Curtis Fuller into. Like I can actually hear him spitting into his mouthpiece on it. Well anyway. Thanks for the post. Great job as always.
Very interesting. I’ll have to see if I can’t find someone local with the SRX so I can hear it. That series has such a great reputation, I don’t doubt it sounds great
Thanks for this detailed comparison. I learned why I might like one more over another and so I have homework now. 🙃
Yeah, never order direct from Bluenote. Fulfillment is not their strong suit.
yep, that's what I've come to find out. sigh
STILL AWAITING BN CLASSIC TO REISSUE THE 1568
yes, I'm totally here for that