AXIS on UHQR - Revisiting Analogue Productions first UHQR - Jimi Hendrix - Axis Bold As Love
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2024
- With all the excitement around the newest UHQR, Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced(reviewed here: • UHQR - Jimi Hendrix Ex... ), I though I'd take a look back at the first of the Analogue Productions UHQRs, Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis Bold As Love.I also take the opportunity to compare it to the 2010 Marino mastering, a very well regarded edition that has now been repressed from the same plates by QRP (see links below). There was a definite standout but it wasn't as clear as in the case of Are You Experienced. We are lucky to have so many great and affordable editions available now, as these are two essential rock albums no one should be without!
Amazon Links
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis Bold As Love (2010 Marino mastering, repressed by QRP) $14.87!
• UHQR - Jimi Hendrix Ex...
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced (2010 Marino mastering, repressed by QRP) $13.87!
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#uhqr #jimihendrix #audiophile
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Please watch: "RCA Living Stereo - Analogue Productions Resurrects A Legendary Label"
• Golden Age Classical R...
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Yeah I missed on the UHQR pressing. After a long Time away from collecting vinyl. Thanks for your input on the Marino pressing. I will pick that up. It’s about timing and no way will I pay what people are paying for this UHQR release. I listen to all of my One Step’s, Step, etc types of releases and I agree that one should listen to them.
Hi Brian. Yes, that kind of price on any record is a no-go for me. Fortunately a great alternative exists for $14.89!!
My comparison review:
Being lucky enough to get one of the very last copies available, although still number 3507 strangely enough, I decided to compare very in depth with my UK track original and Sterling 2010 cut.
At first I went in expecting everything to be improved across the board, however that turns out to be rather high expectations even for 100$. The others were from tape as well after all.
On a first impression basis its easy to note some of the advantages for the UHQR, having great presence and detail all around. But I examined most tracks one after another to be as fair as can be.
briefly, I must mention that I love the decision to finally bring out Jimi's vocals on the opening radio track, EXP. It was always so quite and buried, making me fantasize about adjusting that part if I ever were to master this album myself. Im glad Grundman and I could agree on this small detail change, and perhaps it was already on his other cuts of the album like the Mono Classic or Sony, but I digress.
Starting out with the UK and moving up to the Sterling I was enjoying the overall louder and more clear mastering, which really sounds well rounded to me even still, bringing the bass and crispness up a hefty amount.
Its too bad then that the UHQR actually decides to shy out somewhat on the bass in comparison, even compared to the UK on some parts, but this is mostly because of their EQs. Its less loose and still audible mind you, but doesn't have much impact unlike the Sterling.
On the other hand, Grundman, as he usually likes to do, brings out the drums just oh so well. Its the most striking difference Id say, combined with the slightly superior presence and punch of the UHQR, as well as the refinement which I have no idea how the man does it, just makes the cymbals and reverb so lush and brimming with realism, to the extent which the tape allows anyway. Its near Jazz album levels of sweetness.
My UK Track is also quite nice in this regard but with the lack of presence it really doesn't do much for the cut in the end.
Vocals also have a somewhat more in the room conjuration but it really goes for the entire mid range frequencies.
As always, Grundman also separates and projects all the sounds so masterfully in the soundstage. A great example of this is the guitar on Spanish Castle Magic where certain notes I never picked up on before really struck me as more highlighted, perhaps even manually like the intro vocals.
However, one downside to all these positives is the tape hiss. Fortunately this is rarely a big issue but it is vastly more audible on certain parts compared to the Sterling or UK. The EXP intro for example, as mentioned Jimi's line is brought out more but its clear to hear that the tape hiss increases right before he speaks.
This doesn't mean that its louder necessarily, in fact the Sterling is the loudest but doesn't suffer from this at all from a listeners perspective. It is audible here too, like at the end of Castles Made of Sand, but never bothered me. On the UHQR it does somewhat take me out of it and hampers the immersion on that song.
One aspect which can not be determined through song by song listening though, is ear fatigue. Its likely the most damning aspect of the Sterling cut and if it wasn't for it I would be harder pressed to decide on a favorite release.
This is something I never did quite feel with the UK or UHQR, they simply are less harsh somehow, probably with the more refined drums on Grundmans cut and the overall more laid back performance of the UK, coupled with its lower EQ which at times muffles vocals too much.
Lastly, one should lead into the pressing quality of each. There was much talk of the UHQRs high quality pressing method, borrowed from Classic Records, the packaging also includes information on it. Although I cant say its the quietest pressing Ive heard, its more than enough so, as the aforementioned tape hiss overrides any amazing pressing quality. My Sterling is near dead quiet for its playing levels anyway, and who would ever demanded more? Unfortunately my UK is a bit crackly, as most copies these days, and I really suggest anyone finding a close to NM example if they want to fully enjoy this release. Not to mention it needing to be played about 30% louder than your average record, which only adds to the problem.
In the end, Im quite happy with all my purchases, neither of them will surely lose their value.
To summarize:
The UHQR is a midrange king, with amazing presence and detail, only suffering from tape hiss and slight lack of bass.
The Sterling is a modern like approach with crispness and bass to boot, but being slightly harsh and artificial at times.
The UK is a laid back yet mostly natural sounding piece of history, dropping points for lack of presence and muffling.
Personal Current Ranking:
1. UHQR
2. Sterling
3. UK Track
?. US Steamboat
Hi Leon, I think you were right on point with your assessment. Excellent commentary. Thank you so much for contributing this review to the comments here.
I missed this one but I have the classic records mono which I love .
Hi Tony, in my opinion, that Classic is a must have. I personally like the mono better than stereo in some ways. If you don't have the stereo, the Marino cut is a great buy. I saw it on Amazon for under $15!
I thoroughly enjoyed this video "experience"...nice!!
Hey David! Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I bet you have the original pressings!
@@ThePressingMatters Yep,an OG MONO is my treasure and fave album of all time!
@@VagueRANT100 i love it in mono too. Fantastic!
According to an article I read from the New York Times, most of John Coltrane's Impulse masters were lost in the 2008 Universal fire. Wonder what masters AP uses for these new reissues?
I don't know, the whole fire incident - they don't want to say much about it. I'd imagine there are other analog tapes (safety copies, copies originally destined for other countries that could be used. Perhaps not the original master but still all analogue. In other words I don't know and no one's talking, lol.
The UHQR’s of both Axis and Experienced are dialed down in volume a bit. But they sound Amazing! The Marino cuts are absolutely fantastic as well, but they are HOT for sure. Axis should always be heard in stereo. I’ve heard the mono and it is Definitely nowhere near as good and feels like it’s missing so much! Too much! I couldn’t even enjoy it and took it off the table. Prior to that I had only heard it in stereo my entire life. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t enjoy the mono. I will go out on a limb (because I firmly believe it) and say ALL psychedelic rock should Definitely be played in stereo
Hi Thomas! I don't know why but there is something I like about the mono, as an alternate. But this is definitely a stereo designed album and should be listened to that way in general. Nice to have so many great options, many very affordable. Thank you so much for your comment. Nice to hear another perspective on this matter for sure!
@@ThePressingMatters Yeah it took me a minute to get used to the Experienced UHQR volume level as opposed to the Marino cut. But I love it more and more every time I play it. And I'm hearing more details in the UHQR. Subtle but definitely noticeable if you know this album like I do