Audiophile
What is an audiophile pressing?
- Mastered from the original analogue tape that the music was recorded to. (Some non-audiophile reissues are mastered from a copy of the original tape, not the original itself. This can result in a loss of detail in the music.)
- Mastering done by the best engineers in the industry. (ex. Kevin Gray, Steve Hoffman, Bernie Grundman)
- Vinyl pressed in smaller runs (1,000 copies or less per stamper) resulting in higher Quality Control.
- Audiophile records are pressed at either 33 1/3 RPM or 45 RPM. Wider 45 RPM grooves and faster speed allow for more information on each disc and less distortion.
- Often mastered using half-speed mastering in which sound is transferred from the tape to the disc while the cutting lathe moves at half-speed resulting in more detail.
- 100% virgin vinyl – other records both vintage and new are often made of partially recycled vinyl.
