The incredible world of audiophile records. (1)
Sara K - Miles Away (Official Audio)
Dear little friends, if you frequent CVS, you are vinyl fetishists (like myself) and, therefore, you cannot help but be drawn to the "FANTASTIC WORLD OF AUDIOPHILE RECORDS"!
There exists - for those who don't know - a market of records and labels whose value (beyond the specific value of the music) is determined by the attention given to the "audiophile" quality of the medium in question.
Labels like Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (the first and - for me - the best), Telarc, Sheffield Lab, Nautilus, etc. etc. reissued and pressed certain titles using equipment and techniques that were supposed to enhance and preserve their sonic performance.
In Italy, they arrived after (just to change things up) the main European and non-European markets and, also due to the usual - reckless - bizarre pricing policy enforced by record companies, they had very little success.
Nevertheless, the techniques used were often incredible, esoteric, imaginative, magical...
From the weight of the vinyl (strictly 180 grams - although I know of experiments at 230 grams), to the recording speed, from the chemical quality of the vinyl to the equipment used to "perfectly flatten" them. Imagine that some of these treated CDs "cryogenically"...
In short, there is an entire subculture of records whose value, more than strictly musical, is "audiophile". They are sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, played at exhibitions, in stores, and in the homes of audiophiles wanting to show what their setups are capable of...
I'll present a few to you.
I’ll start with this "Closer than they appear" by Sara K, from 1992 (if I remember correctly...), on Chesky Records, a decent jazz artist, an album featuring direct-to-disc recordings of vocals and acoustic instruments, stunning for their naturalness, imaging, and realism.
One of the most played records at hi-fi shows.