Of the Classic Records reissues, I find most of the 33rpm RCA releases hard and bright sounding (in their own right and not by comparison to what an original sounds like). They have great clarity, dynamics and frequency extension, but many will peel paint from the walls at 10 paces. When Bernie Grundman switched to a tube mastering chain, things improved. And, every 45rpm reissue significantly improves on the 33rpm. Records I found unlistenable in their 33rpm incarnation sound wonderful in their 45rpm re-birth (examples: Sibelius Finlandia by Mackerras; Shostakovich Age of Gold Ballet Suite). I've found all the 45rpm issues consistently very worthwhile.
Of the six Mercury reissues Classic Records released, I think the Stravinsky Firebird is outstanding and the 45rpm version of this is simply mind boggling on a system that can reproduce it. (I have heard it sound horrible on some systems, but that's the system not the LP.) I also thought the Prokofiev Scythian Suite was well done, particularly the 45. The other Classic Records Mercury reissues disappointed me.
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Of the six Mercury reissues Classic Records released, I think the Stravinsky Firebird is outstanding and the 45rpm version of this is simply mind boggling on a system that can reproduce it. (I have heard it sound horrible on some systems, but that's the system not the LP.) I also thought the Prokofiev Scythian Suite was well done, particularly the 45. The other Classic Records Mercury reissues disappointed me.
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