Audiophile Reissue label founded by a former ABC/Dunhill Exec in 1986. Famous for their Audiophile Vinyl and Gold CD’s cut from original master tapes from the Sony and ABC catalog. Steve Hoffman was the main mastering engineer using an all analog, tube based mastering chain. Their Door’s reissues were the last reissues made from the original first generation master tapes. Closed down in 2001 before the vinyl resurgence but many of their audiophile titles are still in demand today.

The first ever Audiophile Reissue label started in 1977 by Brad Miller a former recording engineer. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab was started due to the lack of quality control in the vinyl industry due to using suspect master tapes, thin and noisy vinyl compounds and in general cost cutting. They were known for only using the original master tapes and using the finest vinyl compound developed by JVC in Japan. The company was purchased in 2001 by Jim Davis of Music Direct, a direct-to-consumer audiophile vinyl and equipment company, and is still in operation today developing new technologies such as One-Step pressings, 45 RPM pressings, SACD’s (Super Audio Compact Discs) and More.

Founded in Salina, Kansas in 1986 by Chad Kassem, Analogue Productions has climbed the ranks of Audiophile Reissue labels being the main competitor for Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL/MOFI) and is still in business today. Their biggest move was purchasing Classic Records another Audiophile label in 2010 and acquired all of their plates for mastering including dozens of quality audiophile titles including the Led Zeppelin catalog. Analogue Productions specialises in Audiophile Vinyl, SACD’s, Their Special Audiophile Pressing UHQR (ULTRA HIGH QUALITY RECORD) and High Resolution Digital Downloads. Today Analogue Productions is the world leader in Audiophile Vinyl.

Classic Records in an Audiophile Label started in the mid 1990’s by Michael Hobson in New York City but later moved to Los Angeles, Ca. Classic Records was famous along with the engineers at RTI (Record Technology Inc.) for the invention of Clarity Vinyl which essentially omits the carbon black from the vinyl compound making a milky clear vinyl record that is quieter than a standard black vinyl pressing. Classic Records was also known for exclusively using legendary mastering engineer Bernie Grundman for their quality audiophile vinyl reissues. Classic Records was purchased by Analogue Productions another Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Label in 2010.

An Audiophile Label started in Germany in the mid-1990s offering All Analog vinyl pressings and pressed on the finest virgin vinyl at RTI (Record Technology INC.) in California. Still operating today and is the main competitor for Analogue Productions and Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.

What is a quality original pressing? A quality original pressing is a pop/rock, jazz, funk/soul, hip-hop or other vinyl record from the 1950’s-1990’s that has been cared for with no scratches, sleeve scuffs on the record and little to no wear on the album jacket. Essentially a well cared for vinyl record that is rare and desirable not only due to the title and the artist but also due to the impeccable condition.

Gold Compact Discs are similar to a standard compact disc but rather using aluminum for the reflective layer it typically uses 24 K Gold plating in order to fight corrosion making for a more premium compact disc. They can be played in any regular CD player and have been manufactured by such labels as Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL/MOFI), DCC Compact Classics and Audio Fidelity. The Gold CD has been replaced by a new technology called the Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD).

The Super Audio Compact Disc was developed by Sony and Phillips and it differs from a standard compact disc as it contains an extra layer of information that allows playback to have more fidelity and dynamic range. SACDs can also be Hybrid SACDs with also have a standard rebook cd layer in order for them to be player on either
SACD or Standard CD players. SACDs can also have extra layers that include 5.1 surround sound mixes. SACDs are still being manufactured today and remain a mainstay in the audiophile community with labels such as Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL, MOFI), Analogue Productions and Sony Music.