Beethoven Ikuyo Kamiya Piano Sonata 45 RPM Direct Disc Japan Press LP RCD-4

$

27

Ikuyo Kamiya, Pianist, Bosendorfer Imperial Piano
Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata"
RCA RDC-4
45 RPM Direct To Disc Concert Hall Recording
Includes A 4-Page  Recording Process Technical Booklet In English
Original Limited Edition Release

Item Details
Manufactured in: Japan by RVC Corporation, Tokyo Japan
Recorded: 1977 At Iruma Metropolitan Hall, Saitama, Japan
Pressing By: Victor Company Of Japan, Record Division LTD, Yokohama, Japan
Original Issue: 1977
This Issue: 1977
Label: RCA RDC-4
Runout Deadwax Matrix Numbers:
Side 1: (stamp:) L HDC 11 132 ? ? ? (etch:) S
Side 2: (stamp:) L HDC 12 131 ? ? (etch:) ?
Twelve inch 45 RPM vinyl has sonic advantages over 33 RPM versions. There is more audio information in the groove per linear distance of stylus travel. If each side is not too long the curvature of the groove never equals or exceeds the diameter of the playback stylus. Therefore, on the innermost grooves there is more high frequency extension and less distortion. 45 RPM mastering also allows a cutting level about 5 dB higher than 33 RPM so this can increase the signal to noise ratio. The higher peak levels means wider dynamic range.

Was bought new by this seller many years ago and now offered from his private collection (you have absolutely known provenance). Has had limited plays only on an expertly setup high-end audiophile turntable, arm, and cartridge. Has never been exposed to heat or tobacco smoke and always stored vertically in a specially designed record cabinet (Rackit) to prevent warpage.
Was cleaned on a VPI HW 16 with Audio Intelligent solutions and ultra-pure water rinse (50X purer than distilled water) before my pre-sale sound check. I wear nitrile surgical gloves while cleaning and play testing to avoid any chance of transferring finger oils to the vinyl.

Very sensitive play testing was performed straight off my Ayre P-5xe fully balanced phono preamp over Sennheiser HD 600 headphones using a Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 tube headphone amp fitted with Voskhod Soviet matched tubes (see last photo).

Track list
1: Allegro Assai.

2: Andante Con Moto, Allegro Ma Non Troppo.

I never take "distant" photos nor the so-prevalent type with the LP sticking halfway out of the jacket. I take close-ups under photo lamps so you can see nearly everything I describe in the jacket grading. It is virtually impossible to know the true vinyl condition from any photograph. That takes very bright and close visual inspection PLUS play testing with thorough coverage on high resolution equipment.
Grading Details
Note: Record grading by text characters is subjective and does not fully describe quality levels. Please see photos and my detailed descriptions below.

Outer Jacket Inspection:
VG++/VG++
There is a mild amount of rubbing wear on the corners and top/bottom edges. By tilting in bright light I could see some mild ring wear on the front but it is not obvious when looking directly at the front. The jacket rear had some paper age-yellowing around all four edges. The rear also has some ring wear similar to the front but less so. Please examine my photos carefully so you can judge the grading to your own personal opinion.

Vinyl visual inspection:
After cleaning, surface visuals were inspected under high intensity halogen light. I rotated and tilted the record in multiple angles with my eyes a few inches away from the vinyl. Both side looked visually perfect.

Play Testing:
NM/NM-
Extensive play testing was performed after visual inspection. I listened to a good share of each side because the musical performance was so compelling and the recording so unique. I also listened to all lead-in and lead-out grooves. Some portions were played all the way thru when digitizing my favorites to 192k/24-bit WAV files. Continuous written notes were taken. Here is rundown of each side from my notes.

Side 1 Play
At the start of side 1 I thought I could hear some random high frequency ticks making me think the vinyl was not as quiet as the average audiophile pressing. But then the first crescendo hit and nearly deafened me. I started out with my headphone amp up way too high. This LP has the widest dynamic range of any LP I can recall in my collection. The peak levels just seem to have no limit. As side 1 continued on, the vinyl noise floor kept getting quieter and quieter on softer passages while the peaks got more explosive. I don't know of any other classical direct disc recording made right in the concert hall by dismantling a studio cutting system and reassembling it in the dressing room. All that work and attention to setup paid off in a spectacular analog master lacquer. I found the performance and audio quality to be extraordinary. 

Side 2 Play
Side 2 was my favorite musically and I recorded a digital master of the gorgeous Andante Con Moto section. This side has quieter vinyl than Side 1 and that made the dynamics even more impressive. The play quality was mint fresh all the way through the side but there was a couple of repeating ticks right about the last 2 grooves. I took a second visual check and with tiling and rotating until I discovered a very short reflective line that looked like a fine needle drag. Its very transient and right at the very end of the music. It didn't take anything away from my total satisfaction of that side but its only fair to let you know about it.

Packaging

• Record will be placed outside the jacket to protect against seam splitting.
• Original inner sleeve is included separately.
• Original inner booklet is included separately.
• Record has been placed into a brand new MFSL Original Master sleeve, as the original plastic one was highly static charged and may be holding onto some dust. This will keep vinyl surfaces clean during shipping and ultimate buyer usage.
• Outer jacket is contained in a new clear polyethylene protective sleeve.
• Sent in good quality record mailer with cardboard stiffeners.

• Shipping will be via USPS Media Mail for a flat charge of $3.98 per single album sale.
• A combined shipping discount is available on multiple sales completed within 5 business days($3.98 plus $0.50 for each additional LP).
• If you intend to buy more than one LP do not pay immediately but wait for my all-combined invoice. A discount for the combined items will show on that invoice. Then, once payment is received, the items will ship.