The Who Singles Classic Records 10LP Test Pressing Box Set Sealed 14/20 Rare

$

800

The Who Singles Classic Records 10LP Test Pressing Box Set is a rare and sought-after collector's item for fans of the rock band and the unfortunately defunct Classic Records Label. This set of 12" singles from The Who was originally planned for release by Classic Records but never came out due to the end of the company in 2010. It includes 13 songs over 10 single sided test pressings on Clarity 200gm vinyl. Singles such as "Dogs Pt 2, The Good's Gone, Magic Bus (Mono) and The Kids are Alright" were cut from the Shel Talmy original (mono and 3 trk) master tapes. The remaining songs are all from original analog masters. Only 20 boxes were produced and this is a sealed box 14. Mastering was by Chris Bellman. There is a slight tear in the shrink wrap over the 14 of 20 label on the back but the box remains intact and is in perfect condition, see photos.

Contents of this box includes

Record 1 The Kids Are Alright

Record 2 The Goods Gone

Record 3 Dogs Part Two

Record 4 Magic Bus (mono)

Record 5 Magic Bus (stereo)

Record 6 Pinball Wizard

Record 7 The Seeker, Here For More

Record 8 Let's See Action, I Don't Even Know Myself

Record 9 Love Reign O'er Me, The Real Me

Record 10 Water

Because the box is from my private collection, sealed and are test pressings, returns are not accepted. From a non-smoking home and an experienced eBay seller who packs and communicates well.

As others have written- “the pressings are on Classic Record's legendary 200g "FLAT" Super Vinyl Profile and use Classic's proprietary "Clarity Vinyl". 45 rpm records have long been recognized as providing a higher fidelity musical experience resulting purely from the cartridge being able to extract more of the nuance from the complex vertical and horizontal groove modulations in stereo LP’s. Further, Classic Records 45 rpm “single sided” pressings dramatically reduce the mechanical resonances created by the cartridge during playback by allowing these resonances to be more fully transmitted to and absorbed by the turntable platter. Classic Records Clarity Vinyl 45 rpm pressings were designed and manufactured to provide the “LOWEST DISTORTION” in every aspect of LP playback resulting in putting the listener as close to the music as possible. Given that this set was never released and is only available as test pressings makes it an uber collectible that will likely rise in value over time.”

“In 2003, Classic Records launched its now famous Signature Blue Note Mono reissue series. As part of that series Classic developed an "authentic" 200 gram LP profile that replicated that of an original Blue Note record from the 1950's. Comparing a test pressing on the new profile versus the same title on the normal 180 gram pressing it was discovered that the 200 gram version sounded significantly better. The 200 gram pressing sounded louder, with more definition and solidity of notes across all frequencies and there was more detail - particularly low level detail like room or hall sounds, pages being turned, musicians whispering and automobile sounds outside the studio all became easier to identify. At first it was speculated inside Classic Records that the extra weight resulted in the better performance as no one could come up with a better answer given that the stampers were the same as well as the vinyl pellets used on both 180g and 200g pressings. One day, Michael Hobson, the founder of Classic Records was discussing this unexplainable sonic discovery with the Legendary Mastering Engineer and Sheffield Records founder, Doug Sax when Doug, without hesitation stated "Ah Michael you've discovered the difference in a flat versus conventional profile

Puzzled, Hobson asked for an explanation which Sax described as going all the way back to 1950's mono pressings and what happened when stereo records came out in the early 1960's. Sax explained that in the 1950's when mono records had no vertical modulation (only lateral), pressing PolyVinylChloride PVC (plastic) records were more easily pressed on "Flat Profile" dies fitted to the pressing machines since the grooves on the mono stampers were all the same height (no vertical modulation). The molten vinyl was able to flow evenly across the stampers and fill properly during the molding (pressing) of the record. The problems started when stereo record cutting came into vogue producing stampers that had variable height grooves sticking up across the diameter of each stamper. Using the older mono pressing dies resulted in tremendous problems getting the areas between grooves of different heights to fill properly - a groove that is in front of another taller one often got passed over by the flowing molten vinyl resulting in "non-fill" which was audible and thus a "defective" record. Pressing plants don't like to press defective records and are always looking for high pressing yields or a s few rejects as possible.

In 2008, Classic discovered that de-magnitizing black vinyl records leads to better sound in playback. The engineers at Furutech in Japan, makers of a commercial record demag machine, explained that the carbon black that was added to PVC record pellets contained trace metal that became randomly magnetized and while spinning below an electro-mechanical transducer (phono cartridge) caused electrical distortion inside a cartridge during LP playback. Hence, demagnetizing a black vinyl record dramatically reduces the electrical distortion and leads to more "Clarity" in playback. Michael Hobson, founder of Classic Records reasoned that if the carbon black were removed then the result should be more Clarity in playback. Working closely with the PVC manufacturer Kenan, Classic developed its own proprietary "Clarity Vinyl" devoid of the problems with trace magnetic particles contained in black vinyl formulas. A Clarity vinyl pressing on a flat profile die is the absolute ultimate pressing possible and even a step above the JVC UHQR black vinyl pressings. Not to be missed - you can hear the difference!”