Dear Tom,
The next best thing to a big pile of Better Records is a friend with a big pile of Better Records.
Last night my good buddy Bill came over with a selection from his recent spate of hot stamper purchases.
You remember Bill, right? He’s the friend who knew I was into stereos, so he came over for some advice about how to assemble a top of the line modern digital playback system.
I played him my White Hot Stamper of Rumours, he buried his face in his hands, and took a deep plunge into building himself a Port-recommended vinyl playback rig, and he’s now a Better Records aficionado.
First up, we played his White Hot Stamper of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto. It was magnificent. We could appreciate every tiny decision Heiftez was making. When the orchestra came in, it was thunder.
Then, we played my Super Hot Stamper. Same stamper, and mine had quieter vinyl, but man, the sound just wasn’t the same. Mine was more shrill (but slightly), and the orchestra was less meaty (but slightly.) I’ve always loved my copy, still do, but the White Hot Stamper clearly improved on it. We were simply hearing more music.
I know a lot of people say they have great sounding records. For anybody who thinks they may have stumbled across a hot stamper out in the wild, I have one simple test: turn it up. If it’s a true White Hot Stamper, you just want to keep turning up the volume. If you get to the point where you say, “actually, that’s a little too loud. Let me just dial it back a little. Ah, that’s better.” Well then, you don’t have a hot stamper on your hands. White Hot Stampers just invite you to play them loud. There’s no limit, they just cohere without getting shrill or strident. It’s a truly strange effect, and until you hear it for yourself, you won’t believe me.
Next up, we put on Bill’s White Hot Stamper of The Wall. Very loud, of course. It was probably the best my stereo has ever sounded.
Thanks for what you and your crew do, Tom.
ab_ba
Dear ab_ba,
You are indeed very fortunate to have had such an experience. Not many of my customers get to listen to the better pressings their friends have, but that seems to be the case with you and your buddy Bill. And you can be sure he paid a pretty penny for those two titles; they don’t come cheap.
Of course, Bill is actually the one who should be in your debt, as I’m sure he knows. You kept him from making the worst mistake of them all: buying a digital-based stereo, a blind alley if ever there was one, and the place where dreams of wonderful music reproduced in the home go to die.
Thanks for writing. Glad you are enjoying your Hot Stampers, and those that belong to your friends too.
Best, TP
Further Reading
- New to the Blog? Start here
- More Hot Stamper testimonial letters
- Record collecting for audiophiles from A to Z
