Toshiba Abbey Road CD

[aashton]

Originally posted by Ed Bishop
A mint OBI for vintage vinyl is, to many collectors, just as important as the rest of the package; they won't buy the Lp, regardless of condition, without the strip that's supposed to come with it. Collectors, eh?;)

ED:cool:

Ed - if you know any of these collectors who have worthless vinyl without the Obi's cluttering up the place tell them I will free up some space on their shelves as a favo(u)r (and at not too high a charge either) :D ;)

I will inform the postman to get a trolley :)

All the best - Andrew

[JonUrban]

Damn! I remember seeing these in the local "Record World", and at the time they were marked at about $32.00. I thought, gee, I should just wait until the REAL version comes out!! UGH!

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by aashton


Ed - if you know any of these collectors who have worthless vinyl without the Obi's cluttering up the place tell them I will free up some space on their shelves as a favo(u)r (and at not too high a charge either) :D ;)

I will inform the postman to get a trolley :)

All the best - Andrew

Nope, don't know anybody in these parts;)......

BTW, once again, I am vindicated. Didn't get the full price, I see, but for you doubters....for this one, they will always pay. Seller lucked out this time, I think; but good for him. He can't be crying about now...:rolleyes:

ED:cool:

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by oblio98
Damn! I remember seeing these in the local "Record World", and at the time they were marked at about $32.00. I thought, gee, I should just wait until the REAL version comes out!! UGH!

You know what? I figured ABBEY ROAD was going to be the FIRST of the many scattered titles put out, not the first and last:eek: . Who woulda thunk?

ED:cool:

[aashton]

Originally posted by Ed Bishop
He can't be crying about now...:rolleyes:


Oh yes he can - all the way to the bank :D :laugh:

All the best - Andrew

[Michael]

Originally posted by lukpac
The Japanese pressing is certainly much brighter than any other version I've heard, CD or LP.

My guess is they jacked up the treble on that - not uncommon for a Japanese issue.


Hmmm,
Do you have a special copy? The original I heard was kinda muffled.

[GabeG]

Originally posted by lukpac
The Japanese pressing is certainly much brighter than any other version I've heard, CD or LP.

My guess is they jacked up the treble on that - not uncommon for a Japanese issue.


I'm going to hazard a guess here - especially because I find Luke's observations very accurate most of the time - but I wonder if Luke heard a burned copy of the original. Either that or the cd player he heard it on wasn't properly de-emphising the disc.

The original Japanese Abbey Road is pre-emphisized. It is one of two discs I knowingly own that feature pre-emphisis. If you've ever heard an encoded disc unencoded you would hear what Luke and Lance described. From what I understand, some burning programs don't deal with copying such discs properly.

This could account for what Luke and Lance have heard regarding this issue.

-Gabe

[Holy Zoo]

Gabe! You're brilliant! I bet that's it. As I've said... my original copy isn't overly bright. Indeed, it's one of the best sounding cds I have.

[Evan]

Originally posted by Lance Hall
I just got a CDR of the Toshiba "Abbey Road".

The CDR is surprisingly brighter and has much less bass than the official EMI CD. Playing the CDR I have to raise the bass about 4 dbs and lower the treble about 10 dbs to make it sound similar to the EMI CD.

Is this how the Toshiba is supposed to sound?

Lance Hall

No. I have the CD and tried to make a CDR for a friend. The CDR sounds brighter with less bass. Must be pre-emphasis.

[Michael]

Originally posted by Evan


No. I have the CD and tried to make a CDR for a friend. The CDR sounds brighter with less bass. Must be pre-emphasis.


I heard an original and it was -not- bright. I guess it's best to judge sound quality from the original..:thumbsup:

[sharedon]

Any opinions on the Toshiba/EMI "TOCP" versions of Beatles CD's??

[reb]

Red Trumpet has Japanese Toshiba/EMI Beatles Cd's in their catalog for $29.99 (including Abbey Road). Are you guys discussing an earlier Toshiba in this thread or are these the same versions?
Thanks

[Holy Zoo]

Different versions! We're talking about the very rare 1984 release that was recalled because thy (Toshiba/EMI Japan) didn't have the rights cleared to release Beatles albums on CD.

As far as I know, everything legally available now, in all countries, are identicle to what you can find in your neighborhood Walmart.

[Ian]

Originally posted by GabeG



I'm going to hazard a guess here - especially because I find Luke's observations very accurate most of the time - but I wonder if Luke heard a burned copy of the original. Either that or the cd player he heard it on wasn't properly de-emphising the disc.

The original Japanese Abbey Road is pre-emphisized. It is one of two discs I knowingly own that feature pre-emphisis. If you've ever heard an encoded disc unencoded you would hear what Luke and Lance described. From what I understand, some burning programs don't deal with copying such discs properly.

This could account for what Luke and Lance have heard regarding this issue.

-Gabe

That definitely explains why my CDR is bright (but still eminently more listenable than the standard copy)

[ted_b]

As I said in my earlier post in this thread, my Japanese Abbey Road (identical to ebay pix) is quite warm sounding, almost vinyl-warm. Bright would not be anywhere in the description. I'm tempted to tweak the treble on this, in fact. The pre-emphasis theory may be spot on.

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by Ian


That definitely explains why my CDR is bright (but still eminently more listenable than the standard copy)

So, how hard would it be for you to rip this into your computer, and burn a new copy with the pre-emphasis bit on?

[lukpac]

Originally posted by GabeG
I'm going to hazard a guess here - especially because I find Luke's observations very accurate most of the time - but I wonder if Luke heard a burned copy of the original.

Yep. I think most people here have, in fact. I believe Scott made copies for a lot of people.

I just burned myself a copy with PE turned on. Much closer to the stock copy. *Really* close, in fact. So close I kind of wonder what the big deal is. Vocals seem slightly less harsh, but beyond that... Seems there's a slight upper midrange peak on the stock copy not there on the Japanese.

There's certainly no noise reduction on the stock version, as has been suggested previously. If anything, it seems as if there's *more* hiss in places on the stock copy, most likely due to that slight EQ bump mentioned above.

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by Evan


No. I have the CD and tried to make a CDR for a friend. The CDR sounds brighter with less bass. Must be pre-emphasis.

Thanks, gang! 'Pre-Emphasis' was what I was struggling to think of last nite but just couldn't remember it. The Japan AR is an old CD, and that's what I think the problem is. When I play it back you get basic mild analog hiss, but nothing more; everything, to me, seems in place.

As far as anybody knows, this was literally a 'one-shot': Odeon Japan was told to stop, and they did, with this one disc. The supply was allowed to run out(rather than a recall, which would have been not only pointless but just about impossible--this is the Beatles were' talkin' about)and that was that. Still can't find that dratted domestic AR, but all subsequent releases of any Beatles EMI material is supposed to match up worldwide--that was the whole point of killing this CD in the first place. Uniformity and conformity, sound quality up to the guys in London and nowhere else. And so it's been since '87...

ED:cool:

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by lukpac


Yep. I think most people here have, in fact. I believe Scott made copies for a lot of people.

I just burned myself a copy with PE turned on. Much closer to the stock copy. *Really* close, in fact. So close I kind of wonder what the big deal is. Vocals seem slightly less harsh, but beyond that... Seems there's a slight upper midrange peak on the stock copy not there on the Japanese.

There's certainly no noise reduction on the stock version, as has been suggested previously. If anything, it seems as if there's *more* hiss in places on the stock copy, most likely due to that slight EQ bump mentioned above.

Interesting that you think they sound so close, Luke!

I'm curious now, what's your home stereo setup? There's nothing listed in your profile.

[lukpac]

My ears:)

What do you feel are the differences?

[Holy Zoo]

Come on Luke, are you listening on cheap headphones or nice headphones that are very revealing. Ditto speakers, amp, etc etc.

[lukpac]

I'll put it this way: I'm listening on the same stuff I've been using for the majority of my comments/reviews on this board. My system isn't perfect, but then again, I know where its faults lie, and I factor them in when listening.

At any rate, my question to you was an honest one - what do you feel are the differences? Again, personally, I'd say the Japanese is slightly better - a bit less harsh - but I just don't feel the differences are as "night and day" as some people think. Of course, it remains to be seen how many people how many people are actually listening to it correctly (with PE).

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by lukpac
I'll put it this way: I'm listening on the same stuff I've been using for the majority of my comments/reviews on this board. My system isn't perfect, but then again, I know where its faults lie, and I factor them in when listening.


I don't get it... why are you so hesitent to list your equipment?


At any rate, my question to you was an honest one - what do you feel are the differences? Again, personally, I'd say the Japanese is slightly better - a bit less harsh - but I just don't feel the differences are as "night and day" as some people think. Of course, it remains to be seen how many people how many people are actually listening to it correctly (with PE).

I think you missed my statement way up top -- I don't have the stock/domestic copy, so I can't do the comparison.

I have read - as you have - that many people feel that noise reduction was applied. Hence my surprise that you don't hear much difference.

[Angel]

My Toshiba Abbey Road (a boyfriend purchased it in 1984 for $8.00 :) ) sounds smooth and warm, and the tape hiss on it is perfectly balanced. The EMI/Capitol version sounds a bit harsh in the midrange area, and is obviously no-noised in parts. I'm sure they tried to make the best sounding version they could by livening it up, but if you have a revealing system it just sounds grainy. The Toshiba disc on the other hand just sounds better the louder it is played, although the tape hiss is a bit distracting at times.

[Evan L]

If Angel is giving it :thumbsup: , it must be good!

MM