So spot on. The marketing gymnastics on these hype stickers can be infuriating 🤦🏻‍♂️

Hi Steve! Glad that you spelled out what many vinyl fans who care about process details increasingly get aggravated about. I have nothing against digital steps, but I clearly would like to know about those. Surely my preference is all analog which is key for me when, as in my case, focusing on vinyl as more or less the one and only media to listen music from in my listening room. I am including little info cards to each record with additional information and a Spars code is one of such. So, it frustrates me when there is unreliable information on the process steps sometimes to the extent that I refrain from buying such records, esp. when higher priced.

I always liked the designation AAA ADA DDD ADD ... is very explanatory, don't understand why didn't became standard. Then woul,d be easily hyped accordingly :)

Unless the stickers says ALL ANALOG, I assume there is a digital step. I think that is a safe bet if you want all analog.

Hello Steve! Great episode which I completely agree with! So *frustrating* how inaccurate some of these hype stickers are! Purposely vague? Probably. In many event, there is something I have been wanting to ask you about for awhile but I have yet to find the information in any of your videos - have you ever listed what your current audio rig is like at home? If you have video where you address your system please point me to it? I am always curious what those of you who review recordings from time to time listen to at home. Now I realize on occasion you conduct shootouts at your local high-end emporium. And that's cool. But for all those other times when you are listening at home, it would great if you listed what your reference system consists of. Thanks in advance, Oz LTBS

Ya. It’s ridiculous they just can’t be consistently transparent especially after the drama of the last couple years.

Never believe the hype the proof is in the music. Great video is always Steve I hope everything's going good for you and your family

Hey Steve, I’m an older collector, i own many of these original titles such as the Roxy Music albums for many years. I don’t understand why many new record collectors don’t look for original pressings. I know many of these original pressings are expensive but I wouldn’t give up on trying to find them. I’m just not fan of these reissues. Many of these are over priced and don’t sound anywhere near as good as original pressings. Quality control is still an issue, I bought the new Talking Heads live album, Stop Making Sense. Sounded good on the first a few plays, recently I played it and discovered these new pops through out a few songs. This only happens with new reissues, I’m really tired of it.

I agree Steve, the SC of Transformer sounds incredible. We'll done, and nice explanation on what all the hype is about....cheers....✌️

Agree with the hype stickers, i throw them away and then i forget it, 🥰 your videos

'Who's Next' Abbey Road is a dreadful pressing: muffled, choked, anemic. In desperate need of a blood transfusion. I returned after one listen.

Little Feat, tip of the fedora to Mazzy. Great rant.

Thx Steve.

Really, who needs these hype stickers anyway? They disfigure the cover artwork. Dear Industry writes on the cover back the Recording and Cutting information like it is on the Neil Young releases, then it doesn't need these crappy stickers. If you really need them for advertising, put them on the shrink wrap, not on the cover.

preach

Hey Steve, how goes it?? First, in regards to Avalon Miles did that half-speed in 2017. This is what made me laugh when it came out last year as everyone treated it as if it were new. You can blame Universal for that hype sticker because my 2017 never had one and I'm glad it didn't. Also, Miles sometimes does re-master from the original analog tapes. I believe he eluded to this in one of his videos and also his Alan Parsons boxset video. So yes I think majority of the time he masters from a file but there is a small percentage of what he does from the tapes themselves. You might want to ask him that next week. Who's Next is pretty self explanatory but in the end it's Universal who should be looked at as to why they didn't include those 1/2 speeds in the two boxsets. I assume you're assuming that Gordon Lightfoot one is digital because it came from Friday Music?? Could very well be or ...maybe not but in the end does it matter?? In my opinion they shouldn't put any hype sticker on because it then creates "biased" hearing. In the end the only people who really care about this are the analogue purists but what they do not realize is calling yourself an audiophile does not equate to "analog only" as MoFi has and the likes of others cutting great albums from DSD have proven.

If its "half speed" their definitely using a digital step for that, id bet money on it! 😊😮

Another major concern for the VC turds....oh my...call a doctor, the hype stickers are sick

The atmos Steve Wilson sounds amazing. I play it in “binaural” mode which produces a vinyl like sound

Steve what's all the hype with hype stickers? 🧐

Abbey Road Half Speed Mastered is Sub Par anyways

I don´t care about hype sticker. These stickers are for selling the record and are not part of the item to me, same with shrink, I always throw it away. If you think about it, do you keep hype stickers of books, do you leave the book in the shrink? To me all this is not part of the item.

No hype sticker on the new Aja release from Amazon.

Yes, never believe the hype! Btw Steve, re Who's Next, you keep saying incorrectly Jon Ashley, it is Jon Astley (no 'h' in there).

C'mon Steve! You put up the Mazzy Rant image all the time so create a Westman Rant photo! lol .... never believe the hype, that is what Mofi taught us. p.s. That Lou Reed does sound fabulous! Cheers

All of the mastering steps make it confusing.

Really only matters what it sounds like, I ignore those, they really are irrelevant.

In Neil we trust!

Steve sounds like we some truth in advertising especially from abbey road huh we know what Bernie thinks of half speed mastering 🤢

The biggest question is how records sound Do they sound good??? If they sound good who cares!! It’s about the music!!

1:40 think you mean provenance, not providence?

Steve, I am suggesting that you stop interacting with Mazzy, your ranting more and more! Soon you will be wearing a fedora :( On a more serious note, I get the want and passion for these hype stickers. But really, what does it matter? There are DSD transfers that sound awesome, there are AAA transfers that sound subpar. And vice versa. I can name a handful or more of Mofi’s that are a perfect example. Such as The Cars Mofi from AAA, sounds like a sonic turd. Yet the Abraxas One Step which is DSD transfering is pretty much considered the best. I get it though. And if it makes folks feel better then I am for hype stickers that give exact info as to source and mastering.

USE YOUR EARS //99% PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ANYWAY THESE DAYS