This is your best stuff. Can’t get enough of these. Please, please, please provide one for every iconic album.

I know these are some of your toughest videos to make Mike, but they’re absolutely your best work. Few people have the collection to do this and the knowledge it provides the community is invaluable

Great Mike , in my opinion, there’s only a few personalities in the VC that have enough pressings, exposure, equipment, and seasoned ears to properly carry out a shootout, clearly you are one of them and I value your opinions.

I have an 1983 elektra red label stereo that's served me quite well for a long time. Sounds great and has that punchy in your face sound.

Love these comparison videos. They’re my absolute favorite from your channel, please do more. Would love to see a King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King comparison

I have the DCC and AP 45 rpm and love them both for different reasons but this sounds like I am never going to better this in the UK . Was hoping for a uhqr of this album but little point 😁. Mike great video , missed these shoot outs 👍

Love these informative videos, thanks Mike! And yes, we need one for each of The Doors studio albums! =)

Great review I learned alot about my favorite all time record! Thank you! 🙏

For those wondering, The Doors S/T was cut at Madison Sound Studios in NYC by Ray Haggerty. You can see Rays' SUPER tiny initials (lower case 'rh' in cursive) in the run-out groove.

Damn Mike, AMAZING review of this album. The way you describe the sonics and instrumentation is just perfect 👌

Question: Mike, should Chad attempt a UHQR for this album or don’t even try? He has hinted at it a few times, I know it’s on his list. Great review of the different pressings! Viva La Doors!

Awesome video Mike! Please do more of these comparisons. This is great stuff!!!

Excellent Mike Thanks for doing these, your system looks amazing

Excellent shootout and loved the constant reminders this was not a well recorded album to begin with. Ty for your subject matter expertise, it is truly fun to know an album in and out!

I am happy with the AP 45 stereo. The other doors 45s sound even better as they had broke through and had the best studios at their fingertips Buy these before they are gone

Great stuff Mike. Thanks for putting in the hours for us 😉🤘🏼

Whoa - great shoot out Very entertaining and informative

ough !! what a shootout ! thanks for sharing. You are the only guy able to do such a wide informative and cool video !

Thanks for the video Mike. The Doors are one of my all time favs as well! Might have to track down a Monarch for shits & giggles, but I'm pretty happy with what I have so far.. a NM Allentown 1st pressing, AP45 & the VMP Mono. 🍻

I have the AP45. And the VMP mono on its way to me from someone on the VMP Discord. As I recently got myself a dedicated Mono table and getting different Monos where I can to enjoy it. Thanks for this video I do realize they are a big commitment to make, but would love more. I have bought specific pressings because of your shoutout results.

Hi Mike, another great shoot out! A comment on the sound quality of this video, I was getting distortion throughout. Maybe that's something to look out for on your next video.

A life-long massive Doors fan. Thanks for covering this one, Mike.

Thanks for another awesome shootout Mike!

My all time favorite band as well Mike ! ! ! I just ordered the box vinyl set Live at the Matrix today, cant wait ti get it. Thanks man keep up the good work

Man I’ve been waiting for this one. Great stuff👍

thanks for your time in creating these shoot-outs! it's helpful information. does the monoarch repress with the gold RIAA award sticker sound as strong?

Great review and comparison video as always, Mike. I first found your channel when you had just started out and made your L.A. Woman review and comparison video. The Doors are also my favourite band (in a tie with Led Zeppelin), so it was cool to see you talk about their music with such knowledge and passion. All these years later, and here's the video for the debut. Thanks for mentioning that the scene in The Doors movie was exaggerated - far too many people take that movie and its many lies as gospel. I love your work and dedication. Thank you from Australia

I LOOOVE YOUR COMPARISSONS

The 5.1 DVD-A from the box set is the clear winner.

Nice surprise for a video! Love it lol

Dude, those speakers are awesome! The size of Stonehenge! Looks like the setup for a Metallica concert! I absolutely love it!😊

Hey Mike, great analysis, I waffle between my DCC and Monarch first pressing, I believe there are 2 Gold label cuts with the earliest having the (M) in the deadwax and a little bit later having the (MON) in the deadwax. Subsequent cuts have the (MON-1)

One of my favorite albums, great shoot out.

Cool vid. Thanks.

Thanks for the shootout! My main thought watching this was to tell you to enjoy your eyesight while you have it - being able to read deadwax without a lot of help is a thing of the past for me!

I'm glad I have the DCC. I miss those guys.

Keep doing a great job.... thank you !

Thank you Mike! I've been awaiting this Pressing Shoot-Out ever since the ERC release. Not just the Doors, but all Monarch pressings from this era have a special "punch" to them. And yes, good luck finding one not chewed up = these were party records.

Thank you, Mike for doing this excellent shootout on my second favorite rock album of all time! 👍👍👍👍👍 I have been waiting for this The Doors debut album shootout from you for a long time and was just riveted to your video. ❤ I have several pressings of this album, including the treasured Monarch pressing. I agree that the Stereo mix sounds the best. Among all of my versions, I like the Monarch original; the AP/QRP 45 rpm; and the MoFi reissue. My Monarch pressing is about VG+, maybe a bit better. As you said, even in this condition it sounds great. Mood often determines how I want to hear an album. If I'm feeling punchy, I'll go to the Monarch. If I'm feeling more mellow, I can go to the MoFi. The AP/QRP 45 rpm has enough to offer that it ranks in my top three versions of this album. By the way, anyone who tells me that The Doors is their favorite rock band has excellent taste in music. 😎

I’ve always considered the stereo mix to be a great sounding recording, especially the Monarch pressing. The Doors subsequent albums lake some of the warmth and air that the first album had.

Condition is key funding that monarch stereo, I've had about 5 copies and only one has sounded superior because of less surface noise

Mike, I think the Monarch Records vinyl pressings are the best sounding because the pressing plant in Los Angeles was only a few blocks from the record label executives who would visit the plant & make sure the pressings were the best ever. I know Peter Grant manager of LED Zeppelin did this. I personally know that the MO pressing of ‘Led Zeppelin II’ RL cut & the artisan cut with MO on the record label of ‘Exile On Main Street’ are definitely the original pressings to find with the best possible audiophile sound. MR Stickermania (Frank)

I have all the AP45 Doors, good enough for my system.

Please make more of such videos, thanks.

Great video Mike. I don't know a lot about the Doors or this album, so it was interesting to get your take as a super fan! Would you ever consider doing a shootout for "In the Court of the Crimson King"? I have always wondered what the best pressing of this would be in your opinion.

I had to listen to my 2 copies, 1967 Monarch and 1967 Santa Maria stereo pressings. They both sound great, my Monarch is a little bit noisier but does sound better. Since I don’t have the mono, I used my mono switch and it sounded good.

I don't know, I have an Abbey Pressing that's sounds pretty amazing also. Great Video!

The thing with the MFSL and DCC, they really need to be cranked since they’re cut so low.

Excellent. Sounds like the monarch is the LZ 2 RL version of The DOORS. Thought I had one...may have sold it. Have a later Red label and an og gold MONO. PHIL SPECTOR said "BACK TO MONO", but not in this case. Ty ...now I must play my copies.

So it could be said that the gold label Monarch first press is the RL of The Doors albums. I had a red label copy and no matter how I tweaked my EQ, I couldn’t get it to sound good. Having since acquired the stereo Monarch - before this video, Lol - and HOLY WOW!!! It’s night and day. You hear the difference as soon as John starts riding the cymbals: they shimmer and shine only on this pressing. Same with the bass and dynamics: full and well defined. The gold Monarch is worth seeking out.

Omg! You look like a giant sitting on a Grateful Dead stage, with those speakers lol. Anyway, that album came out the day I was born. Pretty cool. That’s it.

Manythnx, these are always very interesting 🤘 edit: girl we couldn't get much HIGHER..😁

I’ve got a stereo Monarch and although it’s VG it does sound fantastic!

Love the quote about correcting W&F

This is a killer rock album, one of the best ever.👍

thanks mike!

I think you are a global authority on shootouts

In the UK I always look out for the 70's to 80's Butterfly label pressings as they are cheap, sound fine and pressings are high quality.

Hey Mike! Thank you so much for the videos! I would love to see your review of the new "live at the matrix 1967 the original masters" vinyl. It looks like no one has reviewed it yet, just un-boxings. I highly value your opinion on both doors vinyl and sound quality. Is it way better than previous versions? Thanks again!

Nice review. Can you do the same thing for Strange Days?

Those speakers look so cool

Terrific, Mike!

To me, my mono OG of the debut sounds the best. I don’t get distortion from that pressing, but I agree it’s a hot one. But, it is super clear sounding and raw, the drums are super loud, I really enjoy the sound of the snare during Soul Kitchen, it only sounds like this in this mono pressing. My monarch stereo OG is not even close to the mono. I also own all the AS 45rpm pressings and find them ok, not spectacular compared to my OG’s, and the 45rpm format is boring, you lose the flow of the album. The same applies to the mono OG of Strange Days, it is the best sounding copy I own. To me the OG’s are the best, no reissue can top them. BTW not all the monarch OG pressings of the debut are great, some may be, mine isn’t.

Never cared for the sound on a mid 70’s pressing I purchased back in the day. The AP 45 which I own sounds so much better.

Incredible system. You don't usually see the subs with the big Wilson's .

Worth a mention- none of those are the 1st Japan pressings with blue 'frog' Elektra labels. Not sure if it's any better or not, but it was released in 1967.

Yo, Mike fire that rig up

I really enjoy listening to my 7 1/2 ips R2R. It sounds excellent.

Miss these sessions

👍 More of these please!

I have an original gold label Canadian stereo pressing... thats my Go to ! My Mono Allentown press is ok.

I almost always go with mono when given it comes to 60s rock records (especially psych rock) but I agree the distortion on this album’s mono mix is really unfortunate stuff. and that distortion on mono mixes you get sometimes can work really well (Red Krayola’s Parable of Arable Land is a great example) but the one for The Doors is just too murky

One of the best shootouts to date

Mastering is everything!

Man, I really hope that one of these days you do a shootout of Ziggy Stardust or Love's Forever Changes. I'd be curious to hear your advice on which of those albums to own a copy of.

Welp, cat’s out of the bag on the Monarch pressings. Curious, does the 67 Monarch stereo repress have the same dynamics?

Amazing.

I have no complaints with my AP45 and even my BG 33rpm rinser copy. I enjoy this album on cd and sacd too. Ive never heard a version i thought was so bad i needed to turn off. I definately am not spending more money on trying to enjoy it even more which i likely wont. Searching for a perfectly envisioned (enheared?) sound is a rabbit hole best avoided!

More videos like this. Please

I dug it

How about the "Gold Record Award" pressings , they were pressed at Monarch are they the same?

Oh yeah,i love this videos

As I’m from Germany sometimes hard to follow !! So which of the monachs is the number one mike ?

Hey Mike, What about the 7.5ips reel to reel tape!? Where's that rank?

Any thoughts on the 1970 reissue or 1967 repress monarch, or is the first pressing the one to get?

Good shootout, thanks. Guess I’ll just have to stick with my stinky AP 45.

Also the Mono 2010 tepress doesnt sound too bad

Mike is there any chance you would part with one of your gold label Monarch"s? Very interested

Mike, are there any versions that you know of that have the uncensored versions of Break on Through and The End?

Please, post some comparative sound samples!

Here is a record that I desperately want you to cover on which version of this album on vinyl sounds the best,the album I want you to cover on which vinyl version sounds the best is the soundtrack to the 1961 film West side story by Leonard Bernstein. Can you compare that album on vinyl please? I don't have a copy of this album yet,I saw the music on vinyl pressing, original six eye stereo pressing,a 6i mono, soundtrack factory pressing,and the normal store bought pressing,and a Phillips stereo and mono pressing,and that's all I know that I came across on discogs except grey market pressings and Japanese record pressings because of what you said about those when you compared mingus ah um LP.

I actually thought I was a nerd until watching this. Nerd along 😎

Waiting for you input on Eagles 'Hotel California (2Lp/180G/45Rpm Supervinyl Ultradisc One. Step/Or' Vinyl Record LP.

I bought the AP 45 box set. My experience is the opposite of what is said here. I kept wondering "Where is the bass?" Mike is saying that the highs were missing! I thought the AP was strident and thin with listeners' fatigue that my originals don't have. Very Strange.

I rate the original MFSL above the AP 45rpm, but that's just me. My MFSL doesn't has that politeness you talk about in your review. It's a crap shoot between the MFSL & my DCC. Both are outstanding. Must check my original copy to see if it's a Monarch or not. I think it is VERY good but last time I heard it it did not beat the MFSL nor the DCC. So either it's not a Monarch, or if it is, it is not in primo condition. Cheers! Oz LTBS

I’m happy with my $20 Rhino

Sacre bleu, Mike have you heard the 1999 Botnick/Grundman 96KHz/24bit digital remaster, how does it rank?

can you do this with every album of the doors?🥰

You didn't mention the first UK mono, mine sounds in your face and immediate as you say. I also prefer the mono mix but just me 🤷

Has anyone compared these versions? EKS-70047A (M) M in a circle ^9991 EKS-70047B (M) M in a circle ^9991-X VS this one EKS-70047A (M) M in a circle ^9991 EKS-70047B-2 (Mon) M in a circle ^9991-X I guess the first side should be the same, right? As for the B side, I read somwhere that it's louder and bassier (better by some opinions) on the latter copy. Any comments? Cheers