Heads up if anyone was interested in the Beatles stereo box set, it is on sale today for $199 CAD on Amazon.ca.

There were issues with the first US Rainbo pressings, but I just confirmed with customer service that they are shipping the EU boxes pressed at Optimal. He said if for some reason I receive a US box, then I could exchange it for no charge.

Just ordered a set, and it came out to $211 shipped.

What the heck, shipping was cheap for me too, I just grabbed a box.  Thanks for the heads up!

Heads up to any Blue Sky Black Death fans, Slyvinyl (a blog about limited edition and colored vinyl) started doing vinyl runs on their own. The first release is a vinyl pressing of Blue Sky Black Death's NOIR album. Limited to 500, heavyweight colored vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. Preorder it here: http://store.slyvinyl.com/product/noir-deluxe-edition

I've only heard the Sussurro which is a really nice cart but a LOT of money, and I think Koetsu and Miyajima carts are better for that kind of scratch. The 2M Black is very popular and really solid for the money.

Might as well post this here. The Analog Planet cartridge comparison.

First article w/ file downloads: http://www.analogplanet.com/content/nine-cartridge-survey-produces-audible-results

Result and Reveal article. Don't open this if you want to try comparing yourself: http://www.analogplanet.com/content/nine-cartridges-compared-reviewed-and-voting-results

Obviously this sort of test is fraught with error. The biggest problem being these files are not level matched. But I felt as if the distinction between cartridges could be made. I made my own comparison w/ notes a month ago. I'll post that in a bit.

Interesting video for all of the DR database guys out there:

The problem with Ian's argument is that he's using the rare exception - a dynamic, well produced CD master that's suitable to go straight to vinyl. The vast majority of the time that just isn't the case, at least with mainstream music releases. Most of the time you simply cannot cut a typical brickwalled CD master to vinyl without at the very least dropping the peak level, or you'll risk destroying the cutting lathe.

Vinyl releases that are otherwise identical to the CD do often seem to gain a few points on the DR meter, and I'm not sure why that is either. However, you generally do not go from a DR4 or DR5 smashed to hell CD to a vinyl release that measures DR12 with the same master. Ian fails to point that out. The TT meter is inaccurate with digital vinyl rips, but I wouldn't say that it's entirely useless.