Description: Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing STILL FACTORY SEALED NUMBERED (1 of 15), 45rpm 4LP CLARITY Box Set This set consists of 4 single sided discs, for optimal sound performance, of the Classic Records 200gram reissue of Sarah McLachlan's "Surfacing". This title was planned, but never released as a 45rpm set or on clarity vinyl, thereby making this an ultra collectible set. Please note this is a Production Copy set, not a Test Pressing set. This set is packaged in a white special edition box and each test pressing comes in a white jacket. Original jacket is included as a bonus. Only a very small number of these unreleased sets exist and thus this is a special opportunity to hear your favorite title on Classic's 200g Super Vinyl Profile on Clarity Vinyl at 45 rpm - it doesn't get any better than this! Condition: Vinyl: Mint (unplayed) Cover: Mint (factory sealed) see key below: Label: Arista Catalog Number: RTH 18970-45 Format: 4 x Vinyl, LP Country: US Background on Classic 200g Super Vinyl Profile In 2003, Classic Records launched its now famous Signature Blue Note Mono reissue series. As part of that series Classic developed an "authentic" 200 gram LP profile that replicated that of an original Blue Note record from the 1950's. Comparing a test pressing on the new profile versus the same title on the normal 180 gram pressing it was discovered that the 200 gram version sounded significantly better. The 200 gram pressing sounded louder, with more definition and solidity of notes across all frequencies and there was more detail - particularly low level detail like room or hall sounds, pages being turned, musicians whispering and automobile sounds outside the studio all became easier to identify. At first it was speculated inside Classic Records that the extra weight resulted in the better performance as no one could come up with a better answer given that the stampers were the same as well as the vinyl pellets used on both 180g and 200g pressings. One day, Michael Hobson, the founder of Classic Records was discussing this unexplainable sonic discovery with the Legendary Mastering Engineer and Sheffield Records founder, Doug Sax when Doug, without hesitation stated "Ah Michael you've discovered the difference in a flat versus conventional profile".Puzzled, Hobson asked for an explanation which Sax described as going all the way back to 1950's mono pressings and what happened when stereo records came out in the early 1960's. Sax explained that in the 1950's when mono records had no vertical modulation (only lateral), pressing PolyVinylChloride PVC (plastic) records were more easily pressed on "Flat Profile" dies fitted to the pressing machines since the grooves on the mono stampers were all the same height (no vertical modulation). The molten vinyl was able to flow evenly across the stampers and fill properly during the molding (pressing) of the record. The problems started when stereo record cutting came into vogue producing stampers that had variable height grooves sticking up across the diameter of each stamper. Using the older mono pressing dies resulted in tremendous problems getting the areas between grooves of different heights to fill properly - a groove that is in front of another taller one often got passed over by the flowing molten vinyl resulting in "non-fill" which was audible and thus a "defective" record. Pressing plants don't like to press defective records and are always looking for high pressing yields or a s few rejects as possible. To solve the problem, the engineers developed a new pressing die profile which tapers from the center of the die, flattens in the middle of the diameter and then tapers again toward the outside of the die. The new profile was "concave" rather than flat. When you put a flat stampers onto the concave dies the stampers distort and are no longer flat - the grooves are no longer perpendicular across the stamper and by association across a finished vinyl pressing. This new die profile created "back pressure" on the flowing vinyl and solved the "non-fill" problem with stereo pressings and resulted in higher yields which was great for pressing plants and good for record companies who wanted good prices on pressings. The problem was and still is that the new profile records don't sound as good as they could because they are not flat across their profile. Using a micrometer across the diameter of a 1950's mono records reveals that the thickness is virtually the same across the record's diameter from center label to outer edge but not so for a newer stereo profile pressing which is convex across its diameter resulting from the concave profile dies / distorted stampers. This is the dirty little secret that Classic had rediscovered was known to old school experts like Doug Sax who founded Sheffield Labs in the 1970's. After the discovery, Classic Records never looked back and all of its releases and re-pressings after 2003 were on the new 200 gram Flat Profile dies that were specially made for Classic. Some years later Classic discovered that the very same profile was used by JVC in Japan to produce the legendary UHQR pressings for Mobile Fidelity which are well known to sound better than the conventional Mobile Fidelity pressings of the same titles - it all makes sense now. The long and the short of this is that Classic 200g Super Vinyl Profile (Flat Profile) pressings are as good as it gets for proper playback without groove distortion from non-flat pressings - Period. Background on Clarity Vinyl Pressings In 2008, Classic discovered that de-magnitizing black vinyl records leads to better sound in playback. The engineers at Furutech in Japan, makers of a commercial record demag machine, explained that the carbon black that was added to PVC record pellets contained trace metal that became randomly magnetized and while spinning below an electro-mechanical transducer (phono cartridge) caused electrical distortion inside a cartridge during LP playback. Hence, demagnetizing a black vinyl record dramatically reduces the electrical distortion and leads to more "Clarity" in playback. Michael Hobson, founder of Classic Records reasoned that if the carbon black were removed then the result should be more Clarity in playback. Working closely with the PVC manufacturer Kenan, Classic developed its own proprietary "Clarity Vinyl" devoid of the problems with trace magnetic particles contained in black vinyl formulas. A Clarity vinyl pressing on a flat profile die is the absolute ultimate pressing possible and even a step above the JVC UHQR black vinyl pressings. Not to be missed - you can hear the difference! 45 rpm records have long been recognized as providing a higher fidelity musical experience resulting purely from the cartridge being able to extract more of the nuance from the complex vertical and horizontal groove modulations in stereo LPs. Further, Classic Records 45 rpm single sided pressings dramatically reduce the mechanical resonances created by the cartridge during playback by allowing these resonances to be more fully transmitted to and absorbed by the turntable platter. Classic Records Clarity Vinyl 45 rpm pressings are designed and manufactured to provide the LOWEST DISTORTION in every aspect of LP playback resulting in putting the listener as close to the music as possible. * I always use actual pictures of records, not stock photos, unless noted * Combined shipping available for multiple purchases, just wait for invoice Item ships USPS Priority Calculated Shipping All international shipping will be done USPS International Priority Item will be carefully packaged to ensure that you will receive it in the condition described. I take great care as a collector myself in packaging my items for shipment. I use professional packing material. I generally sell mint condition collectible vinyl and even though I am selling it, as a collector I still do not want to see it damaged in any way, so rest assured that your purchase or rather investment will be well protected. If item is not sealed I ship vinyl outside of the cover to avoid seam splits in transit. I am a private record collector. All my records are kept upright, out of direct sunlight, and in a smoke free environment. Please be prepared to pay within 3 days of auction closing if you win or buy it now. Condition Code / Grading Scale: Mint: New, Sealed, Never Opened, Never Played, Undamaged NM = Near Mint: Record looks and sounds new. No scratches, surface noise, ticks or pops. If there would be any surface noise, it would be very soft. If there would be a tick or pop, it would only be one or two soft ones. NM- = Near Mint Minus: Record looks and sounds very acceptable. This is a record that can be enjoyed. It may have some slight visible marks and may have surface noise and a few ticks and pops, but this will still be minimal. VG = Very Good: Record looks and sounds used. This record has lots of surface noise and has visible scratches. For listening or collecting it is only good as "filler". + = Plus: (such as VG+) indicates the degree of closeness to the next higher grade.
Price: 999 USD
Location: Marion, Iowa
End Time: 2024-12-13T16:27:14.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Speed: 45 RPM
Record Label: Arista
Color: Clear
Material: Vinyl
Edition: Limited Edition, Numbered Edition, Remastered
Type: Box Set
Format: Record
Record Grading: Mint (M)
Sleeve Grading: Mint (M)
Style: Alternative/Indie
Record Size: 12"
Features: Sealed
Genre: Rock
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States