Boring

[MylesBAstor]

The significance of the term hit me while listening to the MOFI reissue of Dead Can Dance's Into The Labyrinth. Yes this album has been a reference LP since its reissue and that was never more apparent than tonight. There was suspense and intrigue and an ethereal quality from the moment the stylus settled down in the groove of the first cut on the first side. Then I thought about the many times at shows that I have to wait minutes until the song stops sounding like it's plodding along; sometimes the faces of people in the room have that expression why did that clown put that album on and I have to ask to them be patient as the song gets better. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't. Maybe more often not than more?

Oh and it's been a long time since I turned the album over and played side 2. Why I'll never know but certainly will in the future. The second side is every bit as good, if not better sounding, than side 1.

[siddh]

I too have locked on side one, but do not experience the tedium of the slower passages that pleasantly lead to the more dramatic.

[Bill Hart]

I listened to all sides multiple times over three different issues in the course of a couple days: the original 4AD, the MoFi and the reissue that came out last year. Because the music is a little strange, I didn't OD on it like some albums--even great ones- that get too much condensed play. For example, I use Janis Ian's Between the Lines as a reference to help me set up the system, but after several hours, I really wanted to hear something else. So, I put on Opeth. Another strangely beautiful record. (The record Damnation from the twofer Deliverance and Damnation).

[Bill Hart]

Not sure I've listened to it-- I worked backwards from Damnation and the later acoustic stuff, to the early crunch and growl. I'll check it out. Mikael is an insane record collector.

[Madfloyd]

I've heard the original 4AD pressing is fantastic, but can't find it anywhere.

[Bill Hart]

Floyd- the original 4AD and the MoFi are pretty close overall- I was surprised at how good the MoFi is, given some of the comments about how the original 4AD blows it away. Aside from the channel reversal issue on some copies of the MoFi, the original 4AD is a little less "chesty"-- you can hear it by comparison in some places on the record more evidently than others.
There should be copies on Discogs. The main issue is going to be condition. Pricewise, I think these haven't risen to crazy heights, though they weren't cheap (before the 4AD reissues came out). You can find it if you hunt but you'll be buying from the UK in all likelihood where it is more common.

[MylesBAstor]

I listened to all sides multiple times over three different issues in the course of a couple days: the original 4AD, the MoFi and the reissue that came out last year. Because the music is a little strange, I didn't OD on it like some albums--even great ones- that get too much condensed play. For example, I use Janis Ian's Between the Lines as a reference to help me set up the system, but after several hours, I really wanted to hear something else. So, I put on Opeth. Another strangely beautiful record. (The record Damnation from the twofer Deliverance and Damnation).

It's not so much about ITL. That was just one instance. IBoring can be experienced with many albums. Melody, Mayhem and Mallets is another example. But the question is why are these systems boring? What are they missing? I used to think it was microdynamics but not so sure anymore.

[Rob]

depends on ones mood albums that were once exciting can soon become trite. putting on audiophile approved material that makes the system come alive puts my audio buddy to sleep whenever he comes over, his thrust is collecting/listening to RnR. I know ITL well, I've been listening to it since its debut but I haven't broken the seal on the recent MFSL vinyl. i'm just not interested at the moment.

[JCOConnell]

when I recorded it to digital, I noticed the envelope didn't vary that much, which is to say the macrodynamic range is limited.

[Bill Hart]

It's not so much about ITL. That was just one instance. IBoring can be experienced with many albums. Melody, Mayhem and Mallets is another example. But the question is why are these systems boring? What are they missing? I used to think it was microdynamics but not so sure anymore.

I missed your original point then, Myles. I thought you were talking about the music, not the gear. Now, re-reading your original post, I understand that you were talking about the plodding, slow engagement of that album on some systems at shows- i.e., the system made the record boring.

[MylesBAstor]

I missed your original point then, Myles. I thought you were talking about the music, not the gear. Now, re-reading your original post, I understand that you were talking about the plodding, slow engagement of that album on some systems at shows- i.e., the system made the record boring.

Yes, why one system brings an LP to life and another just makes it sound uninvolving.

I guess one explanation is the tonearm/cartridge isn't set up correctly. But I don't think that explains the majority of the situations.

[mep]

Yes, why one system brings an LP to life and another just makes it sound uninvolving.

I guess one explanation is the tonearm/cartridge isn't set up correctly. But I don't think that explains the majority of the situations.

If we are strictly talking LPs and the system otherwise sounds good, I would blame it on the quality of the table/arm/cartridge or setup and/or the quality of the phono stage. If the system doesn't sound good playing any source material, now we have a new can of worms.

[MylesBAstor]

If we are strictly talking LPs and the system otherwise sounds good, I would blame it on the quality of the table/arm/cartridge or setup and/or the quality of the phono stage. If the system doesn't sound good playing any source material, now we have a new can of worms.

I'd certainly agree in many cases. But I've heard other instances that I would attribute what's going on to the speakers. Like no matter what system I hear these speakers in, the system always sounds boring.

[kcin]

I'd certainly agree in many cases. But I've heard other instances that I would attribute what's going on to the speakers. Like no matter what system I hear these speakers in, the system always sounds boring.

I am going to reach out and say dynamic contrasts. Some systems are hyper detailed, others magnify other regions or are prodigious in bass response. However,,,,, IMO if you don't have the capability of wide dynamic contrast it is sooo boring. This is a valid criticism of the ESL57 spoken about elsewhere.. we forgive that speaker this sin as it does other things well.

I listened to some Radiho stand mounted speakers D 1.1 fabulous imaging , beautiful top end... dynamically boring.

Speakers play a big role in this- most of it I think. You do need the ancillary equipment to provide the speakers with what they need to accomplish their role.IMO YMMV

[Bodhi]

Didn't one audience member famously proclaim "Au fou, au fou!” (“The madman! The madman!”) when Maurice Ravel first presented Bolero in 1928?...and that work is 15 minutes long!

[Folsom]

I would like to hear the original. I sold the MoFi I had because it sounds like... MoFi. They're a bandaid mastering for stereos that need some help. They sound great on those stereos, but are limited to that situation. The best fidelity surely is not with them, but it's too much of an expectation to assume everyone can leap forward past them, so they have a place.

[Stringreen]

Bolero was written as the answer to a test exam when Ravel was in music school.....the instruction was to write a piece depicting the "colors" of the orchestra. He never thought it would ever be popular.....go figure.

[MylesBAstor]

I am going to reach out and say dynamic contrasts. Some systems are hyper detailed, others magnify other regions or are prodigious in bass response. However,,,,, IMO if you don't have the capability of wide dynamic contrast it is sooo boring. This is a valid criticism of the ESL57 spoken about elsewhere.. we forgive that speaker this sin as it does other things well.

I listened to some Radiho stand mounted speakers D 1.1 fabulous imaging , beautiful top end... dynamically boring.

Speakers play a big role in this- most of it I think. You do need the ancillary equipment to provide the speakers with what they need to accomplish their role.IMO YMMV

One way to think of it is that you would fall asleep if someone spoke for an hour in a monotone voice. Same for equipment.

[MylesBAstor]

I would like to hear the original. I sold the MoFi I had because it sounds like... MoFi. They're a bandaid mastering for stereos that need some help. They sound great on those stereos, but are limited to that situation. The best fidelity surely is not with them, but it's too much of an expectation to assume everyone can leap forward past them, so they have a place.

I think that painting in sweeping generalizations gets us in trouble. I have quite a few MOFIs and they range in quality. KOB was a big disappointment. OTOH, I have compared a few vs. 15 ips tape - take for instance the Garcia-Grisman -- and MOFI did a damn good job.

Nor does my system "need" MOFIs. Sorry. Play a wide variety of labels-originals and reissues, tape and LP-- on my system. BTW, every label and mastering has a "sound" vs. the tape.

Last night I listened again to Natalie Merchant's TigerLily. Woe, woe, tears and rendering. It is the dissapointment of all dissapointments from MoFi. I wish her stuff was on vinyl, especially House Carpenter's Daughter.