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Posted (edited)

Claudio Arrau, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam*, Bernard Haitink ‎– Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15; Piano Sonata, Op. 10 No. 2. Philips ‎– 6580 122 Universo Series – Reissue, Holland. 

 

This is not the right cover, it is next record in the Universo series, if only someone could tell me how to load a jpg form my computer to this site, the insert other media does not work for me.

 

now playing: 

Claudio Arrau, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam*, Bernard Haitink ‎– Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 19; Piano Sonata, Op. 2 No. 1.  Philips ‎– 6580 123 Universo Series – Holland 

Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 19; Piano Sonata, Op. 2 No. 1 (Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue) album cover

Edited by jazzdog@groovemasters
  • Like 3

Posted
  On 29/05/2020 at 6:21 AM, crtexcnndrm99 said:

What do you think of the Universo series? I have a couple Netherlands and a few which unfortunately turned out to be Aus pressings..

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Hi crtexcnndrm99, 

The few Universos I have are all are all grey label Dutch pressings, just found two more, after you asked me the question refer to the posting above. The two Arraus are also Dutch pressings, NM/VG++. I do not have a fancy sound system, just basic, vintage gear; with a nice 1976 Sansui TT & currently using a small Sansui amp into old JBL L 26s, so no golden ears opinions from me!

One of the Richters posted here earlier was scuffed, I did not notice that when I was buying the batch, but it is remarkable quiet VG++ so I interpret this as either Dutch vinyl is very good & forgiving, or it was just luck that there was no significant surface noise from the former owners 'skate park' experience with the disc (how do they do such a thing to a record in the first place?).

Posted (edited)

@crtexcnndrm99 and @jazzdog@groovemasters 
I also have two secondhand Universo series Dutch pressings, both with Henryk Szeryng.  However I have not played them for ages, but from memory they were very good (to my surprise), even on my basic turntable setup.
I said “surprise” because most audiophiles tend to only write good reviews about the likes of Decca, EMI, HMV, Living Stereo, Tulips DG, etc, but no one talks about Universo Philips recordings. I guess they were judged as non-superior because they were made in the early to mid 70s, not the golden 60s?
 

Will post here when I get around to play them to refresh my memories/ opinions of them. 

Edited by att23
  • Like 2
Posted
  On 01/06/2020 at 2:51 PM, att23 said:

@crtexcnndrm99 and @jazzdog@groovemasters 
I also have two secondhand Universo series Dutch pressings, both with Henryk Szeryng.  However I have not played them for ages, but from memory they were very good (to my surprise), even on my basic turntable setup.
I said “surprise” because most audiophiles tend to only write good reviews about the likes of Decca, EMI, HMV, Living Stereo, Tulips DG, etc, but no one talks about Universo Philips recordings. I guess they were judged as non-superior because they were made in the early to mid 70s, not the golden 60s?
 

Will post here when I get around to play them to refresh my memories/ opinions of them. 

Expand  

I agree - I am particularly fond of the early Philips label and it seems particularly the Dutch or UK pressing is the one to go for. Affordable too compared to Decca SXL and the like... 

 

nice - I’ll have to spin some of mine at the same time ?

  • Like 1

Posted (edited)

Listened to these two today. Nice analogue and dynamic sound,  and of course I love Henryk Szeryng’s playing. So even though I have swapped speakers since my last listen to these, still keep my same high opinion of these cheap Universo Series Dutch pressing by Philips, based on my small sampling.  
 

Edit: I would say both are extremely well recorded too, nice 3D soundstage. 
 

9F81D61A-D5CF-4714-8B53-91164C821AE7.jpeg

F36FF988-9D6E-4052-B8CE-860857C25BC8.jpeg

Edited by att23
  • Like 5
Posted

Holst - Planets Suite, conducted by Leopold Stokowski with LA Philharmonic Orchestra

82B50DF0-F7EF-41E8-B5FE-D711EF3E2897.jpeg

  • Like 4
Posted
  On 27/05/2020 at 12:36 PM, t_mike said:

There were a number of notables in the cause, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Alexandre Lagoya, Maurice Andrè, Yo-Yo Ma, and the English Chamber Orchestra have all recorded with him. His "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio" remained on the Billboard charts for over 450 weeks! 

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Well that all passed me over. Only 450 weeks on Billboard, so my ears were in iso for over 8 & 1/2 years.....

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
  On 01/06/2020 at 2:51 PM, att23 said:

@crtexcnndrm99 and @jazzdog@groovemasters 
I also have two secondhand Universo series Dutch pressings, both with Henryk Szeryng.  However I have not played them for ages, but from memory they were very good (to my surprise), even on my basic turntable setup.
I said “surprise” because most audiophiles tend to only write good reviews about the likes of Decca, EMI, HMV, Living Stereo, Tulips DG, etc, but no one talks about Universo Philips recordings. I guess they were judged as non-superior because they were made in the early to mid 70s, not the golden 60s?
 

Will post here when I get around to play them to refresh my memories/ opinions of them. 

Expand  

The other elephant in the room for value pressings, is WRC. They were pressed by EMI Sydney & the process was closely scrutinised by founder John Day, from what I have gleaned from articles about John & WRC on SNA. They are seriously underrated IMO. Also they are some that I swapped notes with on Discogs that swear that Columbia Notes SAXO Au pressings with flat lip run-ins are superior to the UK SAX pressings! I have a David  Oistrakh  SAXO blue label dished lip run-in that sounds pretty good to me.  Then again, some might say nothing beats good SAX.

 

Any opinions on the Phillips gold label 'everyday'' low priced vinyl?

 

Edited by jazzdog@groovemasters
  • Like 1
Posted

The London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis,  ‎Mozart – Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, K. 550 / Symphony No. 39 In E Flat, K. 543.  Philips ‎ GL 80, Vinyl, LP, Mono Australia.

Here is Phillips GL that I just happen to be spinning, pressed in Au though.

Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, K. 550 / Symphony No. 39 In E Flat, K. 543  (Vinyl, LP, Mono) album cover

  • Like 5

Posted (edited)
  On 02/06/2020 at 12:46 PM, jazzdog@groovemasters said:

The other elephant in the room for value pressings, is WRC. 

 

Any opinions on the Phillips gold label 'everyday'' low priced vinyl?

 

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Agreed.  I have a number of WRC pressings. ?

 

I don’t have any Philips gold label... 

Edit: Are they any good like the Universo Series?

Edited by att23
Posted

Anyone here know of British composer Ketelbey? Enjoying his collection of short orchestral pieces. 

C511B491-D854-4DF0-8423-288CCA85250F.jpeg

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
  On 02/06/2020 at 12:59 PM, att23 said:

Agreed.  I have a number of WRC pressings. ?

 

I don’t have any Philips gold label... 

Edit: Are they any good like the Universo Series?

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Phillips GLs SQ; my verdict, nah, not a patch on the Dutch Universo, don't know why I bought it! its a SQ thing, no reflection on Sir Colin...

Edited by jazzdog@groovemasters
  • Like 1
Posted
  On 01/06/2020 at 2:51 PM, att23 said:

I said “surprise” because most audiophiles tend to only write good reviews about the likes of Decca, EMI, HMV, Living Stereo, Tulips DG, etc, but no one talks about Universo Philips recordings.

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Actually I have many Philips recordings that have superb quality.  All the stuff by Neville Marriner / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, for example, sounds extremely good to me.  It's one of those labels I trust, like Decca, and I put it above the others in that list

  • Like 3

Posted
  On 02/06/2020 at 10:09 PM, aussievintage said:

Actually I have many Philips recordings that have superb quality.  All the stuff by Neville Marriner / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, for example, sounds extremely good to me.  It's one of those labels I trust, like Decca, and I put it above the others in that list

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A bunch of Philips Classical recording engineers and technicians went on to found Polyhymnia, a recording outfit that now makes audiophile recording for a range of labels, including Pentatone.

  • Like 2
Posted
  On 02/06/2020 at 10:27 PM, Steffen said:

A bunch of Philips Classical recording engineers and technicians went on to found Polyhymnia, a recording outfit that now makes audiophile recording for a range of labels, including Pentatone.

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Interesting.   

 

As a result of this discussion, I am currently playing a couple of Dutch  Philips "Digital Classics" - silver label from 1985 era.  The quailty is still good.  Being digital doesn't hide the skill with which they have been made.

  • Like 3
Posted
  On 03/06/2020 at 12:00 AM, aussievintage said:

Being digital doesn't hide the skill with which they have been made.

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The technology hardly ever matters. It always comes down to skill, dedication, obsession and love for music.

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