[KimKman]

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WBLP74881C

Anyone own this set and have an opinion on quality?

Does this quote below mean the LP's are actually digital > vinyl or are they talking about how they made the digital versions if they exist?

"The original concept was to go pure analogue straight through to the lacquer masters - that is until we discovered the true physical condition of the master tapes, which varied from almost unplayable to excellent. In the interest of keeping the quality at the highest level, we made blind listening tests with the original analogue source and compared it to the output of the Pacific Microsonics. We couldn?t tell the difference sonically, and that further convinced us to do the restoration in the digital domain."

[Wayner]

How old are some of those tapes? The "Doors" album with Ligth My Fire on it is from 1967. That would put that tape at 42 years old? Probably Acetate tape? I guess you have to use the best source available and it doesn't sound like the master tape is always the first choice. This is unfortunate, but reality.

Wayner

[analognut]

That's exactly what that means. Some of the tapes were falling apart. Going digital allowed Botnick, Grundman, and Holzman the freedom to work towards a more open representation of what the original master tapes sounded like.

The restoration was done by feeding a new remanufactured Ampex ATR-102 with Aria Class A Electronics into the Pacific Microsonics HDCD Model Two Processor at 192/24, and that in turn was fed into a Digidesign Pro Tools HDs Accel system. Starting with The Doors 3rd album "Waiting For The Sun" the Dolby A-301 nr system was introduced, and one of the original units from Bruce Botnick's studio was used in the restoration process.

I have the set. You pretty much have to be a die-hard Doors fan to own one I think. Haven't played all the LPs yet (7 LPs), but having all the Doors music already in every format known to man I can say that it's the best-sounding Doors music I've heard in any format. Regardless of being A-D, when it comes to The Doors you have to Take It As It Comes.

Bruce Botnick's closing remark about the set:
"Enjoy these discs. Take care of them. They are treasures, and remember, as always, play it loud and part the waters". 

[KimKman]

Thanks guys! I am sure I will enjoy the set. Have a couple originals still I bought when a kid to compare. Should be interesting.

[blakep]

Here you go-62 pages of discussion on this box set that covers a lot of territory

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=104836&highlight=doors

Obviously a few quality control problems and opinions on the sound quality are all over the map. I have U.S. original first pressings of the debut LP, WFTS, Absolutely Live and Morrison Hotel and a UK first of LA Woman and a 2nd or 3rd pressing of Strange Days that I might want to improve on. I'd rather just seek out good originals. Might be a little more work and a bit more expensive but that would be the route I'd take. I heard part of the box played at a high end dealer on some pretty impressive equipment and I thought it had a digital quality to it that I didn't find endearing but I'm pretty sensitive to that. IMO of course.