Recommended record labels

The idea was brought up by a forum member to create a list of recommended record label companies, which I thought was a good idea.

What record labels do you like the most? Which ones have the best sound quality? The label can be old or new - they can even be out of business.

Recommended Labels List:

 •  Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (MOFI or MFSL for short) - they have fantastic sound quality and consistent, high quality production standards.

 •  Pure Pleasure Records - Very clean, pure, 'analog' sounding pressings.

 •  CBS/Columbia Records - Very nice sound quality from the 50's through the late 70's. The '6-eye' records are highly sought after.

 •  Audion - I buy everything I can find on this label.

 •  Passport Records - Consistent, high quality pressings.

 •  Sundazed - Fully analog reissues, very good sound and pressing quality, good price.

 •  Classic Records - 180 and 200g audiophile pressings.

 •  American Gramophone - brown (not red) labels, especially with JVC or Ortofon listed in the deadwax. Even if you don't like the music, they sound fantastic as a sound quality demo LP.

 •  RCA Red Seal - Classical music on this label sounds wonderful.

 •  RCA 'Living Stereo' - Very nice, 'classic' vinyl sound, usually with a wide stereo image.

 •  Audiosource - from the makers of high-end audio equipment, usually pressings of highly sought after jazz releases. Fantastic SQ.

 •  Deutsche Grammophon - The legendary German label for classical music. Generally good sound and pressing (German quality).

 •  Archiv Produktion - Subsidiary label of Deutsche Grammophon, specialized in antique classical music. Similar quality to DG.
 
•  Speakers Corners - Reissues Jazz, Classical audiophile LP's. Typical German quality, beautiful clean thick Vinyl. Sometimes not taken from the original tapes but second gen tapes.

 •  Tacet Records - Another German company. Classical LP reissue. Mastering using tube only equipment. WOW! I think their LP's are pressed at the "speakers corner Plant"

 •  Alto Analogue - Another German company. Extremely rare. I have a Bill Evans Sunday at the village vanguard LP. Just brilliant. Also Numbered.

 •  The new QPR - Analogue Productions - 200 grams taken form analog tapes. a Successor to Classic Records.

 •  Blue Note - Classic jazz label with excellent sound quality.

Reply with your recommended labels and I'll add them to the list.

Sundazed - Fully analog reissues, very good sound and pressing quality, good price.

American Gramophone, brown (not red) labels, especially with JVC or Ortofon listed in the deadwax. Even if you don't like the music, they sound fantastic as a sound quality demo LP.

RCA Red Seal - classical music on this label sounds wonderful.
RCA 'Living Stereo' - Very nice, 'classic' vinyl sound, usually with a wide stereo image.

Deutsche Grammophon - The legendary German label for classical music. Generally good sound and pressing (German quality).

Archiv Produktion - Subsidiary label of Deutsche Grammophon, specialized in antique classical music. Similar quality to DG.

Speakers Corners - Reissues Jazz, Classical audiophile LP's. Typical german quality, Beautiful clean thick Vinyl. Sometimes not taken from the original tapes but second gen tapes.

Tacet Records - Another German company. Classical Lp reissue. mastering using tube only equipment. WOW! I think their lp's are pressed at the "speakers corner Plant"

Alto Analogue - another German company. extremely rare. I have a Bill evans Sunday at the village vanguard Lp. Just brilliant. Also Numbered.

The new QPR- Analogue Productions - 200 grams taken form analog tapes. a Successor to CLassic Records.

How about some to avoid??

Only acquire if cheap and if you absolutely want it and can't find a better Copy.

Jazz Time, Jazz Track and Jazz Wax Time. All pressed in Spain taken from CD's. I have two of these. I don't want to be cruel.

I'm also curious about the Doxy label in Italy. if anyone can share some insight. It will be greatly appreciated.

How about some to avoid??

Only acquire if cheap and if you absolutely want it and can't find a better Copy.

Jazz Time, Jazz Track and Jazz Wax Time. All pressed in Spain taken from CD's. I have two of these. I don't want to be cruel.

I'm also curious about the Doxy label in Italy. if anyone can share some insight. It will be greatly appreciated.

Checkout the thread for labels to avoid. 

I have a copy of Dave Brubeck - Time Out on Jazz Wax. It's not terrible, but nowhere near as good as the original Columbia pressings. Even Brubeck greatest hits LP's sound better, which are usually cut from multiple generation master tapes. I ordered it new from Amazon, thinking it was an audiophile pressing, but it's not audiophile quality. The pressing has a fair amount of surface/groove noise and some IGD, no matter what turntable and cartridge combo I use for playback. Overall, the sound quality isn't terrible, but it's nothing special.

Some to avoid sounds like a good idea:

DGG - the last good-sounding records DGG produced were recorded prior to 1970. Check TAS's recommended list. See many DGGs? Generally, they are bass shy, over miked, (the BSO/Ozawa Swan Lake was recorded with 24 mikes.), shrill, and generally unlistenable. I speak only of the LPs, of course. Part of the problem was von Karajan's "interference" with the Tonmeisters who knew better. Unfortunately the later Abbado/BPO recordings were not much better. Strangely enough, DGG's Archiv label fared much better. (BTW, what is "antique" classical music?) Most Archiv's have great sound, and, by today's standards, middle-of-the-road interpretations, which I find preferable. Anything by conductors Karl Richter and August Wenzinger, sonically, are first class. The presentation boxes for t. he Bach Passions and Handel Concerti Grossi and Organ Concertos are beautiful.  A first class label all the way. The earlier, heavy pressings are preferable. Definitely NOT to be avoided!

Everest - rotten vinyl, poor pressings, a joke, really.  Orange label LPs are the worst.  To think that some of Everest's late '50s recordings (beautifully recorded by the Master Engineer, Bert Whyte - on the early purple and silver labels) ended up botched in the remastering - sad.

Some to avoid sounds like a good idea:

DGG - the last good-sounding records DGG produced were recorded prior to 1970. Check TAS's recommended list. See many DGGs? Generally, they are bass shy, over miked, (the BSO/Ozawa Swan Lake was recorded with 24 mikes.), shrill, and generally unlistenable. I speak only of the LPs, of course. Part of the problem was von Karajan's "interference" with the Tonmeisters who knew better. Unfortunately the later Abbado/BPO recordings were not much better. Strangely enough, DGG's Archiv label fared much better. (BTW, what is "antique" classical music?) Most Archiv's have great sound, and, by today's standards, middle-of-the-road interpretations, which I find preferable. Anything by conductors Karl Richter and August Wenzinger, sonically, are first class. The presentation boxes for t. he Bach Passions and Handel Concerti Grossi and Organ Concertos are beautiful.  A first class label all the way. The earlier, heavy pressings are preferable. Definitely NOT to be avoided!

Everest - rotten vinyl, poor pressings, a joke, really.  Orange label LPs are the worst.  To think that some of Everest's late '50s recordings (beautifully recorded by the Master Engineer, Bert Whyte - on the early purple and silver labels) ended up botched in the remastering - sad.

Your recommendations were added to the Record Labels to Avoid thread.   -Admin