Knud Jorgesen Jazz Trio 1984 Opus 3 8401 Audiophile Vinyl Looks & Plays NM

$

19

• Knud Jorgesen.
• Jazz Trio.
• Opus 3 8401.
• Swedish Audiophile Label.
• Single Point Stereo Microphone Recording.

Item Details
Manufactured in: Sweden
Recorded: March 3,4 May 1, 1984
Lacquer Cut By: Jan-Eric Persson At The Cutting Room, Stockholm Sweden
Pressing By: Grammoplast AB, Spanga Sweden
Original Issue: 1984
This Issue: 1984
Label: Opus 3 8401
Runout Deadwax Matrix Numbers:
Side 1: (stamp:) OP 8401 A CR A
Side 2: (stamp:) OP 8401 B CR A
Was bought new by this seller many years ago and now offered from his private collection (you have absolutely known provenance). Has had just a few plays only on an expertly setup high-end audiophile turntable, arm, and cartridge. Has never been exposed to heat or tobacco smoke and always stored vertically in a specially designed record cabinet (Rackit) to prevent warpage.
I have recently updated my VPI HW-16.0 record cleaner to a 16.5 and it now has much more positive suction (can remove all fluid in less than 3 rotations). I have also changed my choice of cleaning fluid to the Audio Intelligent "One-Step" formula that requires no rinsing and leaves no residue. It is alcohol free and uses enzyme agents to remove pressing mold-release compounds, fungi & bacteria, finger oils, and many other environmental contaminants. Made with laboratory-grade pure water(50X purer than distilled water). I neutralize residual static charge from both vinyl and new inner sleeve with a Milty Zerostat. I wear nitrile surgical gloves while cleaning and play testing to avoid any chance of transferring finger oils to the vinyl.

Very sensitive play testing was performed straight off my Ayre P-5xe fully balanced phono preamp over Sennheiser HD 600 headphones using a Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 tube headphone amp fitted with NOS Soviet Voskhod matched tubes (see last photo).

Track list
For track listings, please see my attached record label photographs.

I never take "distant" photos nor the so-prevalent type with the LP sticking halfway out of the jacket. I take close-ups under photo lamps so you can see nearly everything I describe in the jacket grading. It is virtually impossible to know the true vinyl condition from any photograph. That takes very bright and close visual inspection PLUS play testing with thorough coverage on high resolution equipment.
Grading Details
Note: Grading LPs by text characters is subjective and at best are only a guide as no two used records are of exactly the same quality. I do not use "EX" grades as my VG+ is right below "NM-." I never sell a "G" play grade and very rarely ever sell a "VG" play grade. Please, refer to both my photo evidence and detailed descriptions to judge by YOUR OWN grading standards. Questions are always welcome. eBay no longer allows me to enter separate grades for each side of the sleeve or record so you may not see any in the box above but are listed below. Play quality is personally most important to me so vinyl visual qualities are graded and described in detail separately for your complete assessment.

Outer Jacket Inspection/grading:
NM/NM
The jacket looks exactly as it did when first new as a result of careful storage inside a thick plastic sleeve since first day of ownership.

Vinyl visual inspection/grading:
NM/NM
Both labels do have LAST protective vinyl wear prevention treatment stickers on them. I usually treated my new vinyl with LAST before the very first play. Both vinyl sides seem perfect as I could find no artifacts of wear or misuse.

Play Testing:
NM/NM
Extensive play testing was performed after visual inspection (continuous written notes were taken). I listened to the beginning, middle, and end of each track for a few minutes on each needle drop. When the track width was noticeably greater I took more play samples to get good coverage. I also listened to all lead-in, lead-out and transition grooves between each track. Some tracks were played all the way thru when digitizing my favorites to 96k/24-bit WAV files. This allowed me to go back and re-check some of my notes on digital playback in ProTools. Here is rundown of each side from those notes.

Side 1 Play
The spindle hole was extremely tight and I had to gently remove some tiny "flaps" of vinyl melt that were getting pulled down into the hole when inserted onto my post. T1 was a long track and also one I wished to record. This track is cut very hot with gobs of dynamic range and is an audiophile demonstration winner. Just a few random tiny ticks noticed only during the low volume piano intro. Heard nothing else once the full band kicks in. The transition grooves were all pretty quiet indicating a decent pressing. T2 had some random HF low volume ticks I picked up on the headphones. T3 had a single moderate-level tick in the first few seconds and again near the very end. I was tempted initially to give this side an NM- because of the isolated vinyl noise once in a while but changed it to NM as the audio quality was really stellar over most of the side. Just know that you might detect some small amounts of vinyl noise during some, but not all of the very quiet musical passages. I'm convinced it was always just a part of the original virgin pressing of the side because I rarely played this record a long time ago.

Side 2 Play
This side was my favorite in the play test. I recorded both T1 and T2. Consistently, the record displays its audiophile credentials. The sound is so clear, wide, deep, with totally natural instrument tone fully fleshed out. T1 is a long track and my favorite of both sides. Another hot cut with explosive transient peaks (-0.7dBFS on my Pro Tools meters). Just 2 audible ticks in the first few seconds of play, but nothing after that. T2 is another long recorded track. Does not have hot volume peaks but has many beautiful soft passages. Vinyl was very quiet throughout, just one small audible tick in the middle. T3 had no vinyl nose on any play sample and T4 just had one small tick in the middle play sample. My impression was that Side B had a little bit lower vinyl noise floor than Side A and I was tempted to give it an NM+ grade I enjoyed it so much.

This is a very well preserved record from a small Swedish audiophile label that is both musically entertaining and brilliantly recorded and mastered. I hope it finds an appreciative home.

Packaging

• Record will be placed outside the jacket to protect against seam splitting.
• Original inner sleeve is included separately.
• Record has been placed into a new MFSL-style "rice paper" plastic sleeve, as the original, even though plastic lined, may be holding onto some dust. This will keep vinyl surfaces clean and well protected during shipping and ultimate buyer usage.
• Outer jacket is contained in a new clear polyethylene protective sleeve.
• Sent in high quality record mailer with cardboard stiffeners and all corners double-taped.

Shipping

• Shipping will be via USPS Media Mail for a flat charge of $3.98 per single album sale.
• A combined shipping discount is available on multiple sales completed on the same day($3.98 plus $0.50 for each additional LP).
• If you do buy more than one LP on the same daydo not pay immediately but wait for my all-combined invoice.eBay does give you the option to "Request an invoice from the buyer," but this option is not available on the eBay mobile app. A discount for the combined items will show on that invoice. Then, once payment is received, the items will ship.