The Beatles "Abbey Road" Half Speed Master MSFL 1-023 S

$

153

I am parting with my 30 odd year old collection of audiophile records.  Most are direct to disc, half speed masters or the “chosen pressing’.  Unless otherwise noted, all unsealed records are near mint and appear un-played.  They have only been played by the very finest of cartridges, arms and players.

MFSL initially became known to the public for the Half-Speed Mastering technique, which has since been employed by many other record companies. It was the first label to use this as standard on all of its LP releases. The use of this technique was pioneered by engineer Stan Ricker, who mastered all of the early MFSL releases. Ricker's work can be recognized by the signature "SR/2" carved between the run out grooves.

With some notable exceptions MFSL uses the original master tape as its source. This tape was then played back at half its original speed (if the master tape were recorded at 30 inches per second, it would be played back at 15 ips.) Simultaneously the record cutting lathe runs at 16?? revolutions per minute (half of its regular speed of 33?? RPM.)

The Half-Speed Mastering technology allows for cleaner reproduction of high frequencies (by cutting the actual transfer frequency in half) and allows twice as much time to carve a groove that accurately represents the sound on the master tape. It also permits extended high frequency response, extending into the ultrasonic region.

Early MFSL titles were pressed by JVC in Japan on virgin 180 gram "SuperVinyl" LP discs. JVC originally developed this proprietary plastic compound in the early 1970s to reduce record

The first Beatles record to be issued by MFSL was Abbey Road, catalog number 1-023. This choice was not surprising, since that album made use of the most modern recording equipment available to the Beatles. Released in late December, 1979, Abbey Road quickly sold out its original pressing.

This is a new factory sealed pressing of MFSL 1-023. I will include, at no extra cost a very high quality CD copy of my personal record. This was recorded using a  Counterpoint SA-1R tube preamp and a modified Linn Sondek turntable set up by Dr. Sao Win.