Customer questions · Listening comparison
Coltrane Ballads listening comparison: US original pressing vs UHQR
Michael 45 played the Ballads UHQR against the first US stereo pressing from 1963. Thomas Busk provided the original.
At a glance
The result: For Michael, original and UHQR are extremely close.
The UHQR: no loss of detail, dynamics, freshness or sound stage. Maybe a little more detail in the saxophone, depending on the system.
The original: hard to find in good condition. Michael grades his copy VG.
Michael’s conclusion: The UHQR lets you hear the sound of a mint original.
This page shows what he heard. Every statement links to its moment in the video.
The editions compared
| Edition | What it is | Michael’s verdict | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| US first pressing 1963, stereo | Impulse!, condition VG according to Michael | “extremely close” to the UHQR ▶ 7:06 | – |
| UHQR, 45 RPM | Analogue Productions AUHQR 0008-45. Mastered by Ryan K. Smith, pressed at Quality Record Pressings. | “an amazing, a wonderful job” ▶ 7:06 | Main shop |
| US first pressing, mono | Impulse! | separate video, not compared here ▶ 0:56 | – |
Original vs UHQR: almost the same
“He did an amazing, a wonderful job with it. Those two releases, at least again on my equipment and in my opinion, are extremely close.”
Michael 45 · Video from ▶ 7:06
“We have this punchy, dynamic, beautiful saxophone, which is very, very present.”
Michael 45 · Video from ▶ 7:24
“I didn't miss details, dynamic, freshness, soundstage.”
Michael 45 · Video from ▶ 8:12
“I wouldn't say that this UHQR kills the original.”
Michael 45 · Video from ▶ 8:33
Why the UHQR still matters
“Almost impossible to find a mint Ballads original. … Sound-wise, now with this UHQR, we can enjoy a mint original sound of the record.”
Michael 45 · Video from ▶ 8:45
“It might even be … more details in the saxophone … on the UHQR, but that may vary on different equipments.”
Michael 45 · Video from ▶ 11:28
“I cannot imagine that if somebody listens to the original and … this reissue … he says: oh no, I totally dislike.”
Michael 45 · Video from ▶ 12:14
Which edition suits whom?
- You want Ballads to sound like a mint original: the UHQR.
- You collect originals: look for a 1963 US stereo pressing. Good copies are rare and pricey, says Michael.
The video
This video is hosted by YouTube (Google). It only loads once you switch on “Functional” in the cookie settings.
The record in our shop
UHQR in the main shopWhat Michael listened on
The electronics are by Einstein Audio.
About the album
Ballads was released by Impulse! in 1963. It was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, on three dates between December 1961 and November 1962. John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones play, with Jimmy Garrison on bass on most tracks. Bob Thiele produced.
Keep listening. Keep reading.
Quotes: Michael 45, from his video “John Coltrane Ballads UHQR vs the Original Stereo Pressing”, 8 Mar 2024. Filler words removed, otherwise verbatim.
