Black Sabbath – Master Of Reality

I own this (no runout etch version), bought in 2016 at a certain store in Copenhagen.
But actually the colour of mine is different: turquoise, with a bit of beige marvelling.
Record looks unique and sound quality is excellent, can't compare to the master LP release though.
If you long for a copy and run into this at the swap market, I'd definitely recommend.

#6535 I've never listened to the original. I bought this particular version because it visually replicates the original. Bonus purple vinyl. For my taste the sound is great.

Are we all aware that Vertigo used the white on black label text for this LP only? They never used it again. Blacker than Black! :-)

If anyone has a sleeve for this album please drop me a line.

Loud tics all through “The Haunting” — even after a VPI-16.5 clean. Everything else is fine.

I asked VMP for a replacement… but we all know how that’s gonna end.

Really looking forward to the RhinoHiFi version — they have awesome customer service!

just got this. its confirmed the QRP pressing from 2016. outside of 4 repeating clicks at the very end of "Children Of The Grave" , its as perfect of a pressing that you will ever get. i really bought this only for the 2nd disc of unreleased outtakes, but i figured i'd at least listen to the remastered version of the original LP. but before i get to that, heres what im comparing this remaster to-
https://discogs.descargarjuegos.org/release/9348509-Black-Sabbath-Master-Of-Reality

normally, i avoid remixes and remasters at all costs. they tend to be revisionist crap from a perspective that happens to be many decades removed from the original vision, as executed by people that had no input in the original recording process in the first place.

that being said, this 2016 remaster is really well done. it does sound great. but the over all low end has been kinda blown out, giving it a bit of a wooley, almost bloated, mushy, and overwhelming low-end sound. in that sense, it doesnt have as much punch or power as the earlier/original pressings i have. it will, however, float your speakers and quite possibly knock the foundation of your house all out of wack. my preference is the original US pressing with the Artisan Sound stamp as its the most natural, uncompressed, and open sounding version ive ever heard. the later US pressing from 1979 is a lot louder cut than this 2016 remaster and is quite a bit more abrasive than any other version ive heard. the German pressing is the best of both worlds as its a louder cut, but not at all harsh and retains most of the natural sound of the original US pressing.

that being said, i do find this 2016 remaster to sound really good. even though im a fan of massive amounts of depth and low end bombast in my music, theres something that just doesnt sound very 'natural' about the added low end to this remaster. maybe im just so used to hearing the original mixes for the last 40+ years that i need some time to adjust to it. but, then again, its just a slightly new take on one of my favorite Sabbath LPs, it does sound good, its just a bit different sounding to what im used to. best of all, you can get it for a price thats comparable to a clean vintage pressing, with an entire LPs worth of outtakes thrown in for good measure. i give it 4.75/5 stars.

This pressing just is NOT good. Very muffled. Side two is better than side one, but this pressing is simply bad overall. I have 5 copies to compare with. Yes, I buy copies and sell them on until I find a good version. This is the worst of the copies I had. The UK NEMS is better, lots of high end but no bass. The Rhino US pressing is pretty good, it has decent bass. The German Spaceship pressing from 1973 is good, it has a very compact sound, but does not have much bass. The original FRENCH pressing is amazing. Loads of growling bass. Lots of clear cymbals. All sounds well seperated... Just great... I got the French pressing for 20 euros... Keep looking. The first two sanctuary pressings of self titled album and Paranoid are pretty good for the price. Master of Reality Sanctuary pressing is a dud.

Very, very muffled sound! Mid and low frequencies are terribly overstated. High frequencies are practically absent. This is on a good pickup - "microline"

If you can only get your hands on the Warner / Rhino reissue pressing, breathe easy… you’re not missing much with this one.

Has anyone heard this pressing, curious what it sounds like ?