LISTENING NOTES AND BEST PRINTS TO LOOK FOR (AND WHICH TO AVOID)
OUR BEST SOUNDING VINYL RECOMMENDATIONS
Top 10 Vinyl Records & The Best Prints To Look For & Avoid
Before your turntable can deliver sweet music, that music must be cut precisely onto a lacquer plate… chemically converted into a stamp… pressed into a PVC disc… and then trimmed, tested and packaged. Considering the stylus tip (which tracks the groove) is around 0.015 mm wide — less than the thickness of a human hair — you can bet that process is a delicate one.
No two record prints are a alike, nor are the pressing factories. Hence why the records you end up enjoying the most are of both a great album, and an excellent print.
That’s why Audio Connection, home to passionate vinyl enthusiasts, has put together a list of the very best records we've come across. With years of experience—solo listening, attending vinyl meets, and staying tuned into the industry—we’ve had the chance to compare different pressings of the same albums.
What's Our #1 Favourite Vinyl?
Read below to find out which albums sound great on vinyl, which prints to look for (and which to avoid), and some listening notes for each.
Listening notes:
Strings! There are various string instruments included here; a poor pressing suggests everything is a guitar, while an original press makes the instrument selection obvious, textured and harmonious.
Prints to look for:
1967 UK or USA Elektra.
Prints to avoid:
Avoid the 1967 NZ print.
Listening notes:
The treble sparkles nicely, especially in the acoustic guitar—characteristic of the Simon and Garfunkel sound. Centre image comes through clean and uncluttered. The harmonies should always be clearly distinct.
Prints to look for:
1960s UK CBS or 1970s USA Columbia.
Prints to avoid:
Australian copies from the 80s are of poor quality—avoid them.
Listening notes:
Super clean mix for hard rock. The guitar and bass lines should remain isolated, even when playing matching riffs.
Print to look for:
Mofi USA 2023.
Prints to avoid:
It’s a popular album so be careful—avoid newer “bargain bin” prints.
Listening notes:
Cheap prints—which are probably pulled from digital recordings rather than original analog ones—hide all the nuances of the trumpet; it might as well be an electric keyboard.
Print to look for:
2013 Japan Sony.
Prints to avoid:
Avoid newer “bargain bin” prints.
Listening notes:
The electric guitar should be densely bodied. Percussion should be recessed into mix but never buried. If the sound is muddy, it may suggest the turntable needs a cartridge upgrade.
Prints to look for:
1970s Japanese CBS/Sony.
Prints to avoid:
Avoid Australian copies from the 70s.
Listening notes:
PRAT! Pace, rhythm and timing… that’s what to listen for. Keys, bass, electric guitar can get congested in the mid-range, but a good copy prevents the edges from bleeding together. Synth effects should be razor sharp, but rolled off gently and non fatiguing.
Prints to look for:
Mofi USA 2022. Also, apparently the 1977 Swedish release is amazing.
Listening notes:
It’s an older recording, but the cymbals should still be clean and distinct. This is most clear on the title track. Kenny's guitar should also be thick and heavy but not blend with the bass drum kick.
Prints to look for:
2014 USA Blue Note. Also, 1960s USA/Euro are apparently very good.
Listening notes:
Soundstage breadth and depth are exceptional. The dynamics are crazy. Drum bass kicks should be solid and stand out underneath the mix.
Prints to look for:
1982 Germany Vertigo. Although reissues are generally OK.
Listening notes:
This recording should come through clean and gentle, but highly dynamic.
Prints to look for:
Blue Note USA 2022… actually, I’ve never heard a bad copy!
Listening notes:
Everything! But really tune in to the atmosphere; you can literally hear the energy in the room and the physical distances between the players. It’s an outstanding recording.
Prints to look for:
Mofi 2021 or 2024 US Columbia. Avoid clear/transparent vinyl versions.
Listening notes:
Strings! There are various string instruments included here; a poor pressing suggests everything is a guitar, while an original press makes the instrument selection obvious, textured and harmonious.
Prints to look for:
1967 UK or USA Elektra.
Prints to avoid:
Avoid the 1967 NZ print.
Listening notes:
The treble sparkles nicely, especially in the acoustic guitar—characteristic of the Simon and Garfunkel sound. Centre image comes through clean and uncluttered. The harmonies should always be clearly distinct.
Prints to look for:
1960s UK CBS or 1970s USA Columbia.
Prints to avoid:
Australian copies from the 80s are of poor quality—avoid them.
Listening notes:
Super clean mix for hard rock. The guitar and bass lines should remain isolated, even when playing matching riffs.
Print to look for:
Mofi USA 2023.
Prints to avoid:
It’s a popular album so be careful—avoid newer “bargain bin” prints.
Listening notes:
Cheap prints—which are probably pulled from digital recordings rather than original analog ones—hide all the nuances of the trumpet; it might as well be an electric keyboard.
Print to look for:
2013 Japan Sony.
Prints to avoid:
Avoid newer “bargain bin” prints.
Listening notes:
The electric guitar should be densely bodied. Percussion should be recessed into mix but never buried. If the sound is muddy, it may suggest the turntable needs a cartridge upgrade.
Prints to look for:
1970s Japanese CBS/Sony.
Prints to avoid:
Avoid Australian copies from the 70s.
Listening notes:
PRAT! Pace, rhythm and timing… that’s what to listen for. Keys, bass, electric guitar can get congested in the mid-range, but a good copy prevents the edges from bleeding together. Synth effects should be razor sharp, but rolled off gently and non fatiguing.
Prints to look for:
Mofi USA 2022. Also, apparently the 1977 Swedish release is amazing.
Listening notes:
It’s an older recording, but the cymbals should still be clean and distinct. This is most clear on the title track. Kenny's guitar should also be thick and heavy but not blend with the bass drum kick.
Prints to look for:
2014 USA Blue Note. Also, 1960s USA/Euro are apparently very good.
Listening notes:
Soundstage breadth and depth are exceptional. The dynamics are crazy. Drum bass kicks should be solid and stand out underneath the mix.
Prints to look for:
1982 Germany Vertigo. Although reissues are generally OK.
Listening notes:
This recording should come through clean and gentle, but highly dynamic.
Prints to look for:
Blue Note USA 2022… actually, I’ve never heard a bad copy!
Listening notes:
Everything! But really tune in to the atmosphere; you can literally hear the energy in the room and the physical distances between the players. It’s an outstanding recording.
Prints to look for:
Mofi 2021 or 2024 US Columbia. Avoid clear/transparent vinyl versions.
STAFF FAVOURITES
HIGHLY COMMENDED VINYL RECORDS
These albums may not have made our top 10 list, but they sound incredible on vinyl and are definitely worth a listen.
Album Title
Electric Ladyland
Tea for the Tillerman
Dark Side of the Moon (MOFI)
Heavy Horses
Lizard
Off the Wall (US First Print)
Blade Runner OST (Audio Fidelity Version)
Abandoned Luncheonette (1977 USA Atlantic or 2024 USA Analog Productions)
See below for more of our HiFi Tips & Tricks
Top 10 Best Sounding Vinyl Records
Our Top 10 best sounding vinyl records of all time. Find out which albums sound great on vinyl, which prints to look for (and which to avoid), and some listening notes for each.
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