Nautilus Super Discs ???

  • Thread starter Thread starter cjacek
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cjacek

cjacek

Analogue Enthusiast
Hi,

Does anyone know about these Vinyl LP's ? They're supposed to be something called "Half speed master pressings". What does that mean ? Are these worth the extra cost of regular LP's ? I found some new old stock of some 70's artists and wanna know if they're truly superior to oridinary LP's.

Thanks!

Daniel :)
 
Nautilus SuperDisc LP's, as I understand it, were mastered reissues from the early 80's designated as an Audiophile format. They were mastered from the original master two-track tapes which were run at half of their normal speed during the mastering / cutting process. The cutting lathe is also run at half of its normal speed. The playback ratios remain the same. The advantage to this "Half speed master pressings" is that the slower cutting speed etches a more perfect groove onto the lacquer. The result is a better frequency response, wider dynamic range, considerably less distortion and a more natural, pure sound. The consensus, in the real world, from the people that actually own these Nautillus pressings, is that, if compared to equivalent commercial pressings of the same music, halfspeed mastered records are significantly better. I think these were pressed on 180 gr discs if I'm not mistaken.
 
A related item I've found while looking up this info is an excellent site:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/dhinterviews/

The DCC remasters look bloody interesting as well, philosophy behind the project etc ...

While going through this, I kept thinking why weren't mass produced CD reissues treated with the same care and reason as Hoffman's work ...
 
Do a search for MFSL, DCC as well as Nautilus SuperDisc / Super Disc, Half Speed Master, for both CD's and LP's and you'll yield some nice results. They're a similar audiophile format.
 
1/2 speed masters had some problems though. like the failure by some companies to consider the alteration to EQ that occurs during the process & the need to respond to that a bit like ignoring the RIAA preamp when putting together a turntable & amp.
 
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