The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

Very nice Brain Wilson Stereo remix with great sonics, strong bass, and wide stereo separation using Audio Technica Shibata stylus. Music sounds like 1966 vinyl instead of 1990s digitally compressed CD. Vinyl is also very quiet without any background noise. Capitol did great job.

I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I love this pressing. I just found a great sounding original - a true VG+ - for $25, and it has a lot of sentimental value to me. Sure, it’s never been the best sounding album, but that’s not the point: the MUSIC defined the mid 1960’s, and it’s one of the most important albums of all time! For what it’s worth, it still might be best to seek out the Carl & P’s 1974 pressing, or a true mint copy of the Analouge Productions. Either way, sit back and enjoy the magic of the Boys’ true classic.

My copy sounds perfect, but arrived with some scuffs, a small inaudible scratch and the inner paper sleeve torn around the center. Plastic shrink on the back is stamped in blue ink “VINYL MADE IN MEXICO”. Runout is slightly different than what is provided here. Side 1: (1247432) 01010203 B0024729 -01 A RMCM #1 ! illegible signature looks like Ki M(?) Side 2: B0024729-01 B illegible signature looks like Ki R(?) (1247433) 01010106

This pressing provides a clinical demonstration of "stereo" presentation. Detailed instrumentation and lush vocals, from falsetto to Gregorian harmonies, are concentrated into a large and transparent soundstage. I have not heard the 2016 recut but after 25 yrs of ownership, for me, Brian singing "Wouldn't it Be Nice" is BB canon. (Always surprised how inexpensive this pressing still is.)

Pro-Ject X1B + Sumiko Wellfleet / Schiit Mani 2 / Musical Fidelity M5si / Dali Oberon 7's

After cleaning it and listening to it closely I don't find any distortion of any kind, even in the last tracks, perhaps the pressing could have been better because it is somewhat noisy in some passages, but everything sounds magnificent here.

My copy is pressed a bit off center, but it honestly doesn't sound bad. It's the original mono mix so it's obviously going to be a bit muddy, kinda adds to the charm of the album.

Not horrible, but a bit muddy overall. Great sound, plenty loud, but just a bit too muffled.

The stereo version of Pet Sounds always resembled a kind of "Columbus effect" (not the one related to the continental change of goods) to me when it comes to aural perception.
Let me explain what I mean: Brian Wilson is deaf on one ear, therefore he preferred mono, as a person being deaf on one ear cannot properly experience stereo. Moreover, he was going after a "wall of sound" feeling which was introduced by Phil Spector some years prior to Pet Sounds.
Hence, a lot of people claim that this album (as most other Beach Boys releases up top 1967/68) is best enjoyed in mono as it resembles the artist's intentions.
The "Columbus effect" describes an unintentional discovery while aiming for a completely different one. Just as Columbus originally wanted to find a sea route to India but discovered another continent instead. This also applies when hearing the two mixes of Pet Sounds.
The stereo version spreads the music out, gives the instruments room and clarity and adds an airy feeling. It works completely opposed to what was intended. It is an different perspective aurally.
Because of this, I can only encourage you not to be overly dogmatic and listen to both the stereo and the mono version yourself. As a listener you will discover an unintentional aspect of an album that the composer himself naturally misses out on (as explained above). And to some people (including me btw) the stereo version will be the overall better experience for these reasons. So listen for yourself!

This MFSL CD manages to deliver this aspect perfectly.

I bought a copy of this but mine was not flat and did not sound great. Took it back to the record shop and tried a couple of others but they were the same. Swapped for a black vinyl version which is much better.

What version do I have?

I can't find it on here. Mine sounds good and everything matches with this listing, except...

after the stamper T2 458-1 on each side it has on side 1 'AR' to the right and '1' on the left, and side 2 has 'RH' on the right and '1' on the left.

I can't find this version anywhere.

Can anyone help?