Stereolab – Switched On

Such great definition and warmth to this release. I can understand where one is coming from when saying it’s a bit thin, but I think this is a really bright and loud collection of songs to begin with. Worth every penny in my opinion, Stereolab knocks it out of the park in vinyl production once again.

I have to disagree, I think this pressing sounds pretty good. No unpleasant surface noise at all. Keep in mind these are lo-fi recordings - also the sibilance is part of the recording (compare it to the digital version to see what I mean).

Tbh I agree with the other reviewer, I expect much higher quality from Stereolab, there is sibilance issues on most of the tracks and the overall mix is a bit thin and tinny sounding to me. It is quiet however, no surface noise, which is usually the case with all of the Stereolab duophonic pressings.

May be little off topic concerning this record but anyways:
I recently switched back to my amp integrated phono-pre and the mentioned sibilance-problem of this issue arose to me again, when listening to this record. The very treble-some sound, that I now hear as well has to do with the REGULAR inputcapacitance of phono-pres of 47 pF (plus those are mostly harsh sounding ceramic capacitors). This causes the resonance frequency of the phonocartige circuit to be kind of hard freak-quency at about 10K Hertz. With my external phonopre I dont have such problems, since I replaced the inputcapacitor for a capacitance of 330pF (!), which results in a very mids orientated sound, 200-150 pF should be about perfect (for ex. for a Nagaoka Mp-110) considering a regular length rca/cinch-cable. That way the response-curve of the resonant circuit is pushed downwards from the treble to the recessed mids. Most people think lowest overall capacitance from cartrige to phono input is desirable, which is very false! This record does the proof. Go for the mids and lower the 10K Hertz curve!

Mine also has pink labels with green text. Runout Side 1: SL-22 A1 L-40035 (A) Side 2: SL-22 B1 L-40035-X (A)

There is no sibilance on my system even though it is sounding clear and bright, instead to me it does sound fantastic! To my tasting Stereolab have never been better.

i advise against purchasing this. i'm on my third copy and each one has skipped on the last track "changer". muddy mix overall -- must be a bad pressing.

My copy has very harsh sibilance. It makes the LP almost unlistenable. Does anyone have the same problem?

IMO This is the best material Stereolab produced - a lovely combination of rough sounds / driving rhythms and melodic, sweet singing.
After this, their recordings became more polished and less interesting, and the vocals became progressively more dreary and flat. Joe Dilworth's drumming is great!

This reissue sounds absolutely goddamn majestic, best version I've heard and I've owned both OG vinyl and CD. Highest recommendations for this whole series.