Angels & Airwaves – I-Empire

Sounds great, looks beautiful, but it’s slightly warped, a little dusty, and has a few minor clicks

Played both this and the src version, the ivc one has better mids than the src version, the clarity of the instruments is also better (soundstage) it definately sounds like you're in the recording studio with them.

while both are loud, the src seems like it used some tricks to make the voices louder than the instruments where the src version seems more organic and balanced.

So I ended up replacing this twice. Now on my 3rd copy I finally have a copy that is click free and flat. What is intresting is just how different all 3 sound. The first one was more forward. The 2nd one seems to lack mids somewhat and the 3rd is a bit light on bass but has a bigger depth. Pressings shouldnt be this different from the same issue. Just glad Interscope sorted this eventually.

My copy came in with some warping, but it still sounds good. Love the pressing and although art. Great record.

Just spun the SRC version and this version back to back. Both sound good, but the SRC version sound is superior. More punchy, more dynamic, and id argue even louder at the same volume as the IVC. The color and packaging are absolutely stunning though.

I have to concur with others: significant surface noise on this, just like We Don’t Need to Whisper. QC must not exist within UMe these days, I get so many UMe releases with surface noise now

This is a holy grail for me with every issue previously on my wantlist until this release. So this maybe a slightly bias review.
Seemingly all the money went into the audio mastering and was skipped on the pressing. The vinyl are quite thin and unfortunately because of IVCs mailer do not well in transit. Side B is the worse with a massive warp to it luckily the RB330 Tonearm handles it well. The surface noise is up there with picture discs and the style choice is poor from this. Im going to try give them a wet clean to reduce this. The audio though is fantastic and having heard this 200 odd times this is the best version ive heard of it with the drums slamming the headphones.

Absolutely love this album, can't even really understand why I love it so much. This pressing is incredible, packaging is amazing, vinyl looks great, and I have no issues at all with the sound. Need to turn it up a little bit, but that is all I experienced. And the biggest peeve of mine in past pressings, they have "Jumping Rooftops" at the start of side 4, where it belongs. Listened three times and not a pop, this shit is the bomb

Killer sound, Levi crushed it as usual! Soundstage is wide open, drums are forward and booming. Most impressive is how the color is spot on with the mockup. There’s some light surface noise on quiet parts but otherwise not noticeable

#1744 checking in, sounds pretty good. similar to what chadgeborkoff said there some cracks on side B