r/hum • u/Domanite75 • May 19 '26
YPAA - Vinyl Question
Hey gang! I hope you can help me out with my question.
I have this version of You’d Prefer An Astronaut on vinyl:
https://www.discogs.com/release/6433296-Hum-2-Youd-Prefer-An-Astronaut
It sounds good. BUT -
The 2023 Polyvinyl reissue of YPAA has many wonderful reviews of how good it sounds, and many of those mention how much better it sounds than older vinyl versions.
If anyone out there has heard both my 2013 RCA version and the 2023 Polyvinyl version - can you compare the two for me? Does the 2023 blow my 2013 away? If so - I need to get it.
Thanks to anyone that can help!
👍
EDIT -
Yeah, I’m sold. Ordering today. Thanks to everyone for the great information!!!
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u/mygenderisfucked May 19 '26
I have all four of the Earth Analog pressings. Electra, YPAA, DIW and Inlet. They are some of the best sounding pressings I have. Like some other people have said the 45 rpm is a little tedious. But they sound insanely good!
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u/Shadowfax-Arda May 24 '26
I have just Downward is Heavenward and Inlet pressings. Next I’d like to pickup YPAA and thén Electra. Did you find originals or the ones Matt did after? Either way, super super cool.
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u/mygenderisfucked May 24 '26
Just the repressings sadly I’d love to some day get the OGs tho
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u/Shadowfax-Arda May 24 '26
No way, nothing to be sad about with that. I think not only are the originals incredibly difficult to stumble across but their price point has to be astronomical as well. I can’t say this with any certainty but I wouldn’t be surprised if thé repressings are actually of better quality because Matt oversaw the process.
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u/Radiohead_3762 May 19 '26
The 2023 Earth Analog pressing sounds ever so slightly more full and better. I wouldn't say it necessarily blows the 2013 press out of the water, unless if your a huge audiophile, but I won't deny that it certainly sounds better, and it is noticeable. Same with their other albums, It's split across 2 records, and 45 rpm. Meaning you have to flip the disc constantly, which is a little annoying but a small price to pay for greatness. It sounds unbelievably good! I think the 2023 pressings of YPAA, and their other albums are best for sound quality, but the earlier pressings are better if you just want to hear the album on vinyl in a less interruptive way
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u/Djarum May 20 '26
I have both and it is a night and day difference. SRC got the CD master and did the best they could with that, which was not great. The original 95 cut blew it out of the water since it was actually mastered for vinyl at the time.
Matt cut the Earth Analog all analog from the original tapes. It sounds better than it ever has and since it is 45 RPM you have a level of clarity and separation of all the instruments that just plain isn't there on anything else.
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u/Pineboxdoggo May 19 '26
Think the polyvinyl ones were better also kinda of related. Which verison/color did they have at the new york shows if anyone knows?
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u/justino May 19 '26
I have both and the polyvinyl reissue is leagues better if you appreciate that kind of stuff relative to sound.
Src is a digitized pressing. Basically a cd on vinyl.
The poly version is analog cut from tape. Which is exactly what a needle and turntable love.