Ramones – Road To Ruin

Saw the Rhino Hi-Fi online and ed these comments—decided to buy this version instead for $15 less. Holy Moly! It does indeed sound fantastic! Thanks to everyone who recommended it.

COMPARISON TIME:

2019 RHINO vs 2024 RHINO HI-FI

For those who dont like reading and want to keep it short, the 2019 regular cut handily outperforms the 2024 so called hi-fidelity press for sound. Truly, its not even close. But the 2024 is much more packaged (if two to three times the price mind). So buy on the basis of which one suits your priorities.

So then, i shall elaborate on the sound, but first let me offer my sincere heartfelt apologies if i offend any KPG fanboys. He has dropped another dud and im alarmed at his drop off in mastering quality of late.
To conclude then, the 2019 has....
- a much wider deeper 3d soundstage
- far more transient impact
- far better bass wallop
- much sweeter and clearer highs
- no distortion baked in the end of sides
- half the retail price

The 2024 Hifi has...
- erm, a nicer jacket?

I tried to convince myself i was wrong. I bought a second Rhino hifi which is just as dead sounding as the first and again breaks up into fizzy distortion at the side ends (low hrs microline, check). Seriously, the drums sound pathetic. They hit with all the force of a cheap water pistol. The uppers are rolled off into dullness territory. This leaves a flat sound with added distortion as the sides close out. Theres no life. And a Ramones pressing with no life is not even worth considering.

The vinyl compounds are nigh on identical... both damn near silent. That the Rhino 2019 offers such sweet and crisp yet very expansive sound on flat and heavy, nigh silent vinyl for £18 is what this hobby is all about. I cant be too sad about the Rhino Hifi though, i not only save money, i get to avoid the most annoyingly tight jackets ever made and sell the distorted dullard to some suck, i mean plucky individual for more than i paid for it! A second time!!Lucky for me then, that audiophiles are easily parted with their money.

At 2500 LPs - with many of them by Kevin - i will state i like most of his masterings but im realising its the bulk of the earlier pre covid work that i enjoy. Too many of late have gone awry and his mastering choices are literally contradictions of each other. I hope its not a trend and he is just overworked as theres no doubt the new vinyl that comes out these days with his name on is vastly greater in number than what was coming 10 yrs ago. Ive even said a little prayer for it to somehow resolve itself, perhaps his recent protegè will share the burden lol. Then again i bought his Burrell/Coltrane OJC and...... 🙉

Outstanding pressing! Smooth and flat, practically zero surface noise. Procure and enjoy!

My favorite Ramones album. Heavyweight vinyl is quality, spins dead flat and is very quiet. Sound quality surprisingly good too! Well balanced and clear. Much better than I expected and price was a very reasonable USD 22.
Only negative - is the gloss paper sleeve/insert.
It’s prone to splitting so I house the record in a inner sleeve for safe keeping.

Great record. Songs are great! Sound is very good. This is a very good edition of the record. Buy it.

Sound excellent. The sleeve is the like the yellow lyric inner sleeve in other editions.

Sound really good compared to alotta new presses would buy again

The lp is not BLue! its black. sounds great the album