Came across an oddity last night, My system right now is a Optonica RP-3636 Mk2 turntable with an Audio Technica AT13EX cart playing into a Kenwood KR5400 which then goes to a pair of CV vs100s or JVC SX-A5 speakers depending on my mood with a lafayette 750 powering my canton plus C.

Yes its a weird setup, but I’m a budget guy and i like to fix things up on the side so the variety is usually a bit eclectic. I have less than $250 in my setup, and that kind of thing makes me happy.

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The oddity was i picked up a new press of Boston’s first album the other day, since its my favorite album. I have a couple of older presses, but figured it would be nice to have a newer one for collection value, and because its blue and i like that sort of thing.

Im pretty smitten with this kenwood at the moment, I may not be able to get rid of this one.

But i was listening to this record and noticed that some of the highs were way washed out to the point of fuzzing, particularly on Foreplay/Long Time. The vocal highs were just all mixed up and shite, I was dismayed thinking something in my system needed bench time.

On a hunch, i grabbed my old press and tried out the same song, and wouldn’t ya know it the highs were fine. Back and forth confirmed it, the new record had distinctly worse sound.

Anybody seen this? Is it a difference in the master or is my new record just a shit press?