Steven Wilson – The Harmony Codex

Was very happy to get my beautiful looking and sounding double set with a most pleasant mix of radio-friendly masterpieces like "What Life Brings" among other rather obscure intricate but brilliant openly progressive future classics. Jaw-dropping dynamics, specially in the low end but...disappointment didn't take long to get ahold of me. After what sounded like real clean and great-sounding sides A and B, could not believe how noisy the first 60 seconds or more of the C side come, possibly due to impure vinyl or stamper (?) (how come being a recent release or did I catch one of the last copies pressed with a damaged stamper?. Not anyone's fault but shipping costs to South America make each record I dare ordering a real sacred and expensive object. Not happy at all to get a VIRGIN Records album "pressed in " (though I read made in the ECC...which I always fear) lacking in quality control at the pressing plant. Doesn't someone sit down to check a test pressing and/or a few final copies before they hit the market? I might well have to decide to stick to boring and poor looking CDs again, and quit unpredictable vinyl records of this new era. None of this used to happen in the vinyl golden era. Just a couple of clicks and pops here and there but these days I don't even dare suggesting anyone to get new records any longer. Even my copy of Pink Floyd's The Wall turned out to be an awfully noisy pressing at the beginning of side 1 and some other side I don't now since I left it in the "better-forget-about-it" box long ago. Why on earth did I decide to sell my original copy ! Be warned...do not expect crystal clear sound from a monster pressing like Harmony Codex. Ironic.

Fantastic album from SW, from Ninet Tayeb's contribution to Jack Dangers twiddling knobs here and there.... (loved his Meat Beat Manifesto stuff BITD).

Thankfully my copy is clean as a whistle and sounds excellent to boot.

Dreamy, cerebral, sublime, grey, and I could add psychedelic. I like my LPs but few sound as good as a well done 24b/96k version, like this one. I know the gear matters a lot, and none of my gear is shabby. But I digress. I'm blown away by songs like Impossible Tightrope. Enjoy the trip!

Just picked up a copy at HMV for 22 GBP, if anybody is interested.

Considering some of the reviews Idk if I’m just one of the lucky ones or what. But last night I went to my local record store; They had the orange for a tad bit more and the black vinyl. I went for the black thinking all I care for is the sonics. I don’t know anything about what order what was pressed. My copy has a made in sticker on the back. Just got through listening to the album throughout this morning, And wow! It’s amazing, all I used was my static brush then played it and it was quiet, dynamic and awesome separation. I listen through a pair of Tannoy 611 Mk2 speakers and a vintage McIntosh, solid state amp and preamp; So my system is pretty revealing, zero pops. Steven Wilson has done a superb job. Making some coffee and about to give it another spin.

Made in and only available from british vendors. Are you getting it? I donˋt.

This is just my opinion but the content on CD2 is...not enjoyable...at all. I tried to let it soak in multiple times but it's not blowing my skirt up. I would've enjoyed demos more than remixes.

I'm not hearing any pops or clicks. However Side D last song sticks in one spot on the outro. Overall very good sound, warm rich soundstage. Although it won't be the mega seller that Dark Side of the Moon has been. There are several similarities.

Mine does have surface noise/light hiss but it is only noticeable in quiet and silent sections. While the music is playing the sound quality is very good and totally wipes it out.

Mine has surface noise after two Degritter cleanings. It’s especially bad at the beginning of side A and B. Pops and sibilance. It sounds like I should exchange it at my local after reading the comments here.