The Beatles – Rubber Soul

11/11 Pressing. No notes.

Pro-Ject X1B + Sumiko Wellfleet / Schiit Mani 2 / Musical Fidelity M5si / Dali Oberon 7's

I just got a copy of a -5 with #1 mothers both sides. What is the difference here. Is -5 a Hazel Yarwood cut always? How do you tell it is a yarwood? My side 1 looks to have a HM at 3 oclock. https://www.discogs.sitioby.com/release/5089839-The-Beatles-Rubber-Soul

just randomly found a -5/-5 pressing with the Garrod & Lofthouse flip-back sleeve at a local second hand shop this weekend. i had no idea what i was getting for $15, i was happy just to stumble across an original UK Mono version in a random record bin in this part of the world. and almost 60 years later, it was still in the original wax paper lined inner sleeve.

sound wise, this sounds fantastic. very warm and open with no obvious compression; extremely crisp high end with no obvious sibilance. i would say this could be classified as a "Loud Cut" as my copy in hand has quite a few surface scuffs and hairlines, yet plays a very strong and clean VG+/EX-.

ive only ever had my mom's old Capitol stereo version from the 60s (which may as well be a totally different record the way it was chopped up and sequenced) and one of those horrible US pressings from 1995 (which just sounded like a poorly mastered CD pressed on vinyl, complete with no low end and high end so severe it gives you a headache), and i must say. this UK Mono version is the very clear winner.

I have a minty copy of this -5/-5 and it sounds amazing. My sleeve, the original, was printed by Garrod & Lofthouse, not E.J. Day as it says in the notes. I imagine there are numerous cross-overs between this entry and this one: The Beatles - Rubber Soul

The word is out on this one. Parlogram Auctions is why I’m here, and now having ownership of a near mint copy, I can confirm it’s the best original sounding pressing. Not harsh and too midrange like the -1, and close to the -4, but this is more refined with better dynamics and EQ balancing. If you can’t get the 2014 remaster, this is the one to own.

This is a fabulous sounding pressing of one of the Beatles' finest records. Hazel Yarwood's mix is extremely clean and clear with every instrument and singer in perfect balance. My only gripe is that it is a little light on the bass, but otherwise you can't go wrong with this pressing and if you're a fan of Rubber Soul, especially in mono, then you owe it to yourself to pick one up.

The -5 Hazel Yarwood cut is the best Beatles mono pressing I've heard. If only all mono LPs sounded this great.....

This is the real deal - the finest pressing of this album that there is. Cut by the legendary cutting engineer, Hazel Yarwood, this 1966 -5 has the finest, most refined sound of Rubber Soul that’s available on vinyl. Perfectly balanced with unbelievable dynamic range, this is a revelation. The well renowned 1981 mono pressing uses this metalwork. It’s well worth seeking out. Breathtaking.