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.

A decent pressing. Side 3 has the most crackling for me. It runs throughout both songs.I even got a free replacement because on my other copy the label on side C was kind of torn, clearly during the process where it is glued to the vinyl.
I might use my Knosti to clean it. If it does not help I might keep the one with the damaged label. The sound is more important after all.
If I have to be honest: Almost all new vinyl I order nowadays has some form of noise or crackling. The pressing plants are all overbooked and quality control is severely lacking. Because of this I definetely buy less new vinyl copies.

Extremely good pressing. The copy I received of the coke bottle clear is DEAD QUIET. I’m a bit shocked at how quiet it is after reading some of the comments here. None of the surface noise that others are reporting. Beautifully dynamic.

Had to return my copy to TM Stores to exchange. Large blemish on disc 1 affecting the final track on side 1 & 2 - there was vinyl residue on needle after playing - anyone else have this?

Good pressing and dynamically very very good. Lots of bottom end!

Slightly disappointing in that the end of Side 3 has a LOT of surface noise that pervades the title track/ final track on the side.

Otherwise, a Wilson sonic-fest, as always. The electronic sounds jump out the speakers. Good stereo separation too.

Solid, but due to the aforementioned noise not a perfect copy.

Descent pressing, with some audible very minor clicks and crackle in the background at the beginning of the record. Sounds dynamic with good bass and clear highs.
Lately I became somewhat disappointed in "new" vinyl (I got some wavey and crackling records) but this one gives me new hope.
The music is great 👍

Is this actually coke bottle clear? Looks more like transparent sea blue

Not the quietest pressing, all sides start with some rash which quickly fades. There is a light gravely background throughout, but which is generally lost in the music. Light ticks and clicks on most sides. Pretty decent overall, but not perfect. Bass is very heavy! Music excellent.