COMMENTS ON THE LAST LINEAGE (STEP UP EDITION) (JULY 31, 2026)
Quote from JoePopenagen on August 1, 2026, 2:11 pmHi PBTHAL,
I've been comparing several tracks from The Last Lineage (Step Up Edition - July 31, 2026) with transfers from some of your earlier lineages. In particular, I listened to the following tracks and compared them with your earlier transfers: "Heart and Soul" (Joy Division), "Live Wire" (AC/DC), "Original Fire" and "One and the Same" (Audioslave), "Still Ill" (The Smiths), and "Love Vigilantes" and "The Perfect Kiss" (New Order), using both critical listening and foobar2000's Spectrum Analyzer.
Across those tracks, I noticed a consistent tendency: slightly less low-end weight, groove, and the natural interplay between kick drum and bass, giving the presentation a somewhat more restrained character than your earlier transfers.
I mention this with genuine respect, as I've been enjoying your work for a long time. Of all your lineages, the ones that have always come closest, to my ears, to conveying the original intent of the music are ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2019–2021) and ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2021–2024).
One transfer that still stands out to me is Echo & the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here. Although it predates the Reflektor series, it still sounds exactly as I feel that album should sound.
That is why I was particularly interested in The Last Lineage. Was the cleaner, more controlled presentation an intentional direction with this new lineage?
I hope you won't take these comments the wrong way. They are simply observations offered with respect and in a constructive spirit.
Best regards from Buenos Aires,
José
(((Hugs)))
Hi PBTHAL,
I've been comparing several tracks from The Last Lineage (Step Up Edition - July 31, 2026) with transfers from some of your earlier lineages. In particular, I listened to the following tracks and compared them with your earlier transfers: "Heart and Soul" (Joy Division), "Live Wire" (AC/DC), "Original Fire" and "One and the Same" (Audioslave), "Still Ill" (The Smiths), and "Love Vigilantes" and "The Perfect Kiss" (New Order), using both critical listening and foobar2000's Spectrum Analyzer.
Across those tracks, I noticed a consistent tendency: slightly less low-end weight, groove, and the natural interplay between kick drum and bass, giving the presentation a somewhat more restrained character than your earlier transfers.
I mention this with genuine respect, as I've been enjoying your work for a long time. Of all your lineages, the ones that have always come closest, to my ears, to conveying the original intent of the music are ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2019–2021) and ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2021–2024).
One transfer that still stands out to me is Echo & the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here. Although it predates the Reflektor series, it still sounds exactly as I feel that album should sound.
That is why I was particularly interested in The Last Lineage. Was the cleaner, more controlled presentation an intentional direction with this new lineage?
I hope you won't take these comments the wrong way. They are simply observations offered with respect and in a constructive spirit.
Best regards from Buenos Aires,
José
(((Hugs)))
Quote from PB on August 1, 2026, 3:00 pmHow do you know what the "original intent of the music" is? You don't seem to mind the extra +3 db at 20hz the Black Ice kicks...I dont think that was the "original intent" but you find it appealing...which is great but does not mean it is great for everyone
Comparing the Heart and Soul, the Step Up has ZERO grain and has complete control of the soundstage without having to bloat the bass with a cloud of undefined low end.
That is my listening impression
How do you know what the "original intent of the music" is? You don't seem to mind the extra +3 db at 20hz the Black Ice kicks...I dont think that was the "original intent" but you find it appealing...which is great but does not mean it is great for everyone
Comparing the Heart and Soul, the Step Up has ZERO grain and has complete control of the soundstage without having to bloat the bass with a cloud of undefined low end.
That is my listening impression
Quote from JoePopenagen on August 1, 2026, 4:00 pmPBTHAL.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
You're right that I have no way of knowing exactly what each artist intended their music to sound like, as I wasn't there during the mixing sessions. On that point, you're absolutely right. Perhaps I didn't express myself very well.
What I can say is that I own the original vinyl pressings of many of the albums I mentioned, Closer in particular, and I know those records very well. In my case, the extra +3 dB at 20 Hz brings me closer to the groove I've always associated with that album and enjoy so much.
I also still have several titles from the DRESSED TO THE NINES SERIES, and I honestly wouldn't trade them for anything. To my ears, they simply sound perfect:
Dire Straits – Communiqué (BK)
Dire Straits – Dire Straits (UK)
Dire Straits – Love Over Gold (UK RL)
Dire Straits – On Every Street (UK)At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal taste. I genuinely enjoy your earlier lineages because they give me the sound I grew up with and still love today.
To me, everything you did with the DRESSED TO THE NINE SERIES, ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2019–2021) and ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2021–2024) is simply pure gold.
Once again, thank you for sharing your work. I sincerely hope my comments haven't caused any offence; that was never my intention.
José
(((Hugs)))
P.S. Just out of curiosity, do you think it would be possible to make a version of the Closer original first pressing from The Last Lineage (Step Up Edition – July 31) with a +3 dB boost at 20 Hz, purely as an experiment? I'd be very interested to hear how that exact same transfer behaves on my own system.
PBTHAL.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
You're right that I have no way of knowing exactly what each artist intended their music to sound like, as I wasn't there during the mixing sessions. On that point, you're absolutely right. Perhaps I didn't express myself very well.
What I can say is that I own the original vinyl pressings of many of the albums I mentioned, Closer in particular, and I know those records very well. In my case, the extra +3 dB at 20 Hz brings me closer to the groove I've always associated with that album and enjoy so much.
I also still have several titles from the DRESSED TO THE NINES SERIES, and I honestly wouldn't trade them for anything. To my ears, they simply sound perfect:
Dire Straits – Communiqué (BK)
Dire Straits – Dire Straits (UK)
Dire Straits – Love Over Gold (UK RL)
Dire Straits – On Every Street (UK)
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal taste. I genuinely enjoy your earlier lineages because they give me the sound I grew up with and still love today.
To me, everything you did with the DRESSED TO THE NINE SERIES, ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2019–2021) and ANSWER TO THE DEFINITIVE RETURNS SERIES (2021–2024) is simply pure gold.
Once again, thank you for sharing your work. I sincerely hope my comments haven't caused any offence; that was never my intention.
José
(((Hugs)))
P.S. Just out of curiosity, do you think it would be possible to make a version of the Closer original first pressing from The Last Lineage (Step Up Edition – July 31) with a +3 dB boost at 20 Hz, purely as an experiment? I'd be very interested to hear how that exact same transfer behaves on my own system.
Quote from JohnLaidlaw on August 1, 2026, 5:31 pmYou want rips custom made to your listening taste ..No way Jose..
You want rips custom made to your listening taste ..No way Jose..
Quote from PB on August 1, 2026, 5:31 pmNo, that would be counter intuitive since I am not looking to boost subsonic noise
No, that would be counter intuitive since I am not looking to boost subsonic noise
Quote from JoePopenagen on August 1, 2026, 5:53 pmPBTHAL,
Thank you for your reply.
I completely understand what you mean, and I now have a much better understanding of the direction you've chosen for this new lineage. Just out of curiosity, may I ask which phono preamp you're using for this lineage?
(((Hugs)))
José.
PBTHAL,
Thank you for your reply.
I completely understand what you mean, and I now have a much better understanding of the direction you've chosen for this new lineage. Just out of curiosity, may I ask which phono preamp you're using for this lineage?
(((Hugs)))
José.
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