Quote from JoePopenagen on August 5, 2026, 1:14 pm

Hi, PBTHAL, I hope you're doing very well!

I've been comparing the three versions of Echo & The Bunnymen – Heaven Up Here, and I wanted to share my impressions after listening specifically to these three tracks:

01 - Show Of Strength.
03 - Over The Wall.
07 - The Disease.

ANSWER TO THE DIMINISHING RETURNS LINEAGE (Audio-Technica VM150MLX Frankencart) : has more bass quantity and a fuller, rounder sound, although with slightly less definition.

DRESSED TO THE NINES LINEAGE (Audio-Technica ART9) : has a little less bass, but it goes deeper and is better defined and controlled. For me, it offered the best balance. With this version, I heard that distinctive early-'80s British band sound: dark, full of character and atmosphere. It's exactly the kind of sound I expect from this album, far removed from the typical "audiophile" sound.

THE LAST LINEAGE (Step Up Edition – August 04, 2026): gave me the impression of a cleaner sound, with more air and better instrument separation. However, to my ears, it doesn't have more bass than the VM150MLX, nor does it surpass the ART9 in bass definition.

All three transfers are excellent; I listened to all three versions on the following system:

6 TB USB hard drive connected to a HiFi Rose RS151 configured as a DAC with Display and Volume Control OFF, 2000 mV (Unbalanced 1000 mV), FIR Interpolation Minimum Phase Slow Roll-off filter, PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid with Brimar CV4003 tubes, and Wharfedale Elysian 4 floorstanding loudspeakers.

I simply wanted to give you a reference of how things sound on my system, that's all.

Thank you for sharing such fantastic music! 😀

Joe.