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    "When we began discussing audio projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead back in 2012, we knew we wanted to do something completely unprecedented. We could think of nothing more exciting or ambitious than a career-spanning overview of the band's live legacy focused on what best tells the story: complete concerts. Our first criterion was the very best live music to represent any given year in the band’s history. We wanted to make sure that there were not only the tent-pole shows that fans have been demanding for decades but also ones that are slightly more under the radar, but equally excellent. For those who listen to the entire box straight through, chronologically, the narrative of the Grateful Dead's live legacy will be seen as second to none in the pantheon of music history." - David Lemieux

    We are more than pleased to announce the Grateful Dead's most ambitious release ever: 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN. Available as both an 80-disc boxed set and a custom lightning-bolt USB drive, the collection includes 30 unreleased live shows, one for each year the band was together from 1966 to 1995, along with one track from their earliest recording sessions in 1965. Packed with over 73 hours of music, both the boxed set and the USB drive will be individually numbered limited editions.

    The 80-disc boxed set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies, a nod to the band’s formation in 1965. Along with the CDs, it also includes a gold-colored 7-inch vinyl single which bookends the band’s career. The A-side is “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” from the band’s earliest recording session in 1965 with the B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, “Box Of Rain” recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995.

    The box also comes with a 288-page book that features an extensive, career-spanning essay written by Nick Meriwether, who oversees the Dead archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz, along with special remembrances of the band submitted by fans. Also included is a scroll that offers a visual representation of how the band’s live repertoire has evolved through the years.

    The USB drive version* will be shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Digital version of the book also included on USB.

    Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD. This release is sure to sell out quickly so pre-order your copy today and stick around as we will be revealing a mighty fine selection of music, art, and much, much more right here.

    (Looking for a smaller 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake? September 18th will see the release of a four-CD version of the collection titled 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN: THE DEFINITIVE LIVE STORY 1965-1995. More on that here.)

    ROLLINGSTONE.COM SONG PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE DAVID LEMIEUX INTERVIEW
    Head on over to Rollingstone.com for the very first listen of "Morning Dew" 9/18/87 Madison Square Garden, David Fricke's exclusive interview with archivist David Lemieux, and the reveal of 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN's '69 and '84 shows.

    *Helpful hints for using your USB:

    Running the 30 Trips Player / Reader program:
    On Windows – Navigate to the USB drive and double click the PCStart.exe file to run.
    On MacOS – Open the GD 30 Trips drive, and double click the MacStart to run.

    Viewing the digital book:
    You can either view it within the program that comes on the drive, or by opening the PDF directly.

    To view the PDF, open the PDF folder on the drive and the USB_bk_spreads_08-31 file within. Selecting the option within your PDF reading application to view as a “single page” might be preferable to viewing as a continuous document.

    Importing music into iTunes and other library programs:
    When you import the songs from the USB into your library, the information used to identify the track will likely leave them sorted incorrectly. Please use the song list found here to re-number the songs for each show so that they playback in the correct order.
    PDF
    Text

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  • #6631
    KeithFan2112
    Joined:
    Speaking of Decline
    Yeah Palmer, you bring up a good point. What happened to Bob Weir's guitar sound in the late 70s? I want to call it choppy flamenco, but I don't know why I want to call it that. It's something in the tone of his guitar that changed a whole bunch. I may be morphing into pre-hiatus guy....I've always maintained that they were better with just Billy on drums, and that almost anything they played on the Europe '72 tour sounded better in '72 than it did after the hiatus (Bertha, Cold Rain, New Minglewood ((Ladies & Gentlemen - wow)), Ramble On, Sugar Magnolia, Promised Land, Deal, the list goes on. But there was so much good stuff I like in 77/78 - Scarlet Fire, Music Never Stopped, Estimated Eyes, Help-Slipknot-Franklin, The Wheel, Samson, the list goes on.
  • #6632
    JimInMD
    Joined:
    DearJerry
    For the Shakedown Sessions, I don't think it was that he wasn't welcome to the studio, its that there were days that he didn't even show up, especially towards the end. Jerry, in particular, was pissed and asked John Kahn to finish. He even has keyboard credits on the album. Wouldn't that qualify to some of the comments at least? I also think Keith's playing is brilliant for most of his career with the Dead, and I often spend large amounts of time listening to the Keith Years. I also think band members opinions count. So there's a lot to this, but most importantly I don't recall any significant volume of people bashing Keith's playing on this thread. ..and if there are some comments you might not like, they are almost always in response to someone stirring the pot with Brent bashing, which certainly offends people. I was just highlighting that for a host of reasons Feb '17th was their last show, so lets be thankful for what we have instead of dwelling on what we cannot impact. It is what it is. That's all, nothing personal.
  • #6633
    Cousins Of The…
    Joined:
    Mo' Keith
    Just finished listening Row Jimmy from 3/20/77. Keith sounds great backing up Jerry's fine, lyrical solo, but is clobbered by every hit of Mickey's bass drum. I think this was mentioned a few weeks ago; very apparent to me on this track. To my ears, it sounds like there was a change in the mix from 76 to 77; more emphasis on the drums(esp. bass drum), and a less "crispy" bass, making the overall sound a little muddier than it was.
  • #6634
    PalmerEldritch
    Joined:
    I love the keyboard/era debates!
    I don't agree that "old" topics, such as era- and keyboard debates should be retired. This day's posts has been the most interesting here to me in weeks: from floridabobs culture reflections all through the Keith decline discussion. Almost anything that generates a flurry of thoughtful posts seems cool to me as long as it's civil. As a lifelong Deadhead, I think the era/keyboard debate is perfectly relevant and (for me) endlessly fascinating (well, nearly endlessly). I'm extemely conflicted and ambivalent about most of the Dead's post-hiatus music and have been that way for >35 years. Where else can we talk about these things? If we only stuck to the forum topic, we all know these threads dry up quickly and become boring as all hell. My guess is that,era/keyboard discussions generate the most interest here, despite complaints about "old, well worn" topics. Anyone really bored can just scroll though topics that don't interest them. I did draft a long post to contribute to the Keith decline discussion but lost the draft. Basically, I agree with LoveJerry. Keith sounds fine to me in the late 70's but as someone pointed out, he seems very low in the mix. Yes, there is a huge difference in Keith's playing E72 and May 77; but the same could be said for Phil and Bobby's playing. How could anyone not notice a similar decline in their playing? Listen to any of Bob and Phil's playing from the late 70's compared to, say Fillmore 2/69, E72, or WInterland 73. Night and day.
  • #6635
    KeithFan2112
    Joined:
    hahahaha What?? He stole Jerry's stash??
    No wonder he wasn't welcome (and no wonder he couldn't finish the Shakedown Street session). Hey hey, Jerrylover, don't drag my name in the mud lol. I only said he was a fair pilot. No but really Keith Moon was like the tazmanian devil with drumsticks. If anyone has heard his live stuff from Tommy and Live at leads, in that '69 - '70 zone, you know what I'm talking about. I can understand why Clapton or Baker (I forget which one) would have given that snide expression when asked about Moon's talent compared to Baker, because Ginger was great, a time keeper, an arranger, and so much more than a drummer when it came to making music, but Moon was off the rails excellent, and completely untouchable from '68 - '73. But if you compiled the best live 2 hours of Moon with the best live 2 hours of Baker, Moon is a step or two ahead. What Baker brought to music composition, Moon brought to live performance.
  • #6636
    LoveJerry
    Joined:
    Jim In MD
    I am asking "us" because "us" are the folks who frequently say Keith's playing declined without a lick of evidence to substantiate that assertion. Forget what you've read on Wikipedia or wherever, since it's not exactly a well documented topic, and listen to the music - where is it? Did Phil really say that? If he said it, is it true? In a court of law it's nothing more than hearsay. Give me a song or just recognize that every time someone comments that his playing declined is probably going off the Wiki quote or the comment from Blair Jackson's book (thanks for sharing, never saw it before), but a couple of off-handed subjective remarks do not make it true, and they don't hold up to scrutiny, which is my main point. People are regurgitating hearsay that does not hold up to scrutiny - no wonder politicians lie so much - it's so easy to pass lies off as truth to the masses. It's actually kind of scary. It would be interesting to scan this site for the past several months to see how often this unsubstantiated rubbish was repeated. I kind of feel bad for Donna. And the reason I didn't bring up anything like drug use or marital problems is because it has nothing to do with my argument, which is simply that his playing did not suffer on the stage, and I have the tapes to prove it :-) Or maybe I don't - I am willing to admit I was wrong or uninformed, which is why I posted in the first place - to find out if anyone can point to a performance where his playing was off. Keithfan mentioned Keith Moon - at least when his playing was said to have declined before his death, you can hear it in recordings (Kilburn 1977, Who Are You). That I believe, because it's well documented and easy to hear.
  • #6637
    KeithFan2112
    Joined:
    You Know a Rumble Ain't a Rumble Without Me
    Of course I agree with LoveJerry - not because I'm a Keith fan, but because it's true - there is really very little primary source evidence that Keith's playing deteriorated. Wikipedia? Even if Phil said it, ex-bandmates deride each other all of the time, it's the single most predictable type of slander they throw at one another. I'm sure he nodded off at the wheel a few times, but that's hardly a deterioration in skills. Not that it's a good thing. But I get LoveJerry's sentiment, which I might also add was not an argument about the reasons he left the band so much as a defense of his playing. So while yeah, some folks have pointed out that there was drug use and whatever, the main point is that folks comment about Keith's deterioration of skill on here all the time, presumably because they read a Wiki quote or Blair Jackson comment - yet the evidence, the music betrays the notion that there was anything substandard in his playing. If I'm reading her post accurately she's just asking someone to point out which songs/shows/period demonstrates this decreased ability to play, and indignant (correct me if I'm wrong JerryLover) that when the topic of his departure comes up, everyone always says he couldn't play, he couldn't play, he couldn't play. I have, myself tried to substantiate that claim that he could no longer play, but just can't find it. The proof should be in the pudding, but it's not. Long live Keith. Both of them - Keith Moon drummed circles around Ginger - he just colored out of the lines a lot.
  • #6638
    JimInMD
    Joined:
    Re: DearJerry/Keith
    Why ask us? We didn't kick him out of the band. There's a few factors you are not bringing up besides his playing. I don't think any of us question he was a brilliant piano player loaded with talent. But.. First there was his escalating drug use. By late '78 Keith had a heroin addiction (and for that matter so did Jerry). Towards the end of Shakedown Street, Keith couldn't even be found to finish the keyboard tracks on some of the unfinished songs, so John Kahn of all people filled in and did them. In Rock Skully's book, Rock states Keith was rumored to have stolen Jerry's stash once, which really pissed off Jerry. Shortly after that, Keith wasn't part of the JGB. Can't ask any of them if its true because they've all passed by now.. but I don't think there's much doubt about their drug use and drug of choice in these years. There was also the relationship trauma. There were regular fireworks between Keith and Donna on a regular basis. Violent fights, trashed hotels, smash up derby's in the parking lots, ...drama.. tension.. yuk. And then there was his playing. I think his playing had diminished or at the very least was not consistent by late '78, early '79 and, well, the sad truth is.. you can't get rid of Jerry and I'm not sure if having two junkies in the band was something they wanted or could continue with. Keith and Donna wanted to leave too. I think she left a few shows early in one of the last tours because she couldn't take it either. Remember, they were trying to raise small kids at the time. So its well documented that the parting was mutual. I'm not sure what is to be accomplished by going down that rabbit hole. They left and they got a new piano player. We weren't there, but I imagine if we were and if we were privy to all the facts and details.. well, my guess is one way or another, that darkness had to give. One Edit: I read cousins reply (which was classic). Yes, amateur slide guitar hour. aaaack! Love ya Bobby... but on this one, I agree with my cousin. He supposedly started playing more slide to get the sounds he (they) wanted they keys. ..and yes, Donna in particular was drinking a lot, but Keith was chasing the dragon.
  • #6639
    JimInMD
    Joined:
    Re: Brokedown
    I agree with your post. I think most people's minds on this are 'set like concrete'. The back and forth is usually non-productive, and I can't say I learn a ton from it.. especially when the posts come with barbs or put down another's tastes or preferences. I actually don't see the debate, I like the Keith years.. but spring '79 was their last hurrah, and enter the '80's and they got a new keyboard player. It is what it is. I am thankful someone pressed "record" on the tape deck, sit back and enjoy (or press skip if there's out there that doesn't tickle your pleasure bone).
  • #6640
    mbarilla
    Joined:
    Check out JGB live shows from 1978
    Some great stops along the way from Keith in 1978. And another vote for Red Rocks July 7-8, 1978. Tennesse Jed ; Passenger ; Peggy-O ; The Music Never Stopped Killer four piece combo to end first night 1st set
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"When we began discussing audio projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead back in 2012, we knew we wanted to do something completely unprecedented. We could think of nothing more exciting or ambitious than a career-spanning overview of the band's live legacy focused on what best tells the story: complete concerts. Our first criterion was the very best live music to represent any given year in the band’s history. We wanted to make sure that there were not only the tent-pole shows that fans have been demanding for decades but also ones that are slightly more under the radar, but equally excellent. For those who listen to the entire box straight through, chronologically, the narrative of the Grateful Dead's live legacy will be seen as second to none in the pantheon of music history." - David Lemieux

We are more than pleased to announce the Grateful Dead's most ambitious release ever: 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN. Available as both an 80-disc boxed set and a custom lightning-bolt USB drive, the collection includes 30 unreleased live shows, one for each year the band was together from 1966 to 1995, along with one track from their earliest recording sessions in 1965. Packed with over 73 hours of music, both the boxed set and the USB drive will be individually numbered limited editions.

The 80-disc boxed set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies, a nod to the band’s formation in 1965. Along with the CDs, it also includes a gold-colored 7-inch vinyl single which bookends the band’s career. The A-side is “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” from the band’s earliest recording session in 1965 with the B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, “Box Of Rain” recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995.

The box also comes with a 288-page book that features an extensive, career-spanning essay written by Nick Meriwether, who oversees the Dead archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz, along with special remembrances of the band submitted by fans. Also included is a scroll that offers a visual representation of how the band’s live repertoire has evolved through the years.

The USB drive version* will be shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Digital version of the book also included on USB.

Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD. This release is sure to sell out quickly so pre-order your copy today and stick around as we will be revealing a mighty fine selection of music, art, and much, much more right here.

(Looking for a smaller 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake? September 18th will see the release of a four-CD version of the collection titled 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN: THE DEFINITIVE LIVE STORY 1965-1995. More on that here.)

ROLLINGSTONE.COM SONG PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE DAVID LEMIEUX INTERVIEW
Head on over to Rollingstone.com for the very first listen of "Morning Dew" 9/18/87 Madison Square Garden, David Fricke's exclusive interview with archivist David Lemieux, and the reveal of 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN's '69 and '84 shows.

*Helpful hints for using your USB:

Running the 30 Trips Player / Reader program:
On Windows – Navigate to the USB drive and double click the PCStart.exe file to run.
On MacOS – Open the GD 30 Trips drive, and double click the MacStart to run.

Viewing the digital book:
You can either view it within the program that comes on the drive, or by opening the PDF directly.

To view the PDF, open the PDF folder on the drive and the USB_bk_spreads_08-31 file within. Selecting the option within your PDF reading application to view as a “single page” might be preferable to viewing as a continuous document.

Importing music into iTunes and other library programs:
When you import the songs from the USB into your library, the information used to identify the track will likely leave them sorted incorrectly. Please use the song list found here to re-number the songs for each show so that they playback in the correct order.
PDF
Text

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Submitted by the420bandito on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 11:01

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thanks for the in-depth write up. I have actually been on a little 1977 journey myself lately. I found my ultimate version of Peggy-O which was hiding in the leftovers from Dicks Pick 3. I cannot believe that song was cut from the release! these shows are in heavy rotation: 10-11-77 Norman OK 05-22-77 Pembroke Pines (Dicks #3) "The flawless show" 10-**-77 Road Trips Vol 1 No 2 12-29-77 Winterland (Dicks #10) my favorite '77 Terrapin
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Submitted by KeithFan2112 on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 11:15

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Interesting, I'll have to revisit Terrapin from DP 10. I have a little trouble with Road Trips '77. I'm not sure if it's the mix, which sounds, somehow, flatter than others from '77, or maybe just the fact that it's not a complete show; honestly I can't put a finger on it. There is a fantastic Music Never Stopped on it, as evidenced by the 2 minute "space out" jam that begins around 3:20; maybe my 2nd favorite (behind 4/24/78, which also has a wild "space out" ride). What are your highlights from the October Rumpus that is Road Trips '77? It just occurred to me as I was checking out the shows from 30 Trips, that there is no full version of Weather Report Suite on here. For my part, I prefer the pre-hiatus full versions of this one.
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Submitted by the420bandito on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 11:50

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I am particularly fond of the Help > Slipknot > Franklins Tower from 10-11. The Mississippi Half Step isn't half bad from 10-14. The Let it Grow is pretty darn nice too. I guess the sound is all over the place since they pulled the tracks from 3 different shows - 10-11, 10-14, & 10-16.
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17 years

Submitted by danc on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 13:11

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My overwhelming impression of Fall '77 and that release in particular is coke really taking over, soon to lead to high inconsistency in '78. I love '77, esp. Englishtown and Rochester and the Colgate releases, there is a ton to treasure from October and November. The music is so hyper revved and intense and muscular at times that you can't believe it can be sustained. However, that final '77 Help > Slip is real sloppy, no shot at nailing those changes. I find it sad and painful to hear.
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9 years 1 month

Submitted by the420bandito on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 12:55

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1977 - 4/25, Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ I am very interested to hear this one. If the archive copy is any barometer it will be a much slower show than the later 77 shows. The wait is agonizing...
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10 years

Submitted by muleskinner_blues on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 14:42

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I've had the October '77 Road Trips in the car recently. I've enjoyed it, but not as much as other Fall show I've heard (11/4 being the best for me so far). I like the Help > Slipknot > Franklin, but it didn't overwhelm me as a great version. I think my favorites are the Sugaree and Music Never Stopped from LSU so far on that set. Speaking of H>S>F, listening to the beginning of Buffalo 5/9 since it was mentioned here.
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Submitted by KeithFan2112 on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 08:09

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Yeah muleskinner, that's about my impression of Road Trips '77. I keep going back to it, trying to give it some love, but it never reciprocates. Speaking of Franklin's Tower - I was listening to DP 33 the other day, and all of the sudden this crunchy guitar riff jumped right out of the speaker at me, and it sounded just like Pete Townshend! I think he snuck onstage during the Day On The Green outing, and right at 2:55, he cranked out the Roll Away the Dew riff.....and then snuck right back to his dressing room. I imagine Roger, John, and Keith rolling over with laughter upon his return, and Pete saying something like, "well that's the best guitar riff I never wrote, seems that one got away from me mates; although it goes on a bit long, too much poodling around." Heh, Brits.
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11 years 10 months

Submitted by johnny361 on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 16:14

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When Dick was instructed to select shows for release, 10/11/77 was in the stack of the 3 shows, Dick picked, to kick off this wonderful flood of great shows we enjoy

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17 years 3 months

Submitted by antonjo on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 17:18

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Muleskinner & KeithFan, The Help > Slip > Franklin's on RT1.2 underwhelms me, too, but it's about the only thing that does. Otherwise, love that release. Halfstep > El Paso is a highlight, such a fun and obvious thematic pairing but the only instance I know of. Let It Grow & all of Disc 2 sound strong to me, especially Playin' & the Brokedown > Playin reprise. The bonus disc is fairly sumptuous, also, sans Sunrise (some nice Keith twinkles, but bad vocal mix); really hot Iko for '77. And SO funny you'd mention the audible ghost of Pete on Dick's 33 Franklin's, because I've always heard that uncharacteristically raunchy solo as Jerry putting in an extra effort to impress Pete ("are you hearing this, old buddy?!"). Now there's a stellar Help > Slip > Franklin's, one of my two or three favorite FT's ever. And one of my favorite releases ever--top three or five Dick's, for sure. Won't try to narrow a top three Dick's right now, but Dick's 28 certainly makes my list. Talk about a great 2-track recording ~ Bill's drums sound like two drummers at times (his fills on the ascending lead-in to the first Dew jam are like gathering thunder).
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11 years 1 month

Submitted by Mr. Jack Straw on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 18:22

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Sunshine DaydreamGo To Nassau Rocking The Cradle Nightfall of Diamonds Rocking The Rhein Spring '90 TOO
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13 years 3 months

Submitted by JimInMD on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 18:26

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Love the show analyses.. I have my own mental notes of these shows.. but sometimes I forget things and I cant tell you how many times you guys get me to re-listen to stuff with different ears. Good stuff, if I had more time I would add but this is shaping up to be one of those weeks. I'm at least making time to read it all. Thanks all. Mr. Jack.. agree w/ an honorable mention to FW 69. Its not quite in the same league as some of the more modern ones mentioned.. but at this point it can almost be classified as an antique and it sounds pretty damn good. I'd give an nod overall to some of the other E72 offerings for the same reason. Not disagreeing w/ your post, just adding a couple lines below.

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Submitted by floridabobaloo on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 18:37

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I was just reading in DeadBase50 this morning about all the guests that joined the band on stage.This book is phenomenal. I did buy the MoFi mastered copies of American Beauty and Workingmans. Limited editions, numbered. They sound really really awesome I must say.
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17 years 2 months

Submitted by walkindadog on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 19:51

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Love the 1977 analysis . Getting pumped and jacked for the 30 trips. It will come. I am a USB believer and got the FLAC files ordered on day one. Bring on the phat sounds in HD. Pono rocks! Thanks for the posts everyone.
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15 years

Submitted by 4evergr8ful on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 20:12

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I see it says shipping mid-October on the top of the web page...however when adding one to my cart it says ships October 31st...which is it? Does anyone know? Mid October or Halloween?!
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13 years 8 months

Submitted by wjonjd on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 20:19

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I would add the GD Movie Soundtrack release to Mr. Jack's dead-on-accurate list and Jim's additions. In one of the special feature documentary sections of the DVD, Jeffrey Norman discusses quite a bit of the remastering process they used, the kinds of flaws they were dealing with, and what they were trying to achieve. He/they were successful. I think it's one of the best sounding releases. I wish they hadn't edited several tracks to shorten them, like Eyes of the World and Casey Jones (both of which are thankfully available complete on other releases).
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9 years 2 months

Submitted by Ziffle on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 20:50

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Especial shout out to Keithfan2112 for the great review! Well, all of you kicked me off the fence, and after dead.net charges 30 trips, I'll get the May '77 set. As Keithfan2112 aptly pointed out, why settle for three perfect shows (Winterland 77) when I can get eight? Speaking of great soundboards, one show that I wish dead.net would remaster and release is 9/20/70 Fillmore East. Musically, it is a wild trip, similar to the Capitol Port Chester shows from 1970. There is an unearthly and singular Not Fade Away - Caution and general great playing. Beyond that, the soundboard mix is great, coherent and well matches the actual performance sound. The person that did the recording caught the sound perfectly, to my ears. If you turn this one up loud, you will be in the middle orchestra of the Fillmore, that good! If you haven't heard it, make a point at least of giving NFA a close listen (soundboard version). Incredible antiphony between the drummers, Lesh and Garcia are locked in tight with Weir providing filling gaps perfectly, and laying back when he can't keep up. And Lesh does a driving solo toward the end. Shake down your house!
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13 years 3 months

Submitted by JimInMD on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 21:17

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I'm with you on 9/20. Too bad they didn't record more that year.. we are missing some real gems. I started a 1970 drum beat on the Dave's Picks page expecting an announcement soon but I was a month off when I wrote it and realized my error. Still great show and good recording for the era.
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9 years 2 months

Submitted by Ziffle on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 22:02

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I think that run of shows at the Fillmore E. 9/18, 9/19, 9/20 are all outstanding, and the soundboards, such as I've found, are all excellent, brilliant mixes, dynamic. Now I'm into 9/19 late electric set. Maybe some day. At least we have the boards still circulating. Digging into some favorites whilst awaiting 30 Trips.
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16 years 10 months

Submitted by rdevil on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 22:45

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Muleskinner, glad to hear you mention 5-9-77. I still remember the moment I first heard that Comes a Time. When I first started going to shows it was with a couple guys who listened mostly to 80s tapes. One night, between shows, we listened to the second set of 5-9 and I was absolutely blown away. As Oneman would say, it was a "holy shit" moment for me. I distinctly remember saying, during Comes a Time, "This is the best music I've ever heard." The guy who put it on said something like, "You're just really high," which was true but I knew this was seriously good shit. That's when I started seeking out '70s tapes which led to another holy shit moment, a China>Rider from '74 that turned me forever into a Godchaux era junkie. I do enjoy and listen to all eras, but that's my sweet spot. There was some talk here about 5-13 on one of these pages last week so I was listening to it last night while watching football with the sound off. It's not the best show of the year or anything but it's a solid show and well worth hearing. My 16 year old son came down to watch the game and I noticed him tapping his toe to GDTRFB. I didn't say anything because it might give him an opportunity to deny it but I know what I saw. My kids liked my music when they were younger but are into their own thing now. This gives me hope, though, that eventually, when they don't have to be cool, or hip or with it or whatever the kids say nowdays, they'll realize that Dad listens to some pretty good music.
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Submitted by boblopes on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 05:28

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Two nice stories (back in the day and recent). Thanks for sharing!
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Submitted by drshakedown74 on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 06:31

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With these great sounding shows... I would love to hear what you guys listen to these shows on? Speaker type? Receiver type? Headphone type? If you get super technical, please break it down for the non-audiophile. I kinda have basic new stuff that a company put in my house, the speakers are splendid....the rest, I'm not sure Monitor Audio Silver RX8 floor speakers Integra equipment/Cd player Headphones are Bose QC15, which are nice, but I would like a real pair of audiophile headphones for a guy who listens to 80% Grateful Dead. Thanks guys
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Submitted by matchewy on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 07:05

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I picked up American Beauty and Workingman's on MoFi wax, and they sound great, as do In the Dark and Wake. Live Dead was interesting, and the source has become a mystery of much discussion. I also picked up the Analog Productions audiophile vinyl releases of Bear's Choice and Reckoning, both of which sound stellar. Also, went to Lockn this weekend. The Tedeschi Trucks Band tribute to Mad Dogs and Englishmen with many guests stole the show, IMO: Billy and the Kids with Bobby was also quite nice, and Billy's got himself quite the ensemble. This was followed by and um, awkward Phil and Friends set with Santana, who generally seemed lost the entire set. I was very pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a Dark Star. The Hot Tuna 50 Years of Jefferson Airplane set with Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Billy Kreutzman, and GE Smith was also very good. I was worried for a set that stodd on novelty alone, but the playing was excellent! Plenty of tapers there, so recordings should be circulating.
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Submitted by JimInMD on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 07:29

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Hey matchewy, Thanks for the update on Lockin', wasn't able to make it this time. Not surprised by the comment on Derrick Trucks. I have been saying this for years, but concerning Trucks, we are witnessing history in the making. He is going to go down as one of the true greats.. its likely most reading this have seen him once or thrice.. but if not, go get some. He is only going to harder and more expensive to see in my humble opinion.
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Submitted by brianhahne on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 08:20

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That video is amazing... Watching now at work. Loving it! On another note, if anyone is looking for some VERY VERY rare (one of a kind) artwork from the Fare Thee Well shows, I'm selling some hanging banners of the band that were shown in the stadium, including the COA. Email me.
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Submitted by KeithFan2112 on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 09:08

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It appears I have 9/19/70 in my "Grateful Soundboards" folder (thanks to you-know-who). Not quite the 9/20/70 that received most of the hype, but it starts with Dark Star, so I'm happy nonetheless. Speaking of Dark Star, I've been on a bit of kick lately. Last night I revisited E72 Tivoli show 1 from 4/14 (aka Trekin' Through Copenhagen). Outf@#kingstanding. I had the headphones on and the Poweramp EQ set to "just exactly perfect". Bobby really shines. I always have to look for him in the mix, which is a bit easier on these multi-tracks from E72; he's still lower than Jerry, but not as low as the two-track mixes that we generally get off the soundboard. I was impressed with how much lead work he was doing, as well as some of the melodies he was developing throughout. And of course the transition into Sugar Magnolia is for the ages. Then I revisited the 5/23/72 Dark Star (Good Evening, and Welcome to Here). More of the same. This one doesn't get talked about much, but it's pretty damn solid. Then there was the Academy of Music bonus disc Dark Star, which is oh so fine, maybe better than any of the E72 renditions, which is saying quite a bit. Nah, I won't go there, let's just say it's pretty damn good. Jeez I almost forgot about that one, how late was I up? This explains why I'm so tired and not getting any work done. And then I plugged in the Dark Star from Winterland Blues (2/24/74) on the way into work; also a non-stop treat. The only time Dark Stars and Other Ones lose me is when they start making a lot of weird noise for extended periods; I need some melody, even if it's changing every 30 seconds. In the time I wrote this, the Dark Star from 9/19/70 completed. Yep, more solid stuff, lots of great unique melodies and exploration. These guys are the best. During last night's Dark Star extravaganza, I read this interesting article on a February '73 show. Some good insights into where the band was with their live repertoire at that point, as well as a song-by-song breakdown of the show (for those who are unaware, this site is virtual goldmine of insightful information on all topics): http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2014/08/21573-dane-county-coliseum-madis… Ziffle, glad to hear you're going to pick up May 1977, it's not going to disappoint. Just curious, do you have DP 3, 29, and DaP 1?
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Submitted by Zuckfun on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 10:04

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In terms of listening to the GD on headphones, an important question is how much you're comfortable spending. Are you willing to purchase a headphone amplifier? In terms of audiophile gear that is (believe it or not) also a relatively great value in terms of bang for the buck- Sennheiser HD600/HD650 and Hifiman HE500 are exceptional GD headphones. While an amp is recommended for these headphones, it's probably only absolutely necessary with the HE500. Also important, these 3 headphones are somewhat forgiving of the recording, so less than perfect recordings are still very enjoyable to listen to. This is a valuable characteristic to keep in my mind when looking for ideal GD headphones- Will the headphones be unforgiving of recordings and overexpose it's flaws. Of course it's worth mentioning the quality of the source itself is also important- CD player, DAC, etc. Hopefully more will contribute to this, in addition to speaker and receiver suggestions.
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Submitted by drshakedown74 on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 09:37

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I am willing to listen to all price levels. My Bose QC15 set me back 300 if I remember right, and I realize I will need to go north of that, hopefully without reaching 4 digits. I got the Bose for general family use, and now want something better. Plus the noise cancelling feature is ridiculous. I hear those Sennheisers mentioned a lot. 1.I want to plug headphones straight into my Integra DTM-40.4 receiver 2. CD player is a Integra CDC 3.4 3.I also have a seperate amp for a "Zone 2" I never use: Integra ADM 20.4 Not really sure if I should incorporate that into my speakers or if it would help or not. 4. My speakers are Monitor Audio Silver RX8's (gloss white) i got about 4 years ago with the above mentioned Integra stuff. 5. I also purchased the Monitor Audio W12 sub, but rarely use that now that the speakers are "broken in"..... I would love to hear about other peoples speakers BUT....I friggin love these things....the "field" is incredible for my large room, stunning really for the money. Thanks Zuckfun and whoever else wants to comment.
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Submitted by JimInMD on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 09:44

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I like a closed back headphone, just so I don't want an open back headphone. Makes it easier to hide in the music...
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Submitted by Roland Bruynesteyn on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 10:17

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My system consists ofNAD M3 NAD M5 KEF Reference 205/2 very good cabling, no radio, no cassettes/tapes, no blu ray, no vinyl, no surround sound, no streaming, no dvd (except on pc)...
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Submitted by Zuckfun on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 10:41

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Just to springboard (and swan dive) off of what Jim said, a very smart move is to listen to as many headphones as you can before deciding. Some people love Grados, and some can't stand them. The same could be said for so many headphones. All that really matters is to find headphones that you love. Here's a beyond impressive review of many headphones: http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-c…
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Submitted by mbarilla on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 10:47

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in a couple of days there may be a 1970 sighting.. Been going through each day and no sign of 1970 on Sirius.. 9.17.70 9.18.70 9.19.70 9.20.70 ,, still waiting to hear one of these on Today in GD History.. Something from this run is geting released if it gets played on Today in GDHistory.. other notables that will get released.. 12.27.77 9.16.87 7.16.88
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17 years 3 months

Submitted by hbob1995 on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 10:54

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9 to go (again!) Rock on
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Submitted by Guss West on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 11:42

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Now, we're talking! Head-fi is an awesome resource, just keep yer wallet in another room (or perhaps locked up)! Digital listening is thru an O2/ODAC into a pair of Fisher FA-011. (Keith sounds wonderful on this setup, btw). Check out JDS labs for this hardware. For HI-FI listening, I switch to the Audeze LCD-2. Big boy planars. Still auditioning AMPs for these, perhaps will end up with a Schiit product. ~I need a miracle, every day!~ I have all 36 Dick's Picks and started up my DaP sub this year. The 50th hullabaloo really got my GOGD juices flowing again. Wondering if any of you gracious heads might consider a miracle for this torrent-phobic neophyte? Looking for a kind soul to send a new external HD to, to be filled up with good music. SBD, AUD, GOGD, whateva! Glad to appropriately compensate such generosity of time and effort. Any guidance on how to expand my collection with modest outlay? I suppose I'll have to learn how the torrent world works. All advice and input welcome! PMs encouraged! God Bless the Freaks! (I have this sticker on my rear bumper.)
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9 years 6 months

Submitted by LoveJerry on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 12:01

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If you don't have May 1977, you can still download it here for regular price. Sounds like you covered Dave's Picks for this year. You can still get last year's Dave's Picks for around 50 if you look around. Road Trips 77 is also < 50 on the resale market. You can also get the Winterland 1973 Complete Recordings (November 9th, 10th, 11th) for 120 on the resale market, only a 20 dollar mark-up from the price they used to charge here. Also some good deals on some of the 30 Trips shows on the resale market (less than 50 per being offered by some). There's also the Grateful Dead Download Series to check out on iTunes and Amazon.
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Submitted by fishcane on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 12:48

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I prefer my GD pumped thru Mcintosh tubes driving big Horns. The basement rig is Mcintosh monoblocks pushing the big Klipsch horns. This is where the serious listening occurs and is setup for digital and analog formats. The VPI turntable is setup on this rig. This is the one the neighbors hate... The den is alternated between a Dynaco ST70 and MKIII mono blocks pushing Klipsch Lascalas. Most vinyl listening is done here on a vintage Thorens table. The living room system is a vintage Fisher 500B fed into Klipsch Cornwalls and is the everyday player, including another Thorens table.
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Submitted by Gary Farseer on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 13:21

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Can't wait to listen to the Lockn show. Seeing TTB in mid October. Still hard to believe that 3 outta 4 Beacon Theatre shows have not sold out yet. Get there. 25th with Los Lobos. http://tedeschitrucksband.com/events/

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Submitted by floridabobaloo on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 14:28

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Anybody going this year? I'm thinking about it. TTB band on Friday.Also have you ever been to any fests there, if so, what was your experience like? Thanks. Loo
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Submitted by Guss West on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 15:13

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I've largely avoided the slippery slopes of audiophilia by just buying a basic value setup and walking away. No fancy cables or interconnects, no wild and wacky stuff. The O2/ODAC is universally considered one of the best values available. $1000 cables and $10k amps/dacs? I ain't got the time (or money) for all that! Yes, I can tell the difference between my rig and a laptop with earbuds! There are a lot of folks who take their audio way more seriously than I do. (ie. see head-fi) Just relistening to the audio mix of 7-7-89. Sounds pretty good to me, Hey Now!
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9 years 1 month

Submitted by Guss West on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 15:30

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I've read some comments on the different folks other than JN that are involved in the remastering of these 2-tracks. I was wondering if there were any articles on this? I have not been able to find this information for myself outside of these threads. I earnestly hope this will not impact the final product, but it is interesting to hear heads having such strong opinions on who does the remastering. Which, of course, is everything! Is there any way to quantify the impact Jeffrey Norman has had on the archival releases put out since...forever? I'm very interested in learning more about him. Has anyone else ever had such an impact on how we hear the archival releases of GOGD?
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9 years 6 months

Submitted by Dusty.rambler@… on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 16:57

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Watch "Dave's seaside chat". I believe that's were the mastering info you seek is.
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13 years 4 months

Submitted by One Man on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 17:10

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Nothing gets One Man out of his lair faster than a discussion about audio quality. JN has done immeasurable good with his mixing and mastering skills. The one time they out-sourced a mix (Warlocks box) the job was grossly botched. My only complaint is they sometimes don't give him the budget to perform his magic (E72 box). When he is turned loose with some good tapes (S90 TOO box) look out! Even the weary Veneta tapes (Sunshine Daydream) and the retirement shows (Movie Soundtrack) came to life with enough attention to detail. Bravo! Of course there is only so much that can be done with the 2-tracks, and I expect plenty of good mastering engineers could match him in this regard. Joe Gastwirt certainly can and has. David Glasser is a pro, but I don't have a good reference to use, since E72's problems originate in the mixing department, and probably even earlier in the process. We can't know how much his efforts helped, if any. I suspect a faulty A-D transfer was made, at least for the shows preceding Paris. Then JN was forced to hurry through mixing with a proverbial gun to his head. Oh, the pain! We'll never hear the true glory of those tapes other than the earlier releases (Hundred Year Hall, Steppin' Out, and Rockin' the Rhein). I'll stop now. It's okay to flame me if I sound like a broken record. Anyway, I'm very confident that the mastering of 30 Trips will be swell, and the couple of multi-track shows should be great if mixed by JN.
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14 years 9 months

Submitted by philledawg on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 20:44

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I seriously doubt this news would motivate someone who's been 'on the fence' all summer. But.......Ya never know?!
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Submitted by drshakedown74 on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 20:57

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What's the deal with closed or open backs : Pros and Cons please. Thanks all, any Central Iowa heads on here I would love to see your set up. Or I will be in Philly>nyc>nyc for JRADS NYE run
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Submitted by Zuckfun on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 22:01

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The big advantage of closed headphones is isolation- There will be less interference of sounds around you, and people nearby won't hear the headphone's music. Comparatively, open headphones offer a larger soundstage, and are generally regarded as providing superior sound quality. Although there are closed headphones that can outperform some open headphones, generally closed headphones can't compete in terms of soundstage and overall fidelity. The most common reason for choosing closed headphones is isolation and to prevent disturbing those around you.
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Submitted by StreicherJ on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 01:14

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Some have posted on this. I think the Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack discs are some of the best discs as far as audio quality.
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9 years

Submitted by Ripple_in_stil… on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 01:21

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Not shipping till Halloween oct 31st idk if anyone else's order status says the same . It is what it is I just hope it actually ships by then no more delays
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