Thoburn was nice enough to loan me his 45 RPM 2-180g LP set of Area 52. It is very quiet but the sound is odd. I warmed up the system, both phono stage and the CD. After the CD played a little the soundstage developed. I choose side 3 of the LP set with Master Maqui and Diablo Rojo on it for the comparison.
With the CD the sound came from 6 feet behind the front of my speakers. With the LP the same sounds came from only 3 feet behind the front of my speakers. That is a big difference. On the LP the sounds were well defined but not widely spread,little depth to the instruments themselves. That is to say the instruments are not fleshed out as well as the CD.
I would guess this is a shortcoming of the mastering/engineering. The CD is good! The LP is quieter but not as carefully mastered. I think this is the first time I have heard an LP out shined by its CD. Steve Hoffman says that you must master a CD and an LP differently. These were not. Probably the LP came from the CD master. Just my guess.
This is not a slight to R y G. The self titled CD is very good. Live in Japan is even better. And, of course the music is amazing!
A big thanks goes to Thoburn for sending this high dollar LP to me for a trial. I have heard exactly what he heard, spot on! So I know it isn't the fault of the artists but it is the fault of whoever touched the music after it was recorded.