Must Have, Must Hear: Stockfisch DMM Dubplate II

Günter Pauler, one of the world's most renowned sound producers, is releasing his second dubplate. This medium is currently considered the finest recording medium money and kind words can buy, comparable with an authentic master tape. We're talking about a genuine “master,” not a copy of one.

What exactly is a dubplate? Pauler explains: “We cut the music onto copper-coated stainless-steel plates – with the same technology we use for DMM mastering for pressing plants. Our DMM dubplate has almost the same diameter as a record, but for production reasons it is slightly larger than a vinyl LP. It can be played on any turntable and avoids the quality losses of a pressed record caused by galvanic processes, the vinyl granulate used and the pressing itself.”

So on a DMM dubplate there are no pre-echoes and no crackle. The high-purity phosphor copper causes hardly any groove noise and only rarely small clicks. However, the dubplate can only be played on one side, which does nothing to diminish its fascination. We tested the Dubplate II intensively over several weeks. Not only does the music on it deliver one goosebump moment after another, we also wanted to check the disc's durability. A recording of the first play was made on tape and compared with one made after 48 plays. A difference? No, not really perceptible. It's important never to touch the copper-plated disc with bare hands, but always to wear cloth gloves.

But how does this dubplate sound? Let's listen more closely to one of the five tracks. “Just Like Love” by Steve Strauss is not only a catchy and superbly performed song, it also demonstrates the dubplate's impressive superiority over conventional media. That includes SACDs or streams from services such as Qobuz, even when received by high-quality devices such as the Grimm MU 1 and converted by the SPL Mercury studio converter. In direct comparison, playback from the copper groove seems both denser and yet more transparent. Above all: MORE NATURAL. It sounds almost trite, but it's true: the singer seems to stand in the room in the flesh. By comparison, other media seem like a 4K film – impressive too, but not the same experience. Since there's nothing comparable, the high price of 678.00 euros for the dubplate is entirely justified. Anyone who has often spent a lifetime improving the sound of their hi-fi system will experience the fulfillment of audiophile dreams with the dubplate.

The Dubplate II contains the following tracks:
Steve Strauss – Just Like Love
Brian Flanagan – Whole Lot Of Livin'
Katja Werker – Here Comes The Flood
David Munyon – For Wild Horses
Allan Taylor – The Endless Highway

Each dubplate is made individually and bears the owner's name on the label. More info
https://sfrshop.de/epages/8bc55054-7644-4582-abe9-aacc9769e6d3.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/8bc55054-7644-4582-abe9-aacc9769e6d3/Products/SFR357.0002.1

The recommendation of the second Stockfisch dubplate drew a handful of comments, and an expert exchange about cutting technology.

“Great productions,” one writes. A connoisseur points out the risk: Pauler just has to pray that the cutting head holds out and there's always enough helium. A commenter who spent years professionally engraving the copper skin of gravure cylinders asks about the helium. The answer: the small coils of the cutting head receive almost a kilowatt, so helium is needed for cooling. The engraver laughs; for him it was industrial production with equipment weighing tons, he never had to struggle with small coils. And to the comment “Great … 699 euros?” JP replies: “Yes, both are true.”

Must Have, Must Hear: Stockfisch DMM Dubplate IIMust Have, Must Hear Stockfisch DMM Dubplate II

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