Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus

Contrary to the criticisms of some reviewers on YouTube, the audio quality here is top-notch! This also applies to the other Bob Marley & The Wailers classics 🤩👍👍.

The noticeable improvements over the 33 rpm version are (if that) more subtle. Yes, the (mid) bass in particular is a bit more pronounced on the double-sets, and Bob Marley’s unmistakable voice is also a bit more present overall. However, given the format, this shouldn't be surprising – especially if you're a DJ accustomed to playing 45 rpm maxi-singles in a club. An LP or a 12”-single at 45 rpm always offers more – colloquially speaking “bang for the buck," if that's what you're looking for. And that's exactly what you get here as a bonus sonically. Nothing more, nothing less.

Another criticism of these two new 45 rpm record-sets is the noticeable hiss (sibilance) in many songs. I honestly don't understand what some people are talking about. But I'd like to disagree, and please excuse me for basing my argument below exclusively on sophisticated, very expensive audio equipment.

However, if you spend $150 (significantly more in Europe) on such a record, you also need to invest in a suitable system to achieve the desired audiophile experience. True audiophile on a budget? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that $100 Crosley Voyager turntable with built-in speakers just won’t cut it. Like it or not, any Analogue Productions, but rather the use of a subpar system.

Therefore, these Bob Marley records should be played on a high-end system with—very important!—warm-sounding speakers like a pair of beautiful Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V or the massive Klipschorn AK6—then you will be impressed. Guaranteed!

The same goes for choosing the right headphones to fully enjoy these pressings—a well-balanced sounding MEZE Elite or Audeze LCD2 will certainly bring out the best in these UHQR by Analogue Productions pressings.

Anything “super analytical" like an e.g. Abyss AB1266, Focal Utopia or a Sennheiser HD 800 S will give you a rather unsatisfactory listening experience—and not because they aren't good. No, quite the opposite, because these are actually phenomenal and are among the best endgame headphones on the market. In this case, however, they are the wrong combination when it comes to listening to this genre. , we're talking Reggae, not Classical music!

So there is another aspect you need to consider 😉.

That's why I don't like it when people get too much into the nitty-gritty details of how a record sounds on their very own system. Depending on their setup and signal chain, the same vinyl album can present a strong sonically contrast to my system because I use different devices.

For me, it's much more important to read how good the pressing is overall. Things like whether the album is well-mastered, whether the vinyl looks clean and pristine, whether there are no off-center labels, what type of vinyl was used, etc. Just my five cents 😊.

did Analogue productions stop individually numbering the UHQR records? I noticed from the pictures there is simply just a card that simply certifies its one of 5,000 copies

The hype is warranted on this release. Easily the most detailed and dynamic I’ve ever heard this album. The title track was a real wow moment.

I need to write ten words for Discogs to accept my review. But my review is “wow”.

I picked up the Rastaman Vibration on 33rpm UHQR when it was originally released in 2022 (can't believe it was that long ago!) but just missed out on Exodus (those ones sold HUGELY quickly, the Acoustic Sounds website crashed under the load). The 45rpm is being played now, if anything count myself lucky. From what I've heard there isn't a monumental difference between the 33 and 45, but most of the difference is in the lower end which is an area that was often missed on many originals around this time and reissues since. It's just right on this copy, and adds so much authority to the music which I think is so important for Bob's material being heavily political and social.
The clarity is quite incredible really, even for a UHQR.
On 3 Little Birds and One Love, you hear the soundstage really hit it's highest peak, the backing singers just become totally 3d. Absolutely stunning.
So pleased to have one, the UHQRs imho are the top of the food chain closely followed by Atlantic 75 and Rhino Hifi series. Mofi are good sometimes but can be hit and miss. I've not had one UHQR I've felt anything but bowled over by.

The real deal. Exodus is probably the best recorded BM album and the detail shines here. Has all the improvements you want in 45rpm in trade for the hassle of losing album flow with 2 flips and 4 needle drops. Not life changing difference from the 33rpm UHQR but the bass on this will have you reaching for your chalice, increased clarity and natural sound. Thanks to Chad for making this happen.

Great pressing ! Very clear dynamic with deep low ends - don t have any other pressing to compare with tough

Phenomenal! I do not own another copy but can attest that my pressing is flawless. To me, the sound is detailed and not fatiguing, lush and powerful. Purchased it after the 45rpm announcement as I did not see myself spinning this in 45rpm very often. Hard to imagine how this can be improved tbh, demo quality.

Cover art is cool, pressing is clean and sounds great.

In reference to variant 9. I suspect all the variants and editions sound essentially the same, and that is a good thing. Excellent remasters and the bonus tracks, although they don't belong, are great.