definitive sound series vinyl releases

Photo Credit: Capitol Records

Interscope Records and Capitol Records have joined forces to unveil the Definitive Sound Series (DSS) limited-edition vinyl releases. These releases are targeting audiophiles and serious vinyl collectors thanks to their One Step manufacturing process.

The DSS vinyl releases are designed to deliver albums in numbered, limited-edition runs of only 3,000 copies per title. These pressings utilize the One Step process, a technique respected among audiophiles for minimizing fidelity loss during production. DSS editions are pressed on 180g high-definition vinyl, housed inside tip-on gatefold jackets meeting archiving standards. Each record is presented in a custom slipcase that features original artwork, full track listings, and details about the One Step process. Accompanying every copy is a certificate of authenticity providing specifics about mastering, plating, and pressing.

The One Step manufacturing process removes several intermediary stamper stages standard to traditional vinyl pressing. By streamlining this workflow, the process preserves more of the sonic detail from the original master tape. The result is vinyl that achieves a closer reproduction of the intended sound.

The series is set to kick-off on October 10 with A Perfect Circle’s Mer de Noms in the premium format. Mer de Noms is sourced from 96kHz/24-bit files transferred directly from the original analog tapes, and is mastered by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering. The pressing is completed by Record Technology, Inc. (RTI).

This inaugural DSS release will be presented as a 2xLP 180g high-definition audiophile package starting at $124.98. The release celebrates the album’s 25th anniversary, honoring the band’s platinum-certified debut and aims to provide home listeners with as close to ‘studio sound’ as you can get sitting in your living room.

Additional albums scheduled in the DSS include Beck’s Morning Phase, Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song, R.E.M.’s Murmur and Chronic Town, The Wallflowers’ Bringing Down the Horse, and the ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ soundtrack. These releases will maintain DSS’s commitment to sonic detail and premium packaging, continuing the appeal to collectors who value both sound quality and presentation.