Classic Records

Mike Hobson and Ying Tan formed Classic Records in January 1994, licensing approximately 30 titles from BMG's RCA Living Stereo classical LP catalog and later licensing material from from PolyGram's Verve jazz archive. The acclaimed reissue label, which specialized in audiophile LP reissues of classic albums, employed its own custom-built tube-based mastering equipment on all of its releases; mastered its releases from original master tapes (or the best sources available). Earliest releases were a box set of RCA Living Stereo classical titles and Verve jazz titles (subsequently sold individually). In later years they took on some new releases as well, both in their Prevue series and under the Classic imprint. Classic Records were pressed on standard 180g vinyl until September 2001 when they switched to 180g "Quiex SV" (Super Vinyl) and added a sticker specifying the type of vinyl to all their LPs. These pressings have a raised outer edge like most modern vinyl. In July 2002 they introduced 200g flat profile "Quiex SV-P" vinyl. In March 2008 they started making the 200g flat profile "Hand Made" records on the semi-automatic presses at Bill Smith Custom Records while continuing to press a few titles on 180g conventional profile at RTI. That year they also introduced "Clarity Vinyl" and "SV-P II" vinyl with an improved profile. In the 2000s, they also introduced lower-priced versions of many of their LPs, pressed from the same masters but on regular 150g, 140g, or 120g vinyl. Represses were always done on the latest vinyl formulation and can be dated by the sticker. SV-P, SV-P II, and Clarity pressings which all have a flat profile. Classic also produced a line of gold CDs in the 1990s and then 24/96 HDAD digital disks. Mastering was typically done at Bernie Grundman Mastering by Grundman himself or Chris Bellman. Classic's assets were purchased by Acoustic Sounds in 2010.