Edited 13 minutes ago

I'm not saying none of others who have reviewed this don't really have it, but I truly have it. I bought two copies, first copy stating at 'Planet Caravan' there is a very bad pressing defect that causes noise through out the entire track and some noise into 'Iron Man'. Side2 is noisy throughout, this as bad as side 1. I throughly cleaned the record on a VPI and it did not resolve it. So I opened the second one which I was going to save and the same issues. This is the first noise issue I've had with any of the RHF. My system is VPI Signature 21/ Hana Umami Red. So watch out paying scalper prices and wait till it's released unnumbered. The mastering is wonderful, just wish the same for the pressing.

Edited 5 hours ago

My review I posted on SHF (I'm Freddy's Dead there),

The RHF Paranoid has dethroned the 1st UK in my collection. My brother was over and I was able to listen to War Pigs in the //1 and then the RHF B2B at about 88-90 dbs w/ peaks of 95 in my loudspeakers. Unrelenting badassness. After the RHF my brother said, "that was f****ing incredible".

I'm often reluctant to write up my thoughts on a pressing from headphones only listening and this is an example why (edit, this is in regards to an earlier post from headphones listening). But due to errr, circumstances at home (wife w/ open floor plan), I’m usually in my headphones so that’s all I’ve got most days. They are a great place to be, but pale in comparison to the event of what that room was built for – the loudspeakers.

I’m kinds speechless anyway. To me no words that I can write are going to convey what I just listened to, but:

The //1 sounded great as it always does, the power from the lows and snarling growl gives it its own badassness (my made-up word of the day). But the RHF is an event with that killer midrange along with those lows – maybe the lows are just a few small ticks off the Big Bear – or maybe no ticks at all. The drums on both are powerful and have a sense of drive and anger. Also, the RHF sounded brighter in my HP's than my LS's. In my system, there was no harshness or brightness - at all in my loudspeakers.

I’ll also add that I could hear the volume fluctuation a lot more in my headphones (still less than the 06, but there, as I listened closer in my HPs again last night). However, I couldn’t hear it at all in the LS’s that I can think of. But I wasn’t listening for it either. I wasn’t picking it apart like I do in my headphones.

I just stood there in awe, probably with my jaw open. If you can listen to this loudly, you must.

Edit, my system is in my Discogs profile.

Uhhhhh… wow! Yep, it sounds f’n awesome!! 🤘🏻 🤯 🤘🏻

Wow. Holy shit. This EQ rocks. Thick and dense but with nice separation, thumping on the bottom end without losing focus on the midrange. A truly beautiful sounding album. Highest recommendation!

So some are saying this beats the UK first press, while others are in disagreement about that. Anyone who has compared them both please share your view and what each version does better/worse than each other?

I’ve owned and now sold the WWA pressing. I’m prepared to say this is the definitive pressing of this album. Stunning across the board!!

Anyone know when the non-numbered version will come out ?

Like I have said before, Rhino can have all my money! Like all of my Rhino Hifi pressings, this thing is excellent. Packaging is stellar and record is dead quiet. This is so F’ing good. I mean it can’t get much better than this?

The funky, jazzy and artillery attack drumming, the nonstop heavy riffs, Ozzy’s insanely great voice and don’t sleep on the incredibly groovy bass lines….All of which you can hear in its own space. This beast is absolutely stunning.

Vinyl Quality - 4.75 stars
Sound Quality - 4.75 stars
Packaging(I don’t really care) - 4.5 stars
Value - 4.875 stars
Overall - 4.71875 stars

Rega P10, Hana SH cartridge, Dynaudio Contour 30i, REL G2 Gibraltar

Before listening to this pressing, I had crippling anxiety and depression. Now, thanks to the glorious vibrations produced by this wonderful disc, all my ailments are cured! It's a gosh-darned miracle! Thank you Kevin Gray!!!!!!!

Decent copy overall, but I can hear a lot of pre-echo.