To answer this for myself all I had to do was listen to a CD of Donald Fagen's "Nightfly" and then the One Step. But it will also heavily depend on the comparable quality of the two paths out through the amps and speakers.Given the new recording masters are typically all digital, does a turntable make sense for these? I know older records, recorded and mastered in analogue can sound better on vinyl. What’s your view? I listen to almost all newer music.
Thanks Tim
Hi Tim,Given the new recording masters are typically all digital, does a turntable make sense for these? I know older records, recorded and mastered in analogue can sound better on vinyl. What’s your view? I listen to almost all newer music.
Thanks Tim
This is very helpful, appreciate your advice here.Hi Tim,
There are too many variables for a simple reply to your question. Starting with digital sources IMO there's a major difference between streamed/computer digital playback and physical digital media played on a competent CD/DVD player, that choice alone has a bearing on how digital compares to vinyl. Record players aren't plug & play and to get any type of quality sound a certain amount of expense and setup expertise is required something that you should keep in mind. Speaking for myself even as very biased highend turntable manufacturer and reseller when purchasing new digitally recorded music I go with the CD over the vinyl. Generally speaking at best I find a digital vinyl version only different from the CD sound if not inferior and when I opt for the vinyl copy it's mostly for the reasons that @docvale mentioned and not sound quality. I'll even go further and say that when it comes reissues of older music, specially jazz, I'll buy an early transfer CD over the majority of the so called "audiophile" reissues on heavy vinyl.
I hope this helps but you have to be specific about the front ends and recordings if you want a yes or no answer.
david
Indeed.I find running both a digital and vinyl rig at the high end very expensive
This is the most...sensible & balanced comment I've read about this "should I go vinyl" question in ages.Hi Tim,
There are too many variables for a simple reply to your question. Starting with digital sources IMO there's a major difference between streamed/computer digital playback and physical digital media played on a competent CD/DVD player, that choice alone has a bearing on how digital compares to vinyl. Record players aren't plug & play and to get any type of quality sound a certain amount of expense and setup expertise is required something that you should keep in mind. Speaking for myself even as very biased highend turntable manufacturer and reseller when purchasing new digitally recorded music I go with the CD over the vinyl. Generally speaking at best I find a digital vinyl version only different from the CD sound if not inferior and when I opt for the vinyl copy it's mostly for the reasons that @docvale mentioned and not sound quality. I'll even go further and say that when it comes reissues of older music, specially jazz, I'll buy an early transfer CD over the majority of the so called "audiophile" reissues on heavy vinyl.
I hope this helps but you have to be specific about the front ends and recordings if you want a yes or no answer.
david
audiophile lps from high quality labels sound amazing but most commercial lps sound very average, no better than cd.Given the new recording masters are typically all digital, does a turntable make sense for these? I know older records, recorded and mastered in analogue can sound better on vinyl. What’s your view? I listen to almost all newer music.
Thanks Tim
In my experience, many if not most so-called audiophile LPs have an artificial sheen that makes them less natural sounding than older reissues. From his post above, I suspect @ddk hears the same thing.audiophile lps from high quality labels sound amazing but most commercial lps sound very average, no better than cd.
These days I tend to listen to a lot of newer music too.Given the new recording masters are typically all digital, does a turntable make sense for these? I know older records, recorded and mastered in analogue can sound better on vinyl. What’s your view? I listen to almost all newer music.
Thanks Tim
Herein lies the answer to the question posed by the starter of this thread. As stated, those few re-recordings in pure analogue of great recordings of the past often don’t sound as good as the originals (and very expensive as well).In my experience, many if not most so-called audiophile LPs have an artificial sheen that makes them less natural sounding than older reissues. From his post above, I suspect @ddk hears the same thing.
I recently was clearing out my Dad’s last remaining records following my mother’s move to assisted living, and I came across his old copy of Duke Ellington’s “Masterpieces.” Recorded in 1951, mono of course, Dad’s copy had been played many, many times and was stored in its original cover without a sleeve. When I got home, I put it on my table with some trepidation but from the first notes it was clear this was an amazing record. Sure there were some ticks and pops and some inner groove distortion (I don’t think Dad ever replaced the needle on his mono cartridge).but the music was just glorious! Warm, rich, vibrant, present and direct. Incredibly involving. This was from a very early pressing, if not 1951 then surely close to it. The cover had a price sticker that read 22cents! So this superb sound quality was from a record mastered and pressed 70 years ago.
Of course “Masterpieces” was recently reissued by Chad Kassem and I have that version as well. I haven’t compared it yet to my Dad’s copy but I do know the reissue never impressed me the way the old beat-up original did.
audiophile lps from high quality labels sound amazing but most commercial lps sound very average, no better than cd.
We have a shop called audiophile reference recordings and he stocks lots of high quality vinyl and this is were I buy them from.he is a expert and recommends me some lps every time I visit.I don’t own any normal commercial lps as I don’t like the sound of most of them.I find that decent recordings on vinyl usually sound better than audio file remasterings on thick vinyl. Even early pressing re-issues are better. It is mostly about the music anyway.
I agree with you.I have being disappointed to many times and don’t buy them anymore.My experience with "new" music, digitally recorded, and then pressed on vinyl records hasn't been pleasant. The vinyl quality is spotty, the compression mostly always present. A 16/44 CD of the same material generally sounds equal to or better than its pressed LP. Frankly, I don't think these records are worth the wear on my cartridge.
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