DSD to Vinyl Versus Analog Tape to Vinyl

Coimbra

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2019
19
10
85
Portugal
no. don't agree at all in any way, shape or form......that performances that are dsd sourced make better vinyl pressings than analog sourced vinyl pressings.

also don't agree with his ranking of (1) direct to disc (2) dsd sourced vinyl, and (3) analog sourced vinyl.

i do think that digital recordings can make very fine vinyl pressings. that is true. i also believe that the actual performance and overall recording process has the majority of responsibility to do with the performance of vinyl pressings. so a minimalist approach to the music and recording results in the best sounding pressings.....analog, digital or direct to disc.

Ich habe eine Reihe von dsd-bezogenen Vinyl-Alben. es geht ihnen gut. aber im allgemeinen bevorzuge ich die dsd quelldateien. obwohl nicht immer. Gleiches gilt für PCM. Es ist ein gemischtes Ergebnis. kommt wahrscheinlich auf die Prozessvariablen an. keine ultimative Wahrheit.

und ich finde es albern, dsd gegenüber PCM als das bessere digitale Format für eine Vinylpressung zu bevorzugen.

Pauls dsd-bezogene Vinyl-Pressungen mit 45 U / min klingen vielleicht ausgezeichnet ....... aber das beweist absolut nichts. Er veröffentlicht nur Sachen, um die Aufmerksamkeit seiner Fans zu erregen. wie bei früheren Aufnahmen, die er gemacht hat. und dieser Thread ist der Beweis, dass es funktioniert. :mit den Augen rollen: wir reden darüber. [/ QUOTE]
I absolutely agree with you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mike Lavigne

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
16,017
13,346
2,665
Beverly Hills, CA
Ron, no disrespect intended but I can tell from your posts and responses that you do not have a technical background and having an objective exchange with you may not be worthy of my time, sorry. I will pass on attempting to convey technical subject matter to someone who obviously approaches everything subjectively. Yes I know that music is art, but sound recording and reproduction is science.


I respect your point of view on your use of your time.

Your conclusion that "sound recording and reproduction is science" suggests that you don't understand, or that you choose not to acknowledge, the objective/technical versus subjective dichotomy embedded in that phrase, and which I outlined in Post #15. If it truly were "science," like gravity, I doubt we would be debating it.
 
Last edited:

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,806
4,698
2,790
Portugal
I think the answer to that question depends upon your objective.

If you are trying to "recreate the sound of an original musical event" you might prefer analog tape.

If you are trying to implement a theory about the technical superiority of digital recording -- a very different objective than maximizing the suspension of disbelief in the reproduced sound -- you might prefer digital recording.

PS: I am not sure I would rely on a giant consumer electronics company to provide an authoritative answer to the subjective question "what sounds best?"

Ron,

What is the purpose of this post? To remember that stereo can not recreate the sound of the original event and that all we can say about this matter is just our individual preference? That IMHO digital recording recreates better some types of music and the quality of many analog recordings is amazing?

Yes, we should not rely on others on this matter - listen for yourself and tell us what you think. And remember that tape sound is very different from direct cut vinyl.

Anyway I find that vinyl pressings or tapes made from digital are only of interest to those who do not own a decent digital playback system, or exceptionally when the vinyl is a remastering of superior quality.
 
  • Like
Reactions: K3RMIT

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,806
4,698
2,790
Portugal
I respect your point of view on your use of your time.

Your conclusion that "sound recording and reproduction is science" suggests that you don't understand, or that you choose not to acknowledge, the objective/technical versus subjective dichotomy embedded in that phrase, and which I outlined in Post #15. If it truly were "science," like gravity, I doubt we would be debating it.

Ron,

You failed to note that subjective findings, when properly handled, can be science. Sound recording and reproduction is science. But surely we should not limit our experience just to what science can currently explain in this hobby!

There are many technical reasons for the differences between digital and analog sound. Fortunately the net is large enough to allow us to pick notable examples that agree with our preferences in one minute!

BTW, the dichotomy only exists because both fields are sometimes very closed minded ...
 

Joe Whip

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2014
1,735
557
405
Wayne, PA
DSD isn’t digital Paul, really? No point in arguing over subjective preferences. He thinks DSD sounds better. I do not, but to say it isn’t digital is nuts. Sorry Paul.
 
  • Like
Reactions: K3RMIT and ddk

dan31

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2010
1,016
365
1,153
SF Bay
I think the advances in digital filters have likely put PCM ahead of DSD. I recognize it’s a preference. Pros and cons for both. I’m all in on analog LP so I don’t give it much thought.

I do think Mike is in the best position to pass along credible views.
 
  • Like
Reactions: K3RMIT

Carlos269

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2012
1,438
1,147
1,215
I do think Mike is in the best position to pass along credible views.

“You take a mortal man
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch people's heads a'roll
A'roll, a' roll


Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like the marionettes
Swaying to the symphony
Of destruction


Acting like a robot
Its metal brain corrodes
You try to take its pulse
Before the head explodes
Explodes, explodes


Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony


Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony
Swaying to the symphony
Of destruction


The earth starts to rumble
World powers fall
A'warring for the…”
 

dan31

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2010
1,016
365
1,153
SF Bay
Carlos you can both be right. I agree with your statement. I also respect Mikes opinion of his observations in his own system.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mikem53

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
16,017
13,346
2,665
Beverly Hills, CA
“You take a mortal man
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch people's heads a'roll
A'roll, a' roll


Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like the marionettes
Swaying to the symphony
Of destruction


Acting like a robot
Its metal brain corrodes
You try to take its pulse
Before the head explodes
Explodes, explodes


Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony


Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony
Swaying to the symphony
Of destruction


The earth starts to rumble
World powers fall
A'warring for the…”

As it relates to dan31's compliment of Mike's practical experience, I think this poem is more appropriately located in the WBF humor and joke thread.
 

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
16,017
13,346
2,665
Beverly Hills, CA
DSD isn’t digital Paul, really? No point in arguing over subjective preferences. He thinks DSD sounds better. I do not, but to say it isn’t digital is nuts. Sorry Paul.

In fairness, I think Paul means that there is something less inherently digital (and more inherently "analog-like") about the one bit sampling system of DSD than tne sampling system of PCM -- not that DSD literally is not digital.

I don't understand Paul's point myself, because I don't know enough about the technical differences between DSD and PCM. To me, sampling, even at DSD's one bit, is inherently digital. Once one is involved in sampling and conversion to 0s and 1s I do not understand the notion of distinguishing between different degrees of "digital."
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Al M.

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,522
10,688
3,515
USA
Ron,

You failed to note that subjective findings, when properly handled, can be science. Sound recording and reproduction is science. But surely we should not limit our experience just to what science can currently explain in this hobby!

There are many technical reasons for the differences between digital and analog sound. Fortunately the net is large enough to allow us to pick notable examples that agree with our preferences in one minute!

BTW, the dichotomy only exists because both fields are sometimes very closed minded ...

Francisco, when you write that sound recording and reproduction is science, are you saying there’s no art involved in the mastering studio? Are there no subjective decisions about where to place microphones, which microphone to use when making a recording, how many microphones to use? Are you claiming that everything in the recording chain is just science and there is no art or subjectivity to it?

If that is the case, why do so many recordings sound so different. Would they not sound the same if it were only science?
 

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,522
10,688
3,515
USA
I think this thread would be well served if Someone could somehow connect the dots from Carlos’s claim that the recording process is science, The DSD is the best way to capture the information from the live event, through the process of capturing and making the recording, all the way to our subjective impressions about which process sounds the most realistic.

Mike is surely positioned to offer His subjective opinion, because his system is complete enough and he has a complete enough recording collection to make some of these subjective judgments. However, this is only one opinion and data point and will not provide sufficient evidence of Carlos‘s claim.

I think Ron asks a very interesting question but so far I don’t see people willing or able to connect all the dots and provide a convincing argument for which capturing format is the best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: K3RMIT

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,806
4,698
2,790
Portugal
Francisco, when you write that sound recording and reproduction is science, are you saying there’s no art involved in the mastering studio? Are there no subjective decisions about where to place microphones, which microphone to use when making a recording, how many microphones to use? Are you claiming that everything in the recording chain is just science and there is no art or subjectivity to it?

If that is the case, why do so many recordings sound so different. Would they not sound the same if it were only science?

Surely there is art - fortunately a lot of it. Using other people words, sound reproduction is science in the service of art. They are not exclusive.
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,806
4,698
2,790
Portugal
I think this thread would be well served if Someone could somehow connect the dots from Carlos’s claim that the recording process is science, The DSD is the best way to capture the information from the live event, through the process of capturing and making the recording, all the way to our subjective impressions about which process sounds the most realistic. (...)

Curiously it is well explained in the link posted in post #32 of this thread. https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/dsd-to-vinyl-versus-analog-tape-to-vinyl.31537/post-681047 . A very interesting article, surely deserving some discussion.

Remember that "which process sounds more realistic" is also a listener form of preference. Not an absolute reference at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: K3RMIT

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,522
10,688
3,515
USA
Surely there is art - fortunately a lot of it. Using other people words, sound reproduction is science in the service of art. They are not exclusive.

Thank you for confirming what I already knew. From Carlos‘s post, I thought it was much more absolute, with science being the recording part and the listening being the subjective part. Clearly there is art in the recording process, and there is art in the designing Of reproducing gear. There’s also art in the set up process As well as science.

I still don’t see how Ron‘s question is going to be answered unless someone joins the discussion to connect all of the dots.
 

cjfrbw

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
3,323
1,314
1,730
Pleasanton, CA
Assuming there's a choice, I would always prefer analog to vinyl, with some kind of tubed recording chain, to DSD. That being said, I have samples of superb digital and DSD to vinyl pressings.

I have some paper buried somewhere in a computer archive of a test, using the same sound feed to different recorders using 15 ips tape, DSD, hi rez digital, and standard Redbook. Almost invariably, playing the stuff back, the preference in sound quality was in just that order with the 15 ips tape 'winning', but some listeners also admired the DSD and thought it was close(without the transfer to vinyl, of course).

The test was a while ago, and we have much better digital now, so it would be an interesting experiment to repeat.
 

Al M.

VIP/Donor
Sep 10, 2013
8,681
4,470
963
Greater Boston
I do think Mike is in the best position to pass along credible views.

Rephrase:
I do think Mike is in a great position to pass along a subjective assessment based on evaluation on high level gear.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dan31 and PeterA

rbbert

Well-Known Member
Dec 12, 2010
3,820
239
1,000
Reno, NV
Assuming there's a choice, I would always prefer analog to vinyl, with some kind of tubed recording chain, to DSD. That being said, I have samples of superb digital and DSD to vinyl pressings.

I have some paper buried somewhere in a computer archive of a test, using the same sound feed to different recorders using 15 ips tape, DSD, hi rez digital, and standard Redbook. Almost invariably, playing the stuff back, the preference in sound quality was in just that order with the 15 ips tape 'winning', but some listeners also admired the DSD and thought it was close(without the transfer to vinyl, of course).

The test was a while ago, and we have much better digital now, so it would be an interesting experiment to repeat.
I don’t know about a “test” but Steve Hoffman did this comparison himself and posted his opinion at the SHForums. He actually preferred LP to tape, and each to DSD, with PCM formats least preferred. However, that opinion was orginally posted many years ago (2014?) and opinions would likely differ today
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing