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Classical music listening... what is a better source High Rez or Vinyl?

For many of us who really enjoy classical music, for me it is Baroque and opera, what is the better and more consistent for source high fidelity listening?

I am a mid hifi guy and have a Pro-ject Classic SB turntable with a high output MC Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 cartridge.. I am using a Jolida JD 9II Tube phone stage, with a vintage Telefunkin tube upgrade.

I have a Rogue Sphinx 3 integrated amplifier, with a vintage Mozada tube upgrade. My digital source DAC/SACD/CD is a Yamaha CD-2100 player.

I have refurbished Ohm H's loud speakers.

I have been picking up many vintage classical albums recently, mainly 1980’s releases in excellent condition too, at my local transfer station, and it has been mixed bag in comparison to my high resolution music files and SACD collection.

I was expecting much more when it came to vinyl and classical but I have not been as won over, as I have been with rock and jazz on vinyl.

My experience with SACD and high resolution, 96/24 or higher, has been very rewarding with a wide variety of classical music. Opera really shines in digital IMHO. Strong and full on classical piece are quite stunning on many a SACD releases I own. Rachel Podger’s Vivaldi: L’estro armonico - 12 concerti, Op. 3 on SACD is an excellent example of the audio quality I demand, as this recording is exceptional! Plus there are are very few new remastered vinyl releases for classical, particularly for opera, these days. A perfect example of this is Shubert’s Winterreise featuring Joyce DiDanato and pianist Yannick Nezet-Sequin, which I saw performed at Carnegie Hall for this recording and which sounds phenomenal in 96/24, and was release recently.

That would seem counter intuitive but that is clearly what the market is showing.

On one of these threads I recall someone posting how strings of violins, and the intensity that they are played at, can lead to degraded sound quality depending on the type of cartridge used.

I want to hear back from the classical music posse here to help me get to that higher level of listening with classical vinyl.

Is it the cartridge?

Or should I just stay with my digital sources?


idigmusic64
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
980 posts
 
This is a bad question. 

There are so many factors that go into this. 

Number one is whether or not the recording engineer(s) got it right in the first place, or if the recording is historic and relying on outdated recording technology, digital or not. Garbage in, garbage out. 

Then, is the source digital or analog? Is the mastering digital or analog? There was a period of time when there was labeling on the CD or LP that addressed this:


AAA
ADD
DDD
DDA


So, you can get an LP that was recorded and mastered digitally. That was thought to be good. Some systems - mine, for example - reveal an audible difference between an LP that is DDA and is AAA. On my system, DDA sounds thin and lacking in timber and atmospherics. 
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
@melm 

Forgot to follow-up, I received the  Mahler’s 9th with Barbirolli conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker.

A wonderful LP, to say the least. You and @rvpiano were correct. A fantastic performance. Instant favorite. The Adagio is amazing….especially on vinyl 😉😁
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
If you are serious about hearing some really good sounding classical: 

https://better-records.com/search?q=tchaikovsky
I have the 1812, only mine is White Hot. Freaking insane.
idigmusic64 OP
56 posts
 
Here is an  update. I  have started seeking out some of the 1960's London recordings. I picked up an excellent copy of " Luci Di Lammermoor" with Dame Joan Sutherland, OSA 1327, and it sounds phenomenal!

I also picked  up another excellent one of " Norma" again with Sutherland and one of my  favorite opera, with Richard Bonynge conducting The London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus  Stereo OSA-1394

I also made some slight adjustments  with my photo stage too and are very happy with the improved performance and sound stage.

I am curious to seek out some vintage 45 rpm. If any one has any recommendations of Operas or Baroque I would appreciate it.
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
@idigmusic64

True vintage 45 rpm classical discs have got to be as rare as hen’s teeth. My sense of it is that Thirty-Three-and-a-Third 10" and 12" High-Fi LP discs essentially directly replaced the bulky, low-fi 78 rpm zillion disc classical record albums of the previous era. Yeah, I inherited a few classical 45 rpm singles from my dad. But I’m pretty sure that the idea of putting classical music onto 12" 45’s is an audiophile affectation that only came into existence in the modern era.
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