I don’t think $10K can get you there
nothing will, for some
Has anyone been able to define well or measure differences between vinyl and digital?
It’s obvious right? They sound different, and I’m sure they measure differently. Well we know the dynamic range of cd’s is larger than vinyl.
But do we have an agreed description or agreed measurements of the differences between vinyl and digital?
I know this is a hot topic so I am asking not for trouble but for well reasoned and detailed replies, if possible. And courtesy among us. Please.
I’ve always wondered why vinyl sounds more open, airy and transparent in the mid range. And of cd’s and most digital sounds quieter and yet lifeless than compared with vinyl. YMMV of course, I am looking for the reasons, and appreciation of one another’s experience.
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Some references I found informative. Level I Popular level. Summarizes pros and cons, remaining in old paradigm, e.g. in regard to dynamic range estimation.
Level II Somewhat technical level. Parts 1-5 provide good overview of LP technology. Parts 6-9 describe distortions inherent in it.
Level III Very technical level. This explains why, despite obviously inherently high level of distortions, LPs sound just fine to many people. Executive summary: this is because LP distortions are mostly of "right" kind, which human hearing system do not register with the same intensity as "wrong" distortions. |
Since this is also an exposé of human pleasure and pain, we should understand these systems too. Here’s a starter reference. |
We have internally used a blended metric similar to the Gm Gedlee metric for quite a few years. I know at least 2 of our competitors do as well. I agree on his basic premise that mechanical systems (speaker drivers) do not have as much higher order distortion, but on a practical basis, with multiple drivers, how distortion presents is more complex. One missing element is frequency weighting. In one of the links, 2nd order distortion was described as euphonic. That may be true at a high enough level. Using the Gedlee metric, at the levels indicated, it would inaudible or close enough. Almost any DAC today would have a Gm close to 0. Not just expensive ones, all of them. The vinyl vs CD article talks a lot about vinyl, not much about CD. One small, near useless section. I lost confidence in the author over a few items. Changing the load on an MC cartridge (135 ohms), from100pF to 200pF reduced the 3rd order distortion? I have done enough DIY electronics to know that smelled funny. That would change an RC filter from 12MHz to 6MHz. I say bad amp, bad switch setting, or multiple plays. Raises an issue with phase in filters on CD while ignoring that vinyl likely has phase shift too. Show digital samples that look bad, say it needs a reconstruction filter, then don’t show one? Bio attached to the article. Really impressive! He must be an expert? BS-Zoology, BS-Psychology, MS-Physiological Psychology, Ph.D.-Neuroscience. Welcome to 2022, everyone is an expert. |
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