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The Science of Vinyl/Analog Setups

It seems to me that there is too little scientific, objective evidence for why vinyl/analog setups sound the way they do. When I see discussions on tables, cartridges, tonearms and even phono cables, physical attributes are discussed; things like isolation, material, geometry, etc. and rarely are things discussed like wow, rumble, resonance, compliance, etc. Why is this? Why aren’t vinyl/analog setups discussed in terms of physical measurements very often?

Seems to me like that would increase the customer base. I know several “objectivists” that won’t accept any of your claims unless you have measurements and blind tests. If there were measurements that correlated to what you hear, I think more people would be interested in vinyl/analog setups. 

I know vinyl/analog setups are often system-dependent but there are still many generalizations that can be made.
128x128celander
iopscrl
198 posts
 
Digital is like looking at the world through the tines of a comb, or in strobascopic light.

Vinyl and Analogue are like looking at the world as it is, in continuous non stop light.

One can reduce the size of each tine to bring in more light, one can increase the flash rate of the strobe, but what you see will never quite be what is available to see.

Digital is a parabolic curve that approaches but never quite touches the horizontal line of analogue.

That said, there are trade offs for analogue and digital that should be examined by the curious.


Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
5,967 posts
 
rbstehno
For you measurement types, based on the following specs, how are each of these cartridges going to sound? Since I have had both, I know if the specs actually tell the difference in sound quality ...
Specifications may give a hint of what a component may sound like, but it's just a hint, and then mostly when something in the specs is extreme. In the case of the two cartridges you list, their weight is substantially different. Provided that you install each in the same pickup arm with the same counterweight, you've introduced a new variable, because the arm will have a different moment of inertia depending on the location of the counterweight. So I'd say you can't conclude anything absolute about the difference between these cartridges from specifications alone.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Generally, digital provides more detail and wider frequency response. Digital also provides higher SNR and DR. So the comb tine theory falls apart. Digital is not like that at all. Actually analog is like that. Of course, I’m not referring to stock, off the shelf digital. That obviously sucks.
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