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Vinyl / High qual analog tape / High-res digital -- One of these is not like the other

One common theme I read on forums here and elsewhere is the view by many that there is a pecking order in quality:

Top - High Quality Analog TapeNext - VinylBottom - Digital

I will go out on a limb and say that most, probably approaching almost all those making the claim have never heard a really good analog tape machine and high resolution digital side by side, and have certainly never heard what comes out the other end when it goes to vinyl, i.e. heard the tape/file that went to the cutter, then compared that to the resultant record?

High quality analog tape and high quality digital sound very similar. Add a bit of hiss (noise) to digital, and it would be very difficult to tell which is which. It is not digital, especially high resolution digital that is the outlier, it is vinyl. It is different from the other two.  Perhaps if more people actually experienced this, they would have a different approach to analog/vinyl?

This post has nothing to do with personal taste. If you prefer vinyl, then stick with it and enjoy it. There are reasons why the analog processing that occurs in the vinyl "process" can result in a sound that pleases someone. However, knowledge is good, and if you are set in your ways, you may be preventing the next leap.
roberttdid
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"Even if not all people like mikelavigne system..."
I'd gamble and bet it is not a bad one.

"...most system dont have the resolving power to be a fair judge,"
I feel that "cheaper" systems may actually reveal the differences more than ultra-expensive (and consequently not crappier) ones can.

$300 turntable vs. $300 CD player difference may be more pronounced than $100 000 CD (combination of all those clocks etc.) player vs. $100 000 turntable. I have never heard that kind of turntable, but I have heard cheap ones. CD players seem better to me.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Everyone seems to know what a system sounds like just by the photos. Interesting. 
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,045 posts
 
Glupson I understand your point.... But my point concern the possibility to solve the dilemma once and for all of us with the complex conditions implicated and the refine resolving system that none of us can afford...

For your point I said like you just said myself all the times that differences in scale price/S.Q. ratio makes impossible to claim victory for one or the other camp for the reason you just alluded to...I will not even mention the complex conditions that are implicated...


In the beginning the only thing I said was that probably mikelavigne is right about the vinyl and tape superiority... But in the usual normal day for all of us digital is very good and the way to go for me....


My 24 bucks dac rightly embedded sound better than half of the turntables on earth probably.... :) But probably sound bad or less natural compared to a turntable of a high level in a high level system in a high level room....This is the thing suggested by the experience of mikelavigne...It is not the gospel for sure but an interesting testimony...
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,045 posts
 
Everyone seems to know what a system sounds like just by the photos. Interesting.
The resolving power of a system in a good room is only that, a microscope.... This dont means that we will like the sound....This means that it will be more easy to ears some minute differences.... :) even if we dont like his tonality or imaging or etc....

With the photo it is easy to guess that the mikelavigne system is at least more resolving that your system and mine....For the S.Q. on all count this is another story....I must go now, I wish to you and glupson the best..... My best to all....
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"Everyone seems to know what a system sounds like just by the photos. Interesting."
Who is "everyone"? Nobody here claimed such knowledge.

mikelavigne did say how his system sounds, but that is not based on pictures only. I said I would be willing to bet it is good, mahgister expects it to be really good, roberttdid found a link where someone did not think it is as good.
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