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

Well except for all those tapes lost in the UMG fire, and the ones that have been degraded so likely the best is a copy of a master.

I think I saw a 30ips remark above. Generally 30ips is useless as there is no bass response left on the tape. 15 is the best trade-off between bass and treble extension and mechanical stability and averaging out surface errors.  7.5 is better for deep bass.

To clear up a misconception though, tape is very much not "perfect" and can impart its own sound even just variances in alignment from recording and playback, especially when you get into bass frequencies.


Just some graphs for those not familiar with tape realities:    http://www.endino.com/graphs/

These next graphs look really good, but I expect there was some smoothing in the responses:   https://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=20460 
One interesting thing to note is the high frequency compression at 7.5ips if you push beyond 0db at relatively audible frequencies, and at >10KHz at 15ips. That can tone down high frequency peaks which can be pleasant and contribute to a "warm" sound.

Interesting article by Richard Hess on tape degradation and preservation. It's from 2008, so some comments

"...greater dynamic range than many records and certainly greater than many CDs from about 2000 on, you know, because of the Loudness Wars."

What exactly are loudness wars?

A combination of compression and making the quieter parts louder so that the dynamic range of the recording is compressed. It sounds loud on the radio and CD. It started with records in the 70s-80s, but really continued with CD, because records are limited in their average volume, more volume = wider tracks = less songs per side. CD of course does not have that limitation.

Just received my brand new sealed J. Geils Band Full House live cassette. Digitally remastered. The best of both worlds? Hugely dynamic, low noise and much more analog sounding than CD. The digitally remastered Stones on Virgin and Zeppelin on Atlantic, by Ludwig and Page/Marino respectively, on cassette will raise some eyebrows. 😲 For all you Kind of Blue freaks out there check out the digitally remastered cassette on Columbia.

Dear @roberttdid , friends: The Telarc digital recording LP ( 1979 ) of 1812 Overture states that the recording goes from 6hz and up and I would like to know that in all analog recordings if tape recorders ( R2R ) can takes 6hz bass frequency, if can be recorded there because for digital is no problem down to 0.
Btw, the Soundstream digital recorder used on sevral labels had a 90db of dynamic range unweigthed.

The 1812 recording is really good and not only for its great bass range with a definition, accuracy and rigthness quality no analog recording can touch it but all the score: that Carillon is an EXPERIENCE to listen it as the triangle or the tambourine. Exist a today reissue made it by the FIM label. Both LPs are something to listen as many other Telarcs titles: Carmen, Mahler Titan, Pictures at an exibition and many more and are easy to buy it all.

There is at least one digital recording by Delos title that we have to have: Beethoven Piano Sonatas with the female player Carol Rosenberger in a
Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand instrument.|

From Denon PCM I remember Brahms Piano works with a female player: Annerose Schmidt.

I forgot in my last post to mention the digital LPs by M&K, they named Digital Master Series and I own all that are classical MUSIC with the Philharmonia Hungarica.

Now to really appreciate the very high quality levels of digital well recorded LPs we need an accurated ( not analhytical. ), high resoulition and low whole distortions room/system and the best down there are SS electronics especially in the phonolinepreamp unit with active high gain stages( tubes can’t do it. Sorry for this. ). I give you an example in my system of that accuracy levels: the RIAA eq. deviation in my unit was measured 0.012 db, it’s an all analog, fully discrete and four layer boards design, fully balanced input to output and totally dual mono unit. Not even today top Dartzeel or other top designs can outperforms it. No, my system is not at the same level than the Mike one but it’s good enough for my MUSIC needs.

Other issue with digital LP and D2D is that we need a very good cartridge with high self tracking abilities to capture/pick-up not only " all " recorded information but in accurated/non-distorted way ( especially at inner grooves and several high recorded velocities on those LPs. ) and that cartridge must be very well matched to its tonearm.

The LP digital experience is better that what any of you coulñd think, you only need to try it.

Even those digital LPs bougth it second hand ( mint. ) are splendorous. Recomended if you have the adequated room/system because those LPs are achallenge to any room/system.
Other issue is that with many of the D2D LPs the digital ones must be listened at higher SPL that the one we are accustom to.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.