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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
mikelavigne
2,199 posts
 
@roberttdid
Mike, I will try to take you up on that offer to come listen after this whole Covid thing dies down which unfortunately looks like it won’t be any time soon. I may even bring my own digital source. I would be interested in your thoughts compared to your reference unit.
i would enjoy it if you can. anytime, i’m in the Seattle area.

and you would be welcome to bring your own digital source....happy to compare it to the MSB Select II <-> Extreme server.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
completely understand your reluctance to allow actual listening to intrude on your nice neat world view. it does require a bit of effort.
I'm nowhere near Seattle but I would be more than happy to listen in a controlled blind test and see the preference of all involved. It might be vinyl but it still doesn't change reality. 

You should now understand that the terms ‘analog’ and ‘digital’ are based on idealisations. Real systems and signals will show a mixture of analog (smooth continuous) and digital (quantised) properties. Although it's often convenient to assume a signal/system is one thing or the other, this mixed behaviour is an unavoidable consequence of the way the world works.
My nice neat world view is kind of messy.
mikelavigne
2,199 posts
 
I'm nowhere near Seattle but I would be more than happy to listen in a controlled blind test and see the preference of all involved. It might be vinyl but it still doesn't change reality.
simply tell us the hardware and media to be played. we can all judge for ourselves in our own way. i have less than zero interest in a discussion of DBT.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Oh well,  wouldn't want to intrude on your nice neat world view.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
Who on Earth still has nice neat world view? Can I get into your world, please? Mine is kind of crappy these days.
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