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
In fact, it was "pseudo scientists" that caught my attention.

>>>>>Never get into a technical argument with a history major, if history has taught us anything. How can a non technical person be expected to decide which argument is correct. Answer at 11. Cue glubson for clever retort. 

Answer promised for 11(ish):


geoffkait is pseudo-glupson.


(hint: glupson actually gives answer at 11ish)

Good question! Maybe you can answer it as being non-technical on the topic has never stopped you before.

geoffkait23,053 posts07-01-2020 6:53am
Ho
w can a non technical person be expected to decide which argument is correct. Answer at 11. Cue glubson for clever retort.

Oh, geez, two snappy retorts in a row. Be still my heart. Which illustrates what I’ve been saying all along, two 1/2 wits doesn’t always equal one whole wit. 😳😳 it’s nice to know I can always count on you two knuckleheads for something stupid. In robberrttddidd’s case probably too much time in front of an oscilloscope fried his brain. 🍳 We can probably blame the public school system on glubson.

geoffkait,

"Be still my heart."

Do not scare us.


I did go to public schools for some time.