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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
2,200 posts
 
@rauliruegas

to make sure i am on the same page with you, you are asking for 2-3 Lp’s where the digital version is better sounding than the vinyl version. right?

i’m at work right now so i’ll pull a couple from my memory.

Reference Recordings does some amazing digital recordings.

RR-93---Eiji-Copland---Cd verses 33rpm Masterworks Lp.
https://referencerecordings.com/recording/copland-100-minnesota-orchestra/

i own both. the Lp sucks. the CD beats it like a drum.

RR-25 Nojima Plays Listz--CD

https://referencerecordings.com/nojima-plays-liszt-now-available-on-vinyl-2/

this is an analog recording. and the original Lp pressing of this recording is really great. but the CD is also very good.

unfortunately the digitally sourced 45rpm vinyl reissue referenced in the link sucks and the CD is better.

i have to get back to work. when i have more time i will list more.
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,209 posts
 
Nojima is very great pianist in this Liszt and the cd sound first rated....

:)
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,112 posts
 
Dear @mikelavigne : I own the original RR-25 LP ( Not the 45rpm. ) and is as you said really good but I don't own the CD version so time to listen to it. Thank's.

As a fact I own all the original RR LPs and I think I own the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances in CD version too that I don't listened by a lot of years now. Other RR CD I own is one that Johnson sayid was recorded: D2D and maybe I own 2-3 more RR CDs but I'm not sure.

I really appreciated your recomendations about because at the end it does not matters the recording medium but the performance it self and its quality levels of those recordings.

R.
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