2. digital
  3. 159433-10803

A case for Hi Rez Digital

Ok...walk with me (BTW I listen to both analog and digital)

You have a Master tape from a classic album that is considered "audiophile". You get the best mastering engineer. Best converters, etc. Tape in great shape. The Engineer is well experienced in both digital and analog mastering.

1. The Engineer masters a Hi Rez 24 bit (96 or 192) file. Which is either distributed digitally (HD Tracks, etc) or SACD (24/44?). No 16/44 version...just High Rez. The consumer purchases and plays thru a high quality DAC and stereo system. 

2. Same Engineer masters a vinyl version. The normal process (Laquer---plates---stampers or whatever the process) for an audiophile LP (think MoFi, MM, etc). Goes to pressing plant and uses the highest quality vinyl. The vinyl is packaged in a cover, shrink-wrapped and shipped to warehouse, record store, etc. The buyer gets the album and has a similar high quality system as the digital buyer. Just instead of a DAC...the buyer has a phono pre, Turntable, and cartridge.


Shouldn't the digital buyer get the closest version to the source master tape and thus have the best sounding version?No surface noise, fewer variations (Dacs can vary, however, with LPs you have a TT, Cartridge, more interconnects thruout, plus variations in the vinyl itself. How about cutting head wear).

Myself, numerous LPs that sound better than digital. I have a huge collection of Hi-Rez and DSD files. I have many Hi Rez versions better sounding than audiophile Lps. I'm inclined to think that the majority of sound quality (I know there are human preferences) comes from the recording and mastering vs format. And all things equal, Digital edges out LPs for noise alone. 


Thoughts?






aberyclark
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,642 posts
 
Mic placement and quality match. Studio electronics and cables. Room sound. Engineer chops. Producer vision.
Minimal manipulation in post. (Or none is best - D2D.)
These and others make far more difference in SQ with today’s and vintage high quality playback equipment than format can and does.
Of course LP's noise can be tamed or eliminated, with DSP. I can’t listen to my vinyl without it.
Then again try and drop a needle with Parkinson’s
djones51
4,947 posts
 
mahler said it better than I ever could. I quit vinyl and never looked back. 
aberyclark OP
1,410 posts
 
Great comments
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The buyer gets the album and has a similar high quality system as the digital buyer. Just instead of a DAC...the buyer has a phono pre, Turntable, and cartridge.

Just one problem: there is no such thing as a digital anything that is similar to a record.

From the day I first dug out my old Technics and heard it blow away my five times the cost CDP, to the dozens of times I’ve played CD and records for people, never once has anyone said oh my God I never knew CD sounded so good! 

Guess what they say instead.   You know the answer. Know it in your bones.

Its not just a river in Egypt.

There’s a reason the highest aspiration, compliment, and goal of digital is to sound like analog: it just sounds better.

But you guys are having such fun. Party on! Perfect sound forever!
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Millercarbon...I have both and grew up with vinyl.  I have many digital versions of music that definitely sound better than the vinyl copy.  Caveat being, the digital front end must be fairly high quality and properly cabled, fed and matched!
More to discover