Bottom line the recording quality of the CD or vinyl is the driver if both analog and digital systems are of high quality. My Esoteric CD player can easily beat mediocre vinyl recordings. If everything is perfect vinyl will edge out CD/SACD. I have not spend much on streaming so that comes in consistently last.
Classical music listening... what is a better source High Rez or Vinyl?
For many of us who really enjoy classical music, for me it is Baroque and opera, what is the better and more consistent for source high fidelity listening?
I am a mid hifi guy and have a Pro-ject Classic SB turntable with a high output MC Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 cartridge.. I am using a Jolida JD 9II Tube phone stage, with a vintage Telefunkin tube upgrade.
I have a Rogue Sphinx 3 integrated amplifier, with a vintage Mozada tube upgrade. My digital source DAC/SACD/CD is a Yamaha CD-2100 player.
I have refurbished Ohm H's loud speakers.
I have been picking up many vintage classical albums recently, mainly 1980’s releases in excellent condition too, at my local transfer station, and it has been mixed bag in comparison to my high resolution music files and SACD collection.
I was expecting much more when it came to vinyl and classical but I have not been as won over, as I have been with rock and jazz on vinyl.
My experience with SACD and high resolution, 96/24 or higher, has been very rewarding with a wide variety of classical music. Opera really shines in digital IMHO. Strong and full on classical piece are quite stunning on many a SACD releases I own. Rachel Podger’s Vivaldi: L’estro armonico - 12 concerti, Op. 3 on SACD is an excellent example of the audio quality I demand, as this recording is exceptional! Plus there are are very few new remastered vinyl releases for classical, particularly for opera, these days. A perfect example of this is Shubert’s Winterreise featuring Joyce DiDanato and pianist Yannick Nezet-Sequin, which I saw performed at Carnegie Hall for this recording and which sounds phenomenal in 96/24, and was release recently.
That would seem counter intuitive but that is clearly what the market is showing.
On one of these threads I recall someone posting how strings of violins, and the intensity that they are played at, can lead to degraded sound quality depending on the type of cartridge used.
I want to hear back from the classical music posse here to help me get to that higher level of listening with classical vinyl.
Is it the cartridge?
Or should I just stay with my digital sources?
I am a mid hifi guy and have a Pro-ject Classic SB turntable with a high output MC Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 cartridge.. I am using a Jolida JD 9II Tube phone stage, with a vintage Telefunkin tube upgrade.
I have a Rogue Sphinx 3 integrated amplifier, with a vintage Mozada tube upgrade. My digital source DAC/SACD/CD is a Yamaha CD-2100 player.
I have refurbished Ohm H's loud speakers.
I have been picking up many vintage classical albums recently, mainly 1980’s releases in excellent condition too, at my local transfer station, and it has been mixed bag in comparison to my high resolution music files and SACD collection.
I was expecting much more when it came to vinyl and classical but I have not been as won over, as I have been with rock and jazz on vinyl.
My experience with SACD and high resolution, 96/24 or higher, has been very rewarding with a wide variety of classical music. Opera really shines in digital IMHO. Strong and full on classical piece are quite stunning on many a SACD releases I own. Rachel Podger’s Vivaldi: L’estro armonico - 12 concerti, Op. 3 on SACD is an excellent example of the audio quality I demand, as this recording is exceptional! Plus there are are very few new remastered vinyl releases for classical, particularly for opera, these days. A perfect example of this is Shubert’s Winterreise featuring Joyce DiDanato and pianist Yannick Nezet-Sequin, which I saw performed at Carnegie Hall for this recording and which sounds phenomenal in 96/24, and was release recently.
That would seem counter intuitive but that is clearly what the market is showing.
On one of these threads I recall someone posting how strings of violins, and the intensity that they are played at, can lead to degraded sound quality depending on the type of cartridge used.
I want to hear back from the classical music posse here to help me get to that higher level of listening with classical vinyl.
Is it the cartridge?
Or should I just stay with my digital sources?
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- 65 posts total
Anyone thinks any digital anything sounds better with classical than vinyl is trying to put legs on a snake. https://youtu.be/NelBNtNm8l0?t=3 Notice the kid in the back has his hands up. He knows when he's licked. More sense than the rest. |
There is far more repertoire on CD and HD, which to those deeply interested in music is often important. Also, if you are interested in what's happening in classical music today -- modern interpretations and/or compositions -- LP won't have that. A major point for me is that digital recording and playback has much better pitch stability. The piano sounds completely different on CD -- much more like a piano! LP is better for listening to old performances that were mastered for LP. Many were poorly transferred to digital and can sound shrill. |
- 65 posts total