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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?


idigmusic64
simonmoon's avatar
simonmoon
517 posts
 
For me, it’s:

  1. DSD and 24/192
  2. Vinyl
  3. CD

The main reasons for this order, for me is, that with classical, I care a lot about imaging, soundstage and other spatial cues. And I think DSD, 24/192 and vinyl do those things better than CD (16/44.1). CD creates a very flat image, musicians have this cardboard cutout kind of presentation, where the other formats create a 3d, palpable, image of the musicians.

I am willing to give up the increase in dynamic range and quietness of CD over vinyl, in order to get better imaging and soundstage.

But with DSD (and 24/192), you get all the benefits of CD (dead quiet, great dynamic range), and the benefits of vinyl (better imaging and 3d soundstage). With no real tradeoffs that I can hear.
frogman
7,444 posts
 
Welcome home, rv 😊.  
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano
2,656 posts
 
I must make one point, however.
When listening to music on any source, if the musical message comes through with an acceptably high degree of sonic quality, I don’t think we should agonize over: Will it sound a little better in another format?  

Enjoy the music, for heaven’s  sake!
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
Last night I listened to my Chailly Mahler CD box set with The Royal Concertgebouw, a wonderful set. I chose Mahler’s 9th, an amazing symphony. But it hit me, I’ve never had it on vinyl.

So searched, found a copy of Barbirolli conducting Mahler’s 9th with the Berliner Philharmoniker originally recorded in 1965. The one I chose is a German re-pressing from EMI, and ordered it last night.


Can’t wait to hear that symphony on vinyl.
frogman
7,444 posts
 
**** I must make one point, however.
When listening to music on any source, if the musical message comes through with an acceptably high degree of sonic quality, I don’t think we should agonize over: Will it sound a little better in another format?  

Enjoy the music, for heaven’s  sake!  ****

Couldn’t agree more and it goes without saying.  No need to agonize, but when we have the choice ........

And, the OP did ask the question.  Not to mention that, as always in this hobby, “little” is in the ear of the listener.
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