MoFi controversy

Whether an uncompressed digital source file was used for the LP mastering is another matter entirely and depends largely on the producer of the project.

Thank you Ralph (@atmasphere) for this very informative post in its entirety and for your particular comment above. Moving on from redbook vs vinyl, do you have any thoughts on the dynamic range of high resolution files (considering they were produced to take advantage of the range) and its performance in a low-noise, caching local server with a stellar clock and architecture? Yes I know that many digital front ends aren't up to the task, but there are a few that I believe are.

@blisshifi I'm sure they work fine! As with all things, so much in digital depends on execution. I would not expect any greater dynamic range if you are dealing with sources that use compression to begin with. But you might have greater resolution. 

I haven't read through all the posts, but have people also seen the recent article in Absolute Sound?

@twoleftears  I can't find it on their website.  Do you have a link?

Glad to hear the One Steps sound so good.  I haven't ponied up for one yet -- maybe I should.

If they really sound so much better, it doesn't bother me that there is a digital step in their creation.  Is the difference audible?  Is it better or worse with a digital step?  My ears probably couldn't hear the difference.

Optimize. You seem to be stuck arguing from your own set of facts. But the omitted fact is that RBCDs suck compared to a high quality LP played on a "very good" system, and any critical listener can hear that. I’d say RBCD is only a cut above MP3. If this were not the case, we wouldn’t be where we are now, and there probably would not even be an Analog Forum. I am not arguing about hi-rez streaming or even SACDs here, but in your original diatribe you managed to leave out all the physical aspects of playing a CD, not to mention the limitations imposed by RBCD standards in and of themselves, whilst harping only on those related to playing an LP.

Now here I go contributing to exactly what I hoped would not become the subject of this thread, digital vs vinyl.  Sorry.