The character of analog and digital


Having just obtained some high quality analogue components, I want make some comments on the character of both analog and digital.
First of all it’s very difficult to speak of analog in general. Records vary widely (indeed wildly) in sonic character and quality. Digital recordings are much more uniform. When you play a digital file you more or less know what your getting. Of course some sound better than others, but there is a consistency of character. With records, it’s the Wild West. Variation in SQ and character are rampant.


Therefore it becomes very difficult to make generalizations on which categorically sounds better.

128x128rvpiano

I always thought I heard a lot of noise when hearing a needle tracking along a record groove.  However, it has been many years since I have played vinyl.  I need to go to a dealer to hear the difference again.  I must be missing something.

I read many years ago and agree and still think it’s true….

“To like digital you have to stop listening to analogue vinyl.”

I find the best analogue vinyl sounds much better than digital. 
the sound is relaxed and has air and ambience. 

also, much pure analogue vinyl recordings from the past sound better than their recent digitized vinyl reissues. Just about all new vinyl, reissues included, are now digitized and then converted back to analogue before pressing. New cutting lathes are digital. 
 

I hear a loss of musicality in most new reissued vinyl. 
I haven’t bought any new re-issue vinyl in the last five years after being disappointed by “digital” in your face but less musical sound on several re-issues. 

new music on a good dac sounds pretty good. 
there is no pure analogue to compare it too. 
 

but most music from the 50’s thru the 90’s sounds pretty bad in digital when compared to the original vinyl. I think we are stuck with crappy conversion from those early digital years.

@sudnh try some of the Analog Productions reissues. I’m really digging the classical and jazz these guys are putting out very good quality vinyl. 

Why do they keep saying “it sounds like vinyl” or “it’s really analog sounding”

Nearly every format of audio is compared to vinyl

im gonna stop there

Good luck Willy-T

Indeed, welcome back @millercarbon !

Were you banned or did you just take a break?

I owe you for the raves about Townshend and Better Records!

@ghdprentice 

Your digital is very close to your analog. I was stunned by your digital.

But close is only good for horseshoes and hand grenades. 
You may recall my comment about hearing the fine nature of Steven Stills’ guitar.

Only on vinyl did I hear that he was playing a great old Martin. On digital it sounded great but, overall, it did not reach that level of nuanced reality.