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New take on CD vs Vinyl vs CD

What if I digitize a vinyl record, and compare that CD to both it’s rebook CD, and the actual record?

1. Clean record (using a VPI HW-17)
2. Put vinyl on turntable (Ortofon Blue cart)
3. De-magnetize vinyl using a Furutech Destat III
4. Record vinyl using a Harmon Kardon CDR 20

My Parasound Halo integrated allows nice A/B/C comparison.

I used 2 CD players: Sony CDPXA7 ES, and XA 20 ES

I put the song on (‘We got the beat’ Go-Go’s) all 3 sources at the same moment (using all 3 of my hands)

Though the turntable and it’s mediocre cart is the weakest link, it sounded pretty nice. I then switched back and forth and forth a few times till I had a winner.

By far the digitized copy of the vinyl sounded best. Not the outcome I expected.

I then A/B’d both CD players, with the result remaining the same.

Can anyone explain this, besides my psychologist?

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cleeds
5,950 posts
 

How did you ensure levels were equal?

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

You have to measure the voltage levels of the two CD players to get them equal. Otherwise a difference of 0.2 db will favor the player with the higher output. Then do a blind listening test - no peeking! 

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

The surface noise from the LP transfer should be apparent! 

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,705 posts
 

I while ago I tried to digitize a few new albums and no matter what I did, I still had some background noise and a click or two. So I gave up.

thespeakerdude
483 posts
 

The record and the recording of the record can't be compared to a CD to do anything but compare how different engineers interpreted what should be on each format and perhaps what they had for breakfast that morning or if they fought with their spouse. That and how your turntable is setup. You are comparing Macintosh and Granny Smith applies. Some like one, some like the other, some like both and different ones on different days.

That you liked the CDR20, a pretty ancient beast now, says the CD format is pretty robust. I doubt the CDR20 gets the most possible out of it.

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