Analog vs Digital on albums from the 60's and 90's
I love playing vinyl on my 70's classic rock albums. But I'm curious about how much difference vinyl makes on older albums that may have not had the best recording techniques, or before artists demanded better recording studios and equipment. For 90's albums I wonder if vinyl makes a difference since much of it was recorded digitally.
+1 @tomcy6 . I'd add that besides the unfortunate addition of dynamic compression, there is a second common issue in such CDs. Often the treble seems to have been boosted in remasters, and this can make the material hard on the ears if you don't have a way of turning it down.
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What vinyl or digital sounds like completely depends on your system. What the recording sound like on an excellent system vary greatly. The late 1950’s and ‘60s have the most incredible recordings ever made. 1956 - 1963ish. If you have not heard some of them, reach back a bit further.
I am fortunate enough to own a system that produces outstanding analog and digital sound from vinyl and different digital formats. So I can enjoy both. Vinyl has the added variability of the pressing. So, as records are pressed the master (I may have the terminology incorrect) wears out, and another is substituted. So this is another variable placed in the analog stream, not present in the digital leg.
One could write books on the recording quality over the time frame you bring up. Deutsch gramophone was one of the most respected recording companies and they went digital in the 80’s and early 90’s… omg, I have some vinyl that is hideous. I mean, absolutely unlistenable.. tinny… and trebly… just terrible. Anyway, you bring up a great point… but I would be looking into the recording techniques of the time. That is where the big differences were. Today, if you can afford it, you can enjoy digital as good or better than analog. |
"I love playing vinyl on my 70’s classic rock albums" The album producer had a big part in the SQ of your Classic Rock album too. Ted Templeman is an example someone responsible for great sounding LP’s in the 70’s A few examples
"But I’m curious about how much difference vinyl makes on older albums that may have not had the best recording techniques" Play a period press of your favorites on a proper setup and your perspective may change? As mentioned, some of the arguably BEST sounding LP’s are 50-60’s original pressings-you just have to hunt for those unmolested copies. Just like a broken record, I’ve mentioned this LP many times being one of those recordings that may change your mind about how good an old record can sound 1955 mono recording-the real deal
Likely, not a genre most of the younger generations would listen to, but if you’re interested in listening to musicans/vocals of "days gone by" this an example of greatness.
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