Volume levels

As soon as I read the post I thought...details!  And that's what it's really about in this case it seems.  Which makes sense to me and I'd agree.  Even though the digital version of a piece is based on an analog version, up to a point in time anyway, the digital has more detail.  But this is compared to vinyl.  I wonder how it does when compared to RTR.

hilde45

Vinyl records have a typical dynamic range of around 70 dB, depending on the equipment used to record the audio and cut the record. CDs have a typical dynamic range of 90 to 93 dB ...

That is completely false. It’s actually very rare for an LP to achieve 70 dB dynamic range and a CD with a 90 dB dynamic range would be even rarer.

If you make your own measurements or refer to the dynamic range database, you’ll see that, in practice, an LP frequently has greater DR than its digital counterpart. Again, this is a consequence of the Loudness Wars.

I find the same thing. I run my digital end at 25ish and 35ish (preamp volume control) to achieve the same impact (unless it is a compressed album). I always assume this reflected the input voltage from the source… phono stage vs DAC.

Recently inserted AGD Audion MKIII monoblocs in my system and have found that lower and higher volume levels have become a non-issue since the GanFet conveys more information clearly enough that there is much less distortion in the sound path. In other words, my system is now what I would call truly "audiophile."

CDs have always been louder and brighter to me and I believe this is common knowledge 

this equals more detail at lower listening levels