On 07/11/2011 10:02, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In ,
Jim wrote:
In raweb.com, Rob
wrote:



While I have found there to be little discernible difference between
vinyl and CD - it's rare in my experience. I much prefer the sound of
vinyl (digitised or not) to CDs, on the whole. And well worth the effort.

I think it would be wise to distinguish between two situations here.

1) Where you compare a 'professional' LP release with a 'professional' CD
release of (nominally) the same recording or album. ('Professional' here
means what you'd buy from a company in a shop.)


Not sure what you mean. I'd have thought all recording are supposed to
be professional. What'd be the point of anything else? CD and LP of
Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles are similar, for example.

2) Where you have carefully made a CD copy of an LP.

In case (1) it isn't surprising that the two can audibly differ, They are
often equalised or compressed in different ways, for example. And may also
be clipped on CD.


Yep, could well be the reason for my preference.

In my experience in case (2) they can easily be audibly indistinguishable
or have a level of audible difference that is too small to really notice or
care about.


I'm not sure I can tell the difference. Or if I could, which was which.

All the vinyl enthusiasts I know are happy with a well made CD copy of
vinyl. But are in denial that vinyl adds distortions to the original
master that CD doesn't, and prefer to think of it as magic. Which is why
they don't like a well made CD of the original master - if such a thing
exists. It doesn't have the distortions vinyl adds.


You've been here before :-)

You don't have to say 'distortion', however technically expedient you
find the phrase to be. It's just different. Analogue and digital, if you
like.

Of course some individual instruments may sort of sound 'better' with
vinyl distortion. But not all.

Other thing is the processes that a studio master tape goes through before
being cut to vinyl or CD. Which are different for each. Another reason why
seemingly identical vinyl and CDs sound different. No magic about it at
all.


Of course.

Rob