"Andrew Walkingshaw" wrote in message

In article , Jim H wrote:
Accuracy and precision are similar ideas, degree of approximation.
Very simply accuracy is 'to the nearest x' whilst precision is the
presence of errors.

To put it another way, if I understand you correctly: there's a
tradeoff.

Vinyl has more noise, in the statistical sense: however, it also has
a theoretically higher resolution than CDs.

Wrong. If you look at the definition of resolution, having more noise
automatically precludes having more resolution.

Therefore, the question
of which is "better" depends on three things:

a) What is the maximum resolution of the ear?

Irrelevant since the ear almost always operates in relatively noisy
environments.

b) What's the lowest practical noise-floor of vinyl?

A lot less than that of good musical recordings.

c) How much (or, indeed, *is* it?) higher is the *practical*
resolution of vinyl than CD under typical circumstances?

That would be a negative number for reasons stated above.

I can't think of a good way of testing any of these hypotheses.

They've all been tested.

- Andrew (who thinks the biggest component of the vinyl/CD
perceived-difference is probably psychological)

Vinyl preference most likely has psychological, not technical causes.