Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Lol.. We've been here before, remember? Quite simply, if your digital and vinyl sources are *genuinely* top notch, as are the respective recordings you're playing on them, then there should NOT be a major sonic discrepancy between them.
If you're not getting that, then providing the recordings used are excellent, blame either source for not being good enough to reveal the full quality of the recordings, not the format itself.
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Location: Seaford UK
Posts: 1,861
I'm Dennis.
It seems clear that there are two ways to think of mastering; to re-record to improve something technically without altering it artistically, perhaps to lower the S/N or eliminate clipping, and to re-record but alter its artistic presentation, often by increasing some levels and reducing others, tweaking filters and altering panning etc., which I feel is generally a disgrace.
The latter is often IMO done by young masterers who have little feel for the original, and who were not around in its original zeitgeist and hence do not have a feel for the ambience during its origins.
I think this latter is prompted by the record companies to re-sell a piece of work, and is a cynical move, and is probably done by masterers who have also grown up in a noisy environment, and who are not used to listening on a good system in a relaxed atmosphere and receptive mindset.
They probably compress it due to that and the loudness wars.
I totally believe that to be true (in theory); what I have yet to experience is hearing it with my own ears (in practice).
I have many strong reasons to cheer for your theory. I have accumulated thousands of hours of high quality music, mostly stored in FLAC format. If I were to conclude that digital playback is indeed a big joke (like it appeared to me when I was comparing the hi-res sound of "Band on the Run" to the vinyl sound), I'd be looking at a huge expense to replenish my music library. So I'm hoping and preying that you're correct, but remain unconvinced thus far.
So which digital transport/DAC combo would you recommend I invest in so that it could match my turntable?
Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?
Alex.
Location: Solihull, UK
Posts: 410
I'm Bob.
Original 1970's. Strangely the "Blue" bought shortly after, although very good, doesn't have the same magical ring to it.
I didn't know the "Red" had been re-mastered. Live and learn.
Incidentally, the latest remaster (2015, I think) of The Beatles "1" album containing their 27 no 1 tracks does get a vote from me. Has more weight and clarity to it. So I guess re-mastering by people who have a level of empathy with the original and know what they're doing and can be a good thing.
Source: Orbe SE / SME IV / Cadenza Bronze
Source: WD NAS / Cyrus Stream X2 / Chord DAVE
Source: Oppo UDP-205 (CD/DVD-A/SACD)
Amplification: Icon Audio PS 3 Sig Phono + Audio Research LS27 + Musical Fidelity A5cr Power Amp
Loudspeakers: ProAc Response D28
Cables/stands: Mark Grant G1500HD + Linn K20 + Cat 5e
Other bits: Okki Nokki keeping things clean
Location: Solihull, UK
Posts: 410
I'm Bob.
Need to drift a moment (sorry OP).
Genesis re-masters have been mentioned a couple of times in this thread. I indicated my original vinyl "Seconds Out" is quite poor - dull, lacking in any involvement even with the volume whacked up a bit.
For those that have heard - does the re-mastered vinyl of "SO" improve things? (a bit? a lot?). If so I'm off to the record shop.
Incidentally, I've ripped "Genesis - When in Rome - 2007" from the DVD using Audio Extractor into 24bit/48kHz FLAC and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Depth and weight of the music, sound stage, imaging etc. It's all there. So much so that if this were available on vinyl (which I don't think it is) I doubt I'd be queuing up to buy it.
My take is that Hi-Res digital can be a viable alternative - if, like vinyl, it's done well. Or maybe it's just different. But a very acceptable "different".
Source: Orbe SE / SME IV / Cadenza Bronze
Source: WD NAS / Cyrus Stream X2 / Chord DAVE
Source: Oppo UDP-205 (CD/DVD-A/SACD)
Amplification: Icon Audio PS 3 Sig Phono + Audio Research LS27 + Musical Fidelity A5cr Power Amp
Loudspeakers: ProAc Response D28
Cables/stands: Mark Grant G1500HD + Linn K20 + Cat 5e
Other bits: Okki Nokki keeping things clean
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Yep Hi- Rez is a red herring. I am going to listen to something Hi Rez tonight but not necessarily 24bit as I think it involves CD.
If I can I will report back and put a post up as it will be quite special. I am one of the few on the planet to hear this system so feel quite lucky.
I have a feeling it is going to raise the digital bar to another level.
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?
Alex.