Jimbos Audio ramblings

[Macca]

I don't know about that, I have original pressing of BOA bought the week it came out. Played it over thirty-odd years and I've never noticed anything wrong with it - but then I've not compared to a fancy mo-fi pressing.

I've asked a few people who were there at the time about this whole 'Engineers didn't understand digital' thing and based on that I reckon it's a myth. There might have been some isolated cases but for major label releases? It isn't likely.

The CD is better because you get the full length songs.

[Jimbo]

I listened to the standard vinyl pressing of Brother in arms last night and it sounded thin, lacking in body and bright. Compared to Love Over Gold it sounds very poor in my opinion. I had the CD as well as it was probably the first I ever bought. This was digital at its worst.

Don't get me wrong I am not anti digital as I have loads of vinyl that have been produced from digital recordings and they sound stunning but some of the early digitally derived stuff is just dreadful. I have numerous examples and they just don't get played!

[Macca]

I listened to the standard vinyl pressing of Brother in arms last night and it sounded thin, lacking in body and bright. Compared to Love Over Gold it sounds very poor in my opinion. I had the CD as well as it was probably the first I ever bought. This was digital at its worst.

Don't get me wrong I am not anti digital as I have loads of vinyl that have been produced from digital recordings and they sound stunning but some of the early digitally derived stuff is just dreadful. I have numerous examples and they just don't get played!

not disputing what you hear just the reason for it. There's a shit-ton of variables with vinyl. Maybe your copy was one of the last from the stamper before it was replaced? Maybe the vinyl used for that batch was inferior? That professional engineers working for major labels were incompetent with a process that's not at all complex just isn't the most likely explanation.

[Jimbo]

not disputing what you hear just the reason for it. There's a shit-ton of variables with vinyl. Maybe your copy was one of the last from the stamper before it was replaced? Maybe the vinyl used for that batch was inferior? That professional engineers working for major labels were incompetent with a process that's not at all complex just isn't the most likely explanation.

I am not suggesting the engineers working at the time were incompetent but the techniques, digital mastering methods and equipment have moved on a lot from those early days and so digital recordings used in the production of vinyl presently are far superior, as long as the mastering has been done well.

[AJSki2fly]

May have a look at obtaining some of that and run complete speaker cable lengths. Cheers Gary.

Yes I have been meaning to as well

[Jimbo]

Yes I have been meaning to as well

Its a cheap option to try. My only uncertainty is whether the Dueland 16 gauge cable although a copy of the WE performs the same. I am sure they were materials with different metallic compositions then which may account for the reason the WE sounded the way it did. But as some folk have found the Dueland cables do perform very well indeed so worth a punt.

My small experience with the speaker jumper cables would certainly suggest so!

[AJSki2fly]

Its a cheap option to try. My only uncertainty is whether the Dueland 16 gauge cable although a copy of the WE performs the same. I am sure they were materials with different metallic compositions then which may account for the reason the WE sounded the way it did. But as some folk have found the Dueland cables do perform very well indeed so worth a punt.

My small experience with the speaker jumper cables would certainly suggest so!

I met a chap from the Isle Of Wight, I cannot recall his name for the life of me, that used purely Dueland Cables, 16 and 12 gauge I think. His system was a rather rare and very nice valve power amp with pre-amp all in a copper casing, he ran a pair of Grandis Calliope Signature speakers and had several turntables. He recommended Dueland cables having thrown away several very expensive makes. If I recall correctly he had them bi-wired with 12 and 16 gauge Dueland. He also recommended another cable for interconnects which I tried and it was very good.

[Jimbo]

Having spoken to a hifi buddy this afternoon who has some NOS WE 16AG speaker cable and tried the Dueland cable I think it is safe to say they are not the same.
Yes they maybe the same construction but that maybe as far as it goes. Sound wise???

Looking at WE cable it is now unobtainium or at huge prices on eBay and there is plenty of "suspect" stuff floating around as well so I may have come to a dead end with this little venture. I need 16 feet of the Dueland cable to even give it a try so that starts to get expensive and if it isn't the same SQ as WE 16Ag then I would be disappointed.

[Gazjam]

Good threads here on Audiogon James Re: the differences between the two, from other audiophiles that have done the comparison.
Many prefer the Duelund, thinking it sounds better.

As ever, opinions vary and always good listen for yourself.


https://www.google.com/search?q=duel...h=576&dpr=2.22

Having spoken to a hifi buddy this afternoon who has some NOS WE 16AG speaker cable and tried the Dueland cable I think it is safe to say they are not the same.
Yes they maybe the same construction but that maybe as far as it goes. Sound wise???

Looking at WE cable it is now unobtainium or at huge prices on eBay and there is plenty of "suspect" stuff floating around as well so I may have come to a dead end with this little venture. I need 16 feet of the Dueland cable to even give it a try so that starts to get expensive and if it isn't the same SQ as WE 16Ag then I would be disappointed.

[Barry]

According to the Audiogon site you cite, the Dueland stuff seems to be better.

Not that I care, my speakers cannnot be bi- or tri-wired, and the cables need only be 30 -50cm long.