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Analog vs Digital Recordings

We all know that an analog recording played back on an LP will sound better than the same recording which has been digitized and played back on CD because there are mountains of analog recordings from the 60's, 70's and 80's available on both LP and CD and they can easily be compared.

My question relates to whether current digital recordings played back on CD's (D to D)can compare with the quality of LP recordings (A to A)of a generation ago. Is the "thin" sound of CD's made from analog masters due to converting to digital (A to D)?

At first, this might seem to be an easy answer, but since little (if anything) has been recorded both "A to A" and "D to D", direct comparisons are not likely. And, while the digital recording process has improved, I am not always certain that the "CD sound" I hear in recent recordings is the nature of the digital format or the recording techniques or volume manufacturing problems.

Can anyone shed some light on this?
jimbo3

Showing 1 response by garfish

garfish
1,840 posts
 
I believe that almost all (certainly most) digital recordings are still made from analog tape. The process of going from a master tape (analog) to CD certainly has improved in the last few years IMO, and there are now many excellent quality CDs. I have heard DDD discs and not been impressed, but there are also some good ones. I still prefer the master tape to CD process.

I also think that in the history of the entire world, there have been as many poor records made as there have poor CDs. That said, I have cherished the good of both formats (at different times). Also, the "CD sound" can be very good with a very good digital playback system-- assuming a good recording of course. Cheers. Craig.
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