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CD vs. Vinyl

I've personally had to opportunity to listen to identical music on vinyl and CD on an extremely high end system, possibly a seven figure system, and certainly recognized the stark difference between the vinyl sound and a CD.

What makes this difference? Here are three situation to consider assuming the same piece of music:

(1) An original analogue recording on a vinyl vs. an A/D CD

(2) An original analogue recording on vinyl vs. an original digital recording on CD

(3) An original digial recording on CD vs. a D/A recording on vinyl

I wonder if the sound of vinyl is in some ways similar to the "color" of speakers? It's not so much of an information difference, just the sound of the medium?

Any thoughts?
mceljo

Showing 1 response by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

I took the CD player out of my rack years ago, when my computer audio crushed it. There is no way I would go back to vinyl.  I sold that decades ago.

It is very difficult to do apples-to-apples comparison of these.  You must have the best digital source and DAC compared to the best phono preamp, turntable, tonearm and cartridge. Selection of the test track is critical too.  If the A/D was poorly done or with a jittery clock in the track, all bets are off.

My prediction is that the vinyl might sound a tiny bit smoother on vocals, but the digital dynamics, depth of image and HF extension will outclass it.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

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