Classical music listening... what is a better source High Rez or Vinyl?


For many of us who really enjoy classical music, for me it is Baroque and opera, what is the better and more consistent for source high fidelity listening?

I am a mid hifi guy and have a Pro-ject Classic SB turntable with a high output MC Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 cartridge.. I am using a Jolida JD 9II Tube phone stage, with a vintage Telefunkin tube upgrade.

I have a Rogue Sphinx 3 integrated amplifier, with a vintage Mozada tube upgrade. My digital source DAC/SACD/CD is a Yamaha CD-2100 player.

I have refurbished Ohm H's loud speakers.

I have been picking up many vintage classical albums recently, mainly 1980’s releases in excellent condition too, at my local transfer station, and it has been mixed bag in comparison to my high resolution music files and SACD collection.

I was expecting much more when it came to vinyl and classical but I have not been as won over, as I have been with rock and jazz on vinyl.

My experience with SACD and high resolution, 96/24 or higher, has been very rewarding with a wide variety of classical music. Opera really shines in digital IMHO. Strong and full on classical piece are quite stunning on many a SACD releases I own. Rachel Podger’s Vivaldi: L’estro armonico - 12 concerti, Op. 3 on SACD is an excellent example of the audio quality I demand, as this recording is exceptional! Plus there are are very few new remastered vinyl releases for classical, particularly for opera, these days. A perfect example of this is Shubert’s Winterreise featuring Joyce DiDanato and pianist Yannick Nezet-Sequin, which I saw performed at Carnegie Hall for this recording and which sounds phenomenal in 96/24, and was release recently.

That would seem counter intuitive but that is clearly what the market is showing.

On one of these threads I recall someone posting how strings of violins, and the intensity that they are played at, can lead to degraded sound quality depending on the type of cartridge used.

I want to hear back from the classical music posse here to help me get to that higher level of listening with classical vinyl.

Is it the cartridge?

Or should I just stay with my digital sources?


idigmusic64

Showing 9 responses by bkeske

@simonmoon 

Thanks for that. I’ll check that out. I’m a fan of similar 20th century composers. 
In fact, will be spinning some Varese tonight. Already pulled.
@melm

Fair enough.

In any event, I am here at the moment simply to take issue with the "the nuances that only vinyl can offer" remark. Given that a favored LP is giving the sort of pleasure described, and I don’t for a moment doubt that, some credit must be allocated to its digital source.

Not classical, but a perfect example, that only I can confirm. Not classical, but just bought The Trinity Session by the Cowboy Junkies. It arrived yesterday. When that album fist came out, I bought it on cassette, then/and CD. So, had both for a long long time.

After listening to both the cassette and CD versions not so long ago, I decided to buy the period vinyl. As stated, arrived yesterday.

I dropped the needle and was immersed in that vinyl version much more than by my digital version, and also more than the cassette (albeit, that was a time period when cassettes were actually pretty good, some call the mid-80’s and into the 90’s their ‘golden years’). There is a depth, a naturalness, timber and tone, and small details that both sprang out of that album in vinyl form while also ‘sucking me in’ like never before. If you are familiar, that album is very quiet, and recorded pretty ‘raw”, similar to many classical or older jazz trio type recordings.

That is an example of an ‘album’ I’m very familiar over the years, loved it, but have only really listened to it in digital form (and cassette, as I said, and still have a Nakamichi deck that plays my cassettes from time to time). Bottom line never had it or ever remember hearing it on vinyl, and it simply ‘blew me away’ in comparison to other formats I know well. That’s what I meant, and I’ll stick to it. Same can be said for some of the same classical selections I have in both formats, but to be honest, those are much fewer.

I think I made it pretty clear, this is all very subjective, and there are an incredible number of factors, but I know what I prefer, and perhaps you do as well. Great. Enjoy the music.

@melm 

Is the "Paris" LP an all analog recording?

I have to assume it was a digital recording. I believe most new classical albums are digitally recorded, but I’m not sure for Paris. Her Retrospective LP was an analog recording, but not so sure about this one. It does not specifically state in on the LP itself, not in any reviews I’ve read, which are very few.

To me, it matters little as it still sounds great. I have some LP’s that were digitally recorded (most in the 80’s, the record companies were proud of that at the time and made sure it was stated on the cover typically) and while some still sound very good on vinyl regardless, some not so much. It really comes down to mastering and engineering. You cannot make a broad brush declaration that one is worse or better than another.
I listen to a lot of classical. My classical LP albums are primarily/mostly ‘vintage’ (pre 80’s), albeit I have some newer LP’s as well, but very few. I also have many classical CD’s, many of those of ‘vintage’ performances as well. Some of my CD’s sound pretty good too. In that regards, no matter what format, it really comes down to the quality of the recording and engineering, and I find that incredibly important with classical (especially) regardless of the source.

But

I almost always play vinyl. To me it just sounds more organic, natural, proper timber, etc. there is a natural ‘flow’ of the music vinyl provides that is hard to beat, and when we are talking about classical, with acoustic instruments, that just sounds better and correct. To me.

Now, to compare digital to vinyl is very dependent on your rig, both vinyl and digital. There is little doubt that if you invest in a better vinyl system, the nuances that only vinyl can offer will be better realized, no matter the genre. Does that mean you have to spend a fortune? No, not in my opinion. But there are some improvements you receive by spending more. There is no way around it.

I just purchased Hilary Hahn’s new ‘Paris’ LP. I didn’t even consider the CD version. That LP is stunning in its recording, engineering, and the performance too. There is no doubt newer recordings can sound quite good, again, regardless of the source. But that new album on vinyl is amazing, to me.

There is no ‘right or wrong’ answer here. Just what you prefer and get the most enjoyment from. I know what I prefer, and quite honestly wish all my classical selections were on vinyl.
@melm

Cowboy Junkies ‎– The Trinity Session is a digital recording.

Who cares. The fact remains that it sounds better playing back on vinyl than any other digital source. My digital files/CD cannot compare. Not even close to my ears.

As I stated, I have a few classical vinyl albums from the 80’s that were proud of being digitally recorded (and they made sure to tell you on the cover). Does not mean I want the CD.

Enjoy what you will, as will I. And I continue to buy vinyl because of my preference regardless of whether it was recorded digital or analog. But, I have both, and listen to both.

Enjoy.




Last night I listened to my Chailly Mahler CD box set with The Royal Concertgebouw, a wonderful set. I chose Mahler’s 9th, an amazing symphony. But it hit me, I’ve never had it on vinyl.

So searched, found a copy of Barbirolli conducting Mahler’s 9th with the Berliner Philharmoniker originally recorded in 1965. The one I chose is a German re-pressing from EMI, and ordered it last night.


Can’t wait to hear that symphony on vinyl.
@rvpiano  @frogman 

Fantastic, I’m glad you have both heard it. I have not. It’s interesting, on Discogs there are not a lot of Mahler 9th available on vinyl, but Barbirolli’s seemed to get high marks from other owners of the set.

I have other recordings with him at the helm, and am rarely disappointed.
@melm 

Fingers crossed on the 9th. The Germany EMI is labeled an EMI/His Masters Voice release, similar to the original UK 1965 releases I believe. I looked at those too, but took a chance on the German reissue (perhaps late 60’s-early/mid 1970’s per cover design?) as it received a bit higher owner ratings on Discogs over the original. But, I’ve learned you cannot always count on those ratings as an indication of better sound quality. Regardless, worth the shot. Not a bad price if it is in the condition advertised.

@melm 

Forgot to follow-up, I received the  Mahler’s 9th with Barbirolli conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker.

A wonderful LP, to say the least. You and @rvpiano were correct. A fantastic performance. Instant favorite. The Adagio is amazing….especially on vinyl 😉😁