2. digital
  3. 118939-940

Digital versus Vinyl - Grinnell College Review

Thinking about the appeal of Vinyl myself, but; currently have a digital only rig. I found this to be a very informative overview of the differences between Digital (CD's/Streaming) and Vinyl Record playback. Also inclined to give credibility to the subject knowing it was authored by...well....college students with no apparent bias.

http://thegrinnellpost.com/2015/05/01/a-technical-review-of-vinyl-records/

Mark
gocubs999

Showing 4 responses by melbguy1

melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
Hi Phaminator,

Yes I am from Melbourne. I know of your system & admire what you’ve achieved. Yes, i’d accept ultimately a vinyl rig is capable of better sound. Though I don’t have the space for a vinyl setup, or for storing vinyl in my apartment situation. I also prefer the convenience of cd’s. I have found the main thing holding back a player like the SCD-025Mk2 is digital media.

I recently played two reference cds recorded in XRCD24 and DXD & was amazed at the rich, open & natural sound. Gary Koh also told me how good the Crystal discs sound in their demo’s. So I think that medium still has a lot of potential if one takes the time to source well mastered and recorded discs.

Drop me a line if you’d like to catch up!
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
I have not found a cd player yet that sounds exactly like a reference vinyl rig, however I would humbly say my current Vitus SCD-025Mk2 comes close..enough not to miss vinyl anyway.
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
I get tired of these debates as well, but for different reasons; mostly because of low enders who (to be frank) don't have the money to put a great cd player in there system, fully optimized to enable them to hear what great digital can do...
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 

Well said Tomcy6. when these debates come up, yes there is a tendency for vinylphiles to kind of stand on a soap box and proclaim black and white that vinyl is superior to digital. But what is often missed, beside considering how high end and musical sounding the digital equipment is, are system synergy & the recording medium itself.

You can have a very good vinyl deck, with a very average cartridge, phono stage and/or cables, with average to poor system synergy. Compare that to a well sorted and balanced system with a high end cd player playing discs like XRCD24's, DXD or SHM Platinum and I bet more than one eyebrow would be raised.

There can be great sounding analogue systems & great sounding analogue-like digital systems with proper attention to the system, player/deck and recording medium.


More to discover