Has anyone been able to define well or measure differences between vinyl and digital?


It’s obvious right? They sound different, and I’m sure they measure differently. Well we know the dynamic range of cd’s is larger than vinyl.

But do we have an agreed description or agreed measurements of the differences between vinyl and digital?

I know this is a hot topic so I am asking not for trouble but for well reasoned and detailed replies, if possible. And courtesy among us. Please.

I’ve always wondered why vinyl sounds more open, airy and transparent in the mid range. And of cd’s and most digital sounds quieter and yet lifeless than compared with vinyl. YMMV of course, I am looking for the reasons, and appreciation of one another’s experience.

128x128johnread57

Showing 2 responses by pedroeb

Is there really any proof that remasters have compressed dynamic range (the so called loudness war)? Is it just a mostly baseless term intended to invoke an emotion?

I'm specifically excluding music (and I use that term loosely) intended for drug crazed fans who are likely tone deaf and have probably ruined their hearing.

"An album with DR 6 doesn't necessarily sound overtly bad. And an album with DR 12 doesn't necessarily sound good (but the DR isn't to be blamed at least). For rock/metal a DR of 8 and above is considered okay. Electronic music can still sound okay with DR 5 because it is less dense."

Ref: https://dr.loudness-war.info/faq

It therefore seems the differences are mainly academic in the same way as ASR tests hardware.

If you don't like listening at 90dB then something with higher compression might even sound better. Indeed the average person seems to listen around 70dB for comfort.