@blisshifi - I'm certainly far from a hifi expert. I do a little reading and watch some videos and try to pick out the commonalities and things that seem to be common sense to me.
The idea that the mastering for vinyl (70 dB dynamic range) and CD (100 dB dynamic range) and SACD (120 dB dynamic range) would be expected to yield different sonics making it impossible to truly compare them directly. It's always going to be an apples to oranges comparison starting with the media.
It seems reasonable that the best mastering for each format would result from the mastering being done with that format in mind. Even though the mastering for vinyl could be placed on on either CD or SACD, maybe the sound could be improved by better utilizing the full dynamic range.
I doubt they will do it, but I suggested that PS Audio include their masters for vinyl on SACD. This would allow listeners to compare SACD mastered for SACD to SACD mastered for vinyl to vinyl mastered for vinyl.
My personal opinion is that the more limited dynamic range of vinyl leads to a specific sound that is very pleasing to the ear for most people and the mechanical process of the stylus also adds some of the smoothness that's associated with the format. I couldn't find the video, but I think it was Paul from PS Audio that described the methods of "compressing" the master onto vinyl where it can be done by squeezing top and bottom (bad) or just increasing the level of the bass (good).
In the end, there's so many factors the impact the final result that I don't think it's possible to make a definitive statement. The best that I've heard in an A/B was vinyl, but the digital was also fantastic.
