Recommendations for a jazz record which demonstrates vinyl superiority over digital

--my darTZeel 468 mono blocks have a ’peak watt’ output (the value holds for 8 seconds after) read out on the front face. it’s very easy to see with your eyes how all analog vinyl has higher peaks than digital with the same recording played back at the same SPL level. because digital smears peaks.

@mikelavigne I was reacquainting myself with this thread and found this. I don't think its correct. Many digital releases have compression that does not occur in the LP release on account of there being no expectation the LP will be played in a car. Digital releases are often compressed on this account.

When we were mastering LPs, if the master was a digital file we would ask the producer if they had a non-processed version of the file, so we could make a more dynamic cut. I know we weren't the only LP mastering operation that did that!

The RIAA curve has nothing to do with cartridges,  it is compensation for some of the shortcomings of the vinyl mastering/playback system.

@robob I can't let this stand- sorry.

The RIAA curve is based on the 'constant velocity' characteristic of magnetic cartridges and also magnetic cutter heads. Magnetic cartridges are constant-velocity devices: the signal is proportional to the velocity of the stylus. High frequencies cause the stylus to move faster, so there's more signal level as frequency rises. The cutting head used to make the master is also a constant-velocity device, so a magnetic cartridge "matches" the characteristics of the cutting head. The RIAA pre-emphasis is applied when mastering to restrict excessive groove excursion (bass cut) and to reduce surface noise (treble boosted in record, rolled off during playback).

The EQ is not to overcome a shortcoming IOW. FWIW, the mastering process can produce undistorted grooves that no pickup has a prayer of playing; its designed to be impossible to overload. The limit and distortion sources are mostly due to playback, not record. I learned this the hard way by owning an LP mastering setup for about 30 years.

I have an entry-level Krell KSB-7B pre-amplifier with external power supply so I doubt that RFI is a problem there, but who knows?

@richardbrand The RFI is injected directly into the phono input by the tonearm cable. If the preamp has provision for 'cartridge loading' then yes, its susceptible.

@richardbrand The condition of the master tapes is an issue that anyone interested in digital has to face. In many cases, they’ve degraded a lot since the original LP was pressed. So the digital release won't be as good.

For this reason, if you are interested in really hearing how the music actually sounded, quite often you have to get the LP even if you are a digital maven.

LPs have considerably less distortion than most digital advocates realize. This is because any stereo mastering system has an enormous amount of feedback, more than most ’hifi’ amplifiers! My Westerex mastering system used 30dB, wrapped around the mastering amp which has feedback of its own.

99% of the ’distortion of the LP’ comes in during playback, due to poor tonearms, poor tonearm match with the cartridge complicance, poor setup and a poor platter pad (whose job it is to control resonance in the vinyl as its being played).

The real weakness of the LP is setup, not its actual fidelity.

I use a copy of ’Soular Energy’ by the Ray Brown Trio as demos at shows. Its an excellent recording in every way.

BTW, the phono preamp is a hidden offender in many cases when it comes to the major objection digital advocates raise: ticks and pops. If the phono section has poor high frequency overload margins and is susceptible to RFI, it can generate ticks and pops that sound like they are on the LP surface. This is a common problem! With LOMC cartridges, this problem has lead to the myth that the cartridge has to be ’loaded’ to sound right. So yes, this is a common problem.

If your phono section has properly dealt with this problem then you can often play LPs with no ticks or pops on the entire side. I’ve been doing that for years without any particular care of the LPs other than proper storage and a carbon fiber dust brush.