2. analog
  3. 191720-196045

Recommendations for a jazz record which demonstrates vinyl superiority over digital

I have not bought a vinyl record since CDs came out, but have been exposed to numerous claims that vinyl is better.  I suspect jazz may be best placed to deliver on these claims, so I am looking for your recommendations.

I must confess that I do not like trad jazz much.  Also I was about to fork out A$145 for Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" but bought the CD for A$12 to see what the music was like.  I have kept the change!

I love the jazz in the movie Babylon, which features local Oz girl Margo Robbie (the film, not the jazz).

So what should I buy?

128x128richardbrand
richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand OP
240 posts
 

Another update from me. I discovered that Hyperion has just released Shostakovich’s Piano Concertos on vinyl, and I already use the SACD version when auditioning speakers.

So I ordered the vinyl from Presto Classical, and naturally checked out their specials. I ended up buying 15 SACDs, one Pure Audio Blu-ray, and 5 CDs as well.

The grand total including delivery was less than the ’best’ vinyl version of Kind of Blue sourced locally in Sydney. Delivery took under a week from the UK to Australia, door to door, via Presto, the Royal Mail and Australia Post. A$261 the lot.

Presto currently lists over 19,000 vinyl Jazz records which I am about to browse in conjunction with your recommendations ...

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,879 posts
 

--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!

@atmasphere

I am interested in your insight on the role digital mastering has played in LP production over the decades?

@richardbrand One thing is sure- its made their background noise lower. LPs are inherently lower noise than tape; digital knocked out a few dB on that account. One thing that many here have encountered is that digital releases tend to be longer. So now the LP release is often more than one disk which is probably the bigger effect. This allows the LP to have greater dynamic range since there's so much more real estate available for greater modulation in the groove.

linnlp12
82 posts
 

One of my favorite albums for which I have tape, digital and vinyl is RCA “Benny Goodman in Moscow.”  The vinyl version of the side with Avalon, Bei Mir Bist du Schoen  and World Awaits the Sunrise gives me goosebumps.  The clarinet playing and sound is fantastic and Benny’s gasps for breaths before continuing contribute to the excitement of this performance.  The CD does not give me the same feeling but I enjoy the performance when driving.  The reel to reel tape is close to the vinyl.

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