Sound quality of new vinyl recordings.

Yes, it is variable. Even within audiophile pressings.

I am currently listening to a 1958 RCA Living Stereo recording. I just forget how good the recordings and pressings were in the late ‘50’s. The audiophile versions cut twenty+ years ago can be superb. In between playing one. I didn’t realize it was a 50’s recording when I put it on… it quickly became obvious it

Actually, it is the opposite story from the CD.

OP,

Your last comment really brings up a lot of subjects.

On my system, digital and analog sound “the same”. Very, very close. To verify this it has taken all sorts of tests, attempting to get the exact same masters… etc. it gets really complicated. For one thing, vinyl masters deteriorate very quickly, so the pressing number in the series has an impact… not so in digital. But I listen to music about three hours a day and switch among streaming and vinyl… I have long since given up CDs and stored files as streaming is equal or better. But it is really clear that with the right equipment… digital can equal analog in sound quality. Unless we are talking about really good systems… greater than $250K… where analog wins because of its greater resolution.

So, here is the point. If you are constrained… let’s say to a system less than $20K… then vinyl can constitute a really compelling case… it can sound better than digital. But as your system gets better… digital can sound as good for the same amount of money. So, now the dilemma. If you are building a better system over time… then you will quickly reach better quality by investing in only digital… since spreading your investment into two technologies reduces the sound quality in both.

My analog end and digital end were about exactly equal at $45K digital and $42K analog. I am not sure why, but I have increased my investment by about $12K in $3K increments over the last year and a half. So, my analog rig sounds a little bit better… but, it depends on the recording. I just have to stop doing this!

This relates to recording quality in that what you hear is highly effected by the quality of the equipment you use to reproduce it. 

@grislybutter 

I agree and have observed this as well. Vinyl has a greater variability in sound quality. Which I attribute to the mechanical pressing process (right or wrong). 
 

I continue with vinyl because it has been the best (or only) option for about sixty years of my life… I am 70 now. If I was under 50 I would not bother with it. 

@mapman 

I don’t see your system under virtual systems… that would be really helpful.

@mapman … “A good digital recording these days can easily reproduce what’s in most older analog recordings.”

+1 if you put the money you might have spent on an analog end you can upgrade your digital end… and over time have a better sounding system.

On the other hand, if you like fiddling… scouring record stores for gems (getting a good record cleaning machine)… vinyl can be fun. 

@mapman

Thank you for sharing your system components. Knowing your system and venue is really helpful. Although at 70, I’ll likely be asking you again because… well my memory was never good and it’s not getting better. Hence I frequently refer to folk’s virtual system.