boostedis asked
"If the master was originally recorded digitally and later converted to analog, how could the analog version possibly sound better than the original recording?! "
Well I’ve wondered a lot about this also and have done some research. I think that it is at least partly due to this............
The master digital file used to cut the lacquer is at a higher bit rate/resolution than virtually any easily sourced digital. CD redbook bit depth and sample rate yields 65,536 possible values.
The digital masters for vinyl vary but mostly their bit depth and rates yield 16,777,216 possible values.
And at the lacquer cutting room they have a top end DAC op amps etc that inscribe all this information directly onto the disc. Now it’s analog, boom, done.
Yes db dynamic range is less than CD. Doesn’t matter much. And yes vinyl has noise, but it is additive to the information inscribed. Not subtractive.
Add in possible things like mechanical 2nd order harmonic feedbacks etc of vinyl and bingo.
And ...Paul of PS Audio has said that they have compared the sound of the digital masters they use to cut their vinyl to the vinyl, and as he put it....many people will prefer the sound of the vinyl.
I don't think a good vinyl set up has to be very expensive. Mine cost about 2K and sounds amazing. I listen to digital for convenience and discovery only.