I've read through most of the posts. The extremists either hate or love digital or vinyl (or R2R). I have heard many systems where the sound detracts from the recording/performance. This is the problem.
I have higher end electronics which provide superior sonic reproduction. Pop and clicks are not a problem 95% of the time unless the LP was pressed on poor quality vinyl or the LP was abused by the prior owner. The vast majority of my 25,000 LPs do not have pop and click noises. Those that have those noises are so quickly dispatches by my analog equipment that they do not detract from the performance.
As to hiss, my older recordings often were recorded in the late 50's and 60's on 1/4" tape which had hiss. If one doesn't hear the hiss on a digital transfer, they are missing the high end. Early full track recordings from the early 50's had virtually no hiss.
As to digital recordings, I have 7,000 and have been fortunate to have excellent remastered CDs. Only since 2006 have I enjoyed CDs due to superior DAC/players. I have remastered CDs which kill the original LPs which can sound like mud or bright and compressed. I also have LPs that sound more open and tonally right on LPs than CDs despite good remastering.
The mastering of the format is generally the key to great sound. I have excellent sounding Heifetz CDs and mediocre remastered ones. Likewise, LPs. Heifetz on 78s are a hassle to play but also can sound great, better than the LP and CD masterings.
I totally disagree with the camps of digital versus analog. I have friends who are in either camp and three friends who, like me, savor all formats (except cassette). As to cassette, I have made fabulous sounding recordings on a high end Tandberg in the 1980s but switched to R2R and now digital. Pre-recorded cassettes generally suck (sorry but having had about 500 of them, all other formats except MP3 are superior).
I have higher end electronics which provide superior sonic reproduction. Pop and clicks are not a problem 95% of the time unless the LP was pressed on poor quality vinyl or the LP was abused by the prior owner. The vast majority of my 25,000 LPs do not have pop and click noises. Those that have those noises are so quickly dispatches by my analog equipment that they do not detract from the performance.
As to hiss, my older recordings often were recorded in the late 50's and 60's on 1/4" tape which had hiss. If one doesn't hear the hiss on a digital transfer, they are missing the high end. Early full track recordings from the early 50's had virtually no hiss.
As to digital recordings, I have 7,000 and have been fortunate to have excellent remastered CDs. Only since 2006 have I enjoyed CDs due to superior DAC/players. I have remastered CDs which kill the original LPs which can sound like mud or bright and compressed. I also have LPs that sound more open and tonally right on LPs than CDs despite good remastering.
The mastering of the format is generally the key to great sound. I have excellent sounding Heifetz CDs and mediocre remastered ones. Likewise, LPs. Heifetz on 78s are a hassle to play but also can sound great, better than the LP and CD masterings.
I totally disagree with the camps of digital versus analog. I have friends who are in either camp and three friends who, like me, savor all formats (except cassette). As to cassette, I have made fabulous sounding recordings on a high end Tandberg in the 1980s but switched to R2R and now digital. Pre-recorded cassettes generally suck (sorry but having had about 500 of them, all other formats except MP3 are superior).