AudiogoN Forums: Prestige Miles Davis on SACD vs. vinyl

Prestige Miles Davis on SACD vs. vinyl

I have several Miles Davis recordings on the Prestige label on both SACD and vinyl (it is 120g 33 RPM - nothing fancy). I find that the vinyl recordings have much more 'body' - much more upper-bass, lower-midrange energy. (To most ears the do sound qualitatively 'better'.)

Some may say, "Well, duh - that's vinyl vs. digital". But, that's not usually the case on my system. My digital (Marantz SA-7) and analog (Basis Ovation/TriPlanar/Ortofon Rondo Bronze/Herron phono) front-ends are actually quite similar-sounding on a lot of recordings that I have on both formats. So, I think what I am hearing here (and it applies to several recordings, "Relaxin'" being one example) is on the recordings, to some extent at least.

This really leads me to wonder about the mastering process. Did the engineers who mastered these recordings compare the two formats and hear what I'm hearing? I doubt it! If they didn't compare them - why not?

Are the digital recordings just "poorly mastered" or are they actually closer to the master tape??

Thoughts?

Paulfolbrecht (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-08-11

Responses (1-3 of 3)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

12-09-11 My experience with both sacds and cds, compared with lps, is ... Musicslug

12-09-11: Viridian
Paul, all you need to do is open that wallet this holiday season and score some Prestige first pressings and you will be even more stunned.

And to answer your question, I don't think that either of your suppositions are quite correct. I believe that many sixty year old master tapes have been severely degraded so that earler pressings may very well sound better.

The Band album that you have referenced is only about half this age, and then again different tapes are stored differently and are different formulations. I might add that if you get the first MoFi pressing of MFBP, you will find that it is quite excellent and may give your SACD a run for its money.
Viridian (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-13-11 Musicslug, you make a good point. viridian, i do not know t ... Paulfolbrecht