A case for Hi Rez Digital


Ok...walk with me (BTW I listen to both analog and digital)

You have a Master tape from a classic album that is considered "audiophile". You get the best mastering engineer. Best converters, etc. Tape in great shape. The Engineer is well experienced in both digital and analog mastering.

1. The Engineer masters a Hi Rez 24 bit (96 or 192) file. Which is either distributed digitally (HD Tracks, etc) or SACD (24/44?). No 16/44 version...just High Rez. The consumer purchases and plays thru a high quality DAC and stereo system. 

2. Same Engineer masters a vinyl version. The normal process (Laquer---plates---stampers or whatever the process) for an audiophile LP (think MoFi, MM, etc). Goes to pressing plant and uses the highest quality vinyl. The vinyl is packaged in a cover, shrink-wrapped and shipped to warehouse, record store, etc. The buyer gets the album and has a similar high quality system as the digital buyer. Just instead of a DAC...the buyer has a phono pre, Turntable, and cartridge.


Shouldn't the digital buyer get the closest version to the source master tape and thus have the best sounding version?No surface noise, fewer variations (Dacs can vary, however, with LPs you have a TT, Cartridge, more interconnects thruout, plus variations in the vinyl itself. How about cutting head wear).

Myself, numerous LPs that sound better than digital. I have a huge collection of Hi-Rez and DSD files. I have many Hi Rez versions better sounding than audiophile Lps. I'm inclined to think that the majority of sound quality (I know there are human preferences) comes from the recording and mastering vs format. And all things equal, Digital edges out LPs for noise alone. 


Thoughts?






aberyclark
I got back in to Vinyl around 2000.  At the time many shops began springing up that sold used lps.  I had spent years lost browsing shelves in record stores in the pre digital days and browsing CDs was not an equivalent experience, especially because I listen to Classical and the liner notes are so informative.  Many of the used lps I browsed had never been digitalized.  I began reading Fremer, Dudley et. Al and caught the vinyl bug.
  Fast forward 15 years.  My analog system consists of a Musical Surroundings pre amp and a Clearaudio Concept tt with matching my cart.  By now, all of my recordings have been digitalized.  I own many audiophile lps, SACDs, Hi Rez downloads.  I begin to compare my lps with digital, and it’s no comparison—I prefer digital every time, by a wide margin.  Even plain vanilla red book beats audiophile vinyl, and no pops, clicks, dust bunnies, static build up...Fortunately the rest of the World has fallen for vinyl, so I sell my $3500 analog front end for a 50% markup and buy a super DAC.  My wife is thrilled to see the moldy vinyl albums leave the house.
  I do not understand why people regard extracting vibrations from a spinning slab of petroleum with an expensive sewing needle that is gouging defects in the petroleum with each playing as Audiophile Nirvana.  However, there is Not a lot in our current world that I do understand...
The original recordings matter most.  Some are phenomenal while others are barely listenable.  Certain LP’s may have been uniquely issued and recorded and cannot be found in Digital form.  Someone may have a better analog rig than digital, so they go petroleum!  All good, but digital is convenient and can rival the best vinyl...often surpassing it.
Mic placement and quality match. Studio electronics and cables. Room sound. Engineer chops. Producer vision.
Minimal manipulation in post. (Or none is best - D2D.)
These and others make far more difference in SQ with today’s and vintage high quality playback equipment than format can and does.
Of course LP's noise can be tamed or eliminated, with DSP. I can’t listen to my vinyl without it.
Then again try and drop a needle with Parkinson’s
mahler said it better than I ever could. I quit vinyl and never looked back.