Rediscovering records

Mahler (the real one) didn’t do digital.

l do actually agree totally with the OP and “get” what he is saying. Since first buying records in the late 60s, l have revisited them over the last 60 years. Some l kept only because they were borderline, others because they were part of a broader completist collection value. 
l like Ennio Morricone’s early avant-garde soundtracks that on the whole had a real mix of styles. I find today with better equipment l have come to enjoy them more. What was before a hard listen and a challenge due to the complexity of the compositions, they often now reveal more character and colour. Of course the recordings come across cleaner and clearer, but the ones before that were such a challenge to listen to are now more enjoyable.
 

Digital in what ever form…A distraction, or is it relevant? Whatever the talk about streaming or digital, such comments normally by nature just add bias clutter, and on the face of it do not answer the subject posted, “Rediscovering records”

Mahler was recorded playing some of his music on the piano.  I guarantee that you will be better able to hear these recordings from a digital restoration than by listening to the original rolls.

And threads take on a life of their own.  Comparing the ability of digital vs analog on the ability to faithfully capture orchestral sound sheds light on the challenges faced by analog, which is very relevant to the issues raised by the OP.  No need to play Thred Enforcer

Everyone likes challenges otherwise we would have no sports. I don’t however think it is a challenge to play vinyl. People must just get past all this thing about digital versus vinyl.

Is it not correct to think that any form of restoration that only reduces noise or hiss remains true and authentic to the original sound recording? Surely it’s purely subjective by the remixer to think what should be added/subtracted here and there? Altering the sound recording available can be bad. We all know about bad remastering.

Maybe the OP can confirm if he is only concerned with vinyl reproduction within this discussion, it certainly feels like this to me.

From previous threads we know that the OP has both digital and analog setups.

I don’t see why people are so bothered by comparing the ability to capture a large orchestra with digital versus analog.  

I do digital, too. In fact, my system is digital most of the way through. But vinyl is still special, especially for the genres I like.

On a half decent turntable it is a delight. On a really good one, it is even better. They’ve come on in leaps and bounds over recent years.

Upgrading did wonders for mine - miles better than where it was five years ago. The only downside is that I can’t afford the latest upgrades. Not that it bothers me as I’m happy with what I’ve got. The availability of new upgrades doesn’t make it sound any worse. As a friend said, upgrading is like a bus - you can get off when you’ve gone as far as you need to go. Plus, there’ll be another one along soon.

It’s mind blowing how good a fifty or more year old record can sound. Much better than it ever could have done when it was new. New ones can sound great too - mastering is key.