I could not hear a difference between Analog and digital...... what gives ?

@audphile1 

"The McIntosh MT10 turntable cartridge, is a version of Clearaudio’s Talismann V2 optimized for the MT10, has an ebony body and produces an output of 0.5mV." Note: As you would expect, the cartridge is labeled "McIntosh" on the front.

I did notice when I bought the MT10 turntable - approx 2013 - that surface noise on the same albums was much less than my vintage Pioneer turntable.  It was really a huge difference.  The Pioneer had an old vintage upgraded cartridge in it, but, I cannot remember which one. 

@fatdaddy2  @willy-t 

My high pitch hearing has definitely deteriorated, and I have had ringing in my ears since my mid 20’s - mostly from guns, but, I have A/B other vintage vinyl vs the later 80’s CDs and I always favored the vinyl.  I guess I was just surprised by these DCC vinyl and CD pressings sounding identical. 

@viridian 

Thanks...   Note:  Here is a pic of the two versions of Aqualung I am referring to that sound the same.  If anybody else has both these versions, I would appreciate their assessment.   Thanks so much. 

I’ve been listening to the 2001 remaster of Thick as a Brick on Tidal. It sounds great. Especially compared to my Jethro Tull Greatest hits CD.

One thing to keep in mind is that when CD’s and SACDs came out, re-mastering was common, for one reason or another, and of course the loudness wars were a thing, so some of what we heard in terms of: 

• Compression
• Channel separation
• Frequency response

was pretty deliberate.  There’s even evidence for instance for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon being repeatedly re-mastered with each CD pressing, with some very different results.  I think there was even a premium version which was particularly poorly received. 

Having said that, given the normal vinyl cartridge variations in frequency response to one another, I’d be really surprised if you found a vinyl and digital copy which performed audibly identically, without significant bandwidth limits on the playback system, so I suggest a decent pair of headphones may be needed to help assess. 

I agree.

In instances where I have a really good pressing to compare to a CD that was pre-loudness wars or mastered without being overly compressed,  digital and vinyl can be very close. I have my vinyl playback dialed in well.  Probably need to work on my digital playback as it's all inboard DACs that have some years on them now. I'll never get rid of the my vinyl setup as I enjoy it so much but digital done right can sound fantastic with the right files or cd master. As far as the overly compressed cd's from the loudness wars, I might as well give them away or recycle them. They never get played. 

@erik_squires 

Thanks so much.  In this particular case, it looks like both versions were remastered by Steve Hoffman in 1996.  I am really starting to think that these DCC versions went from Analog Master tape to Digital to CD; then Digital to Analog (Vinyl) and that is why they sound the same.  In addition, the volume levels are almost exactly the same...  Here you can see the rear of the Album and rear of the CD and all the documentation of the remaster... 

Here is what the insert in the Vinyl Album says about the recording:

Here is what it says on the back of the CD relative to the recording: