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

I always thought I could hear the difference between Analog and Digital.  I have been looking to add another DAC to my 11 year old McIntosh D150 DAC, and a recent post here about Jethro Tull inspired me to pull out the two best versions of the Jethro Tull Aqualung album - the Mid 90's DCC Vinyl version and the Mid 90's DCC Gold CD.  These were special Vinyl and CD from the same original master tape and mastering.  Ian Anderson kept the master tape hidden for over a few decades before providing them for these DCC versions.  Volume level is also almost exactly the same between the Vinyl and CD.  I played both versions at the same time through the same pre-amp, amps, speakers - switching back and forth through out the whole album and I could not hear a difference between the analog or digital.  They both sounded fantastic and exactly the same.   What does this mean ?  is this normal ? Has my hearing deteriorated ? Is it because both my Analog and Digital front ends are all McIntosh ?  Is it because the DCC version of this Album could be from a digital file on both the vinyl & CD ?   This whole episode has put a damper on my new DAC aquisition...  I mean if I cannot tell the difference between Analog and Digital, then, who am I kidding with R2R, Delta Sigma, etc....  My system is posted under my signature, and as you will see I have very resolving speakers, so, I am not sure what to think...   I would appreciate any feedback on this surprising experience.   Thanks so much.. 

hjdca
g2the2nd
345 posts
 

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.

erik_squires
17,543 posts
 

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. 

vintageadict
34 posts
 

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. 

hjdca's avatar
hjdca OP
248 posts
 

@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:

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,438 posts
 

The sonic signature playing the same mastered album on digital vs analog is entirely dependent on your components... well except for surface noise. This has been true for a while. Congratulations for discovering it. So, at this point it means... you want a better sounding system invest more into digital. It used to be analog was your best bet, no longer true. Both get better with cost but digital has the advantage in convenience and no surface noise. 

So, if you haven’t got there yet. A high end streaming can equal or exceed vinyl. On the same master streaming sound quality equals stored files, equals CD. So, streaming is the way to go. Infinite library almost no cost. 

Welcome to the future...it’s great isn’t it!

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