This is a can-of-worms topic as stated in many other threads before.Originally Posted by Mikeandvan
CD can be better that Vinyl and Vinyl can be better than CD, Streaming can be better still and also worse that both, digital files on are local server down loaded using a good/clean SP/Internet connection can be better than all.
BUT!!!!
1. There are many, ,any, many variables? (the following assumes the same Pre-Amp, Power Amp cables and speaker combination used through out)
2. Is the CD replay systems as good as the vinyl(turntable.arm, cartridge and phono stage combo) and visa versa?
3. Assuming the 2 above is reasonable/good parity, then is the source, CD and Vinyl from the same original master recordings? If not forget the comparison.
4. If CD and Vinyl are from the same original master recordings, then has each media been mixed in the same way, ignoring final compression for CD or Vinyl in producing the media. If either has been change again forget making comparisons.
5. Taking a reasonably simplistic view then 1-4 are satisfied positively then it is fair to consider comparing the sound from CD to Vinyl. BUT they may intrinsically actually sound different after all that because that each medium uses different compression techniques and rendering to get back to the analogue output through amp and speaker.
The same issues apply when considering other media for comparison, streaming(file type and resolutions), Tapes,reel to reel, Cassette(playback speeds, SQ ie. Dolby dB filtering, tape band-width ), Downloaded files(files types and resolutions)
So the answer is not a straight forward one, I have learn that some CDs do sound as good or better the vinyl and visa-versa, but it can be a complete lottery, and near impossible to know if you have the definitive version in terms of SQ.
Oooh! I forgot another important part of the equation, Vinyl SQ can vary greatly between pressing runs (even where the same master has been used), get a record pressed near the start of a 10K run and if it is pressed properly there is a good chance it will be good, get one near the end then the edge of the SQ may be lost due to stamper wear. Another aspect is Vinyl manufacturers are known for changing Vinyl chemical composition of the years, as supplied from vinyl pellet manufacturers, so release 1 of a pressing may be excellent in terms of recording, and vinyl composition, but a later release may have still the same SQ in recording bu inferior vinyl composition affecting SQ, or maybe better giving a better overall SQ than release1. In my experience if you find a record you love to be noisy or sound compressed(assuming others played sound great in your system) or just plain odd then research a bit and find a recommended release that is NM and see if it is better, I have done this severel times and always been please. A good example of this was Genesis - 'and Then There Were Three", the first copy I had was just awful, noisy from the start, and the inner tracks were nearly unplayable to due to mid and upper distortion. This is record with about 55 minutes squeezed onto it. After some research I discovered in the UK and US that there were extensive release runs with many copy done in each, but in Canada only a couple of runs at a good pressing plant each with less than 10K records, I order one from CA and it proved to be excellent throughout.
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