Just how high-resolution is vinyl?

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   The whistling's become kind of an interesting case study in sound reproduction for me, since it's a very distinguishable element and hovers at the edge of resolving ability. As a human voice you notice everything. Some observations, limiting myself to the most objective:
- There's much less detail overall from the digital source. For example, from the vinyl I was able to notice consistent idiosyncrasies in rhythm and intonation. This was absent from the digital source. Also absent were the finger taps and hush of the bow, apart from occasional inclusions that didn't sound like anything.

- Presentation of liminal detail is different. From vinyl it rose above and dropped below the level of audibility in the way that's familiar from non-recorded sound. On the digital source it was binary (not a pun, really the best way to express)- it appeared and disappeared at a particular level.

- (Breaking from simple objectivity but important) Gain. Listening to it loud enough to hear these details was pleasant from the vinyl source. Not so from digital. There were spikes of harshness that I'd attributed to room reflections previously, but now the *only* variable was the source.

Some of these may have had to do with the DAC. I didn't know how to look past specs when I was setting up my digital sources. Member BAK is kindly sending me a Majestic DAC from the loaner program along with my next phono stage, so I'll be interested to see. Most of my library is digital so here's hoping.

I'd be interested to know from more knowledgeable members whether these observations would be generally applicable. For an extreme example, on an orchestral recording would the above be true of the last couple audible overtones of every instrument?

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BlueMountain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 15 Apr 2022 Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote BlueMountain Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 2:42pm
	The whistling's become kind of an interesting case study in sound reproduction for me, since it's a very distinguishable element and hovers at the edge of resolving ability. As a human voice you notice everything. Some observations, limiting myself to the most objective: - There's much less detail overall from the digital source. For example, from the vinyl I was able to notice consistent idiosyncrasies in rhythm and intonation. This was absent from the digital source. Also absent were the finger taps and hush of the bow, apart from occasional inclusions that didn't sound like anything. - Presentation of liminal detail is different. From vinyl it rose above and dropped below the level of audibility in the way that's familiar from non-recorded sound. On the digital source it was binary (not a pun, really the best way to express)- it appeared and disappeared at a particular level. - (Breaking from simple objectivity but important) Gain. Listening to it loud enough to hear these details was pleasant from the vinyl source. Not so from digital. There were spikes of harshness that I'd attributed to room reflections previously, but now the only variable was the source. Some of these may have had to do with the DAC. I didn't know how to look past specs when I was setting up my digital sources. Member BAK is kindly sending me a Majestic DAC from the loaner program along with my next phono stage, so I'll be interested to see. Most of my library is digital so here's hoping. I'd be interested to know from more knowledgeable members whether these observations would be generally applicable. For an extreme example, on an orchestral recording would the above be true of the last couple audible overtones of every instrument?

lfc jon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jan 2018 Location: Devon Status: Offline Points: 3986	Post Options Post Reply Quote lfc jon Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 2:56pm
	That made interesting reading Stephen.
	Reflex M, Solo (both with PSU-1) CuSat50, Lautus, Spatia & Spatia links cables. Ortofon Bronze.

Just how high-resolution is vinyl?

Cadman Enterprises Limited
7 Kirkstall Close
South Anston
Sheffield S25 5BA
England

+44 (0) 1909 568739
+44 (0) 7947 107188

john at gspaudio.co.uk

Just how high-resolution is vinyl?

Cadman Enterprises Limited7 Kirkstall CloseSouth AnstonSheffield S25 5BAEngland

+44 (0) 1909 568739+44 (0) 7947 107188

john at gspaudio.co.uk

Cadman Enterprises Limited
7 Kirkstall Close
South Anston
Sheffield S25 5BA
England

+44 (0) 1909 568739
+44 (0) 7947 107188