i completely get preferring analog media, so if it’s about the sound characteristics (that ‘warmth’), having physical media, etc fair enough. but if the goal of an audiophile is to get the highest quality reproduction of a recording wouldn’t CDs or FLACs be your best bet?

maybe this only really applies for newer music, perhaps digital releases for music recorded analogue are just digitized vinyl or reel to reel recordings but for music produced in DAWs the highest quality version available for that release would surely be either a CD or a digital FLAC release

  • xidnpnlss@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I prefer whatever sounds best and that can be either vinyl or hires.

    But, as people have mentioned, it’ll all depend on how and for which format it’s mastered / cut.

    I’m all about music recorded pre-1985ish first pressings and “audiophile” AAA vinyl cuts: there is little chance they’re mastering for the loudness wars.

    After ‘85, I’ll check on feedback for any pressings as, again, it’s avoiding the loudness wars. But it is not a given it’ll sound any good because, at that point, vinyl is a second thought.

    Another factor: age demographic. As listening is so subjective, I think an older cohort is going to prefer vinyl as that’s through what they created a relationship to music. The older gens are going to be able to afford systems they can show off. Younger people are, imo, by and large fine with digital and streaming.