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

  • SubbySound@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I got super into vinyl when I inherited a decent Technics turntable from my Dad. At some point, I decided to listen to my old CD collection on the same nice receiver we used for thr turntable, and both my spouse and I were blown away—way better than any streaming we had heard (which is under less than ideal circumstances, but is Qobuz CD quality). I went hard into CDs, got a dedicated transport, and am slowly building up my CD collection. It is amazing.

    I do want to up my streaming game, just need to look around for a while. I need something that puts out a great clocked signal through SPDIF because I have a Nineties receiver with no USB 2. I also need to figure out how to get the ethernet working in my media room. Right now it’s all WiFi which can’t help (not even a great signal). I have a cable box that has a ethernet out there but my TV doesn’t seem to be able to use it yet… anyways…

    One day I’d like to up my streaming, but from several reviews I’ve seen even the best streaming doesn’t quite edge out CDs, even when comparing hi res streaming to CDs. I also love the perfect middle ground of CDs—physical media with artwork I am more likely to play through, but easy enough to swap between discs quickly if I want.

    I also recall reading one audiophile’deep dive into LPs, and as he kept going up with his equipment, by the end he found he had neatly brought his vinyl playback to CD quality. And that’s when he just dove into compact discs.

    I do dig a lot of music recorded and even mixed on analog tape. For me, I’m hearing closer to those tapes using a CD transport and DAC than I ever could with my Technics SL-D3 and Empire MM cartridge. So I wound up preferring CDs even for those. My main issue is frustration with the loudness wars, and unfortunately one of my favorite bands is also one of the worst offenders: Red Hot Chili Peppers. Womp womp. (Their live sound is also quite birckwall limited.)