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
As a devoted Linn HiFi owner, it’s important to acknowledge my bias in sharing the following sentiments. I believe I have a decent streamer, the Linn Akurate System Hub paired with the Linn Akurate Exaktbox-I (an 8-channel active amplifier driving each speaker element). The streaming experience is great. However, whenever I play vinyl records on my 80s-era record player (Linn LP12/Linn Ittok LVII, Linn Adikt MM cartridge), I am consistently amazed by the remarkable sound quality. Considering the age of this technology, it shouldn’t sound this good. There’s something about the inherent limitations of the vinyl medium that makes the sound more enjoyable to listen to.
The most significant allure of vinyl, for me, lies in the deliberate constraints it imposes. Despite being an older technology, the sound is remarkably pleasing. One notable advantage is that it’s more challenging to skip between albums, artists, and songs, as I often find myself doing when streaming. Playing vinyl compels me to immerse myself in the music without constantly thinking about what song to play next. This is a personal preference, and others may have more self-control.
I recommend visiting a reputable HiFi dealer and experiencing vinyl if you haven’t already. The unique characteristics of the vinyl medium make it a distinct and enjoyable listening experience. However, I must admit that, despite my love for vinyl, I still primarily stream music through platforms like Tidal and my own CD rips.
An additional point regarding vinyl, based on my personal experience, is that it’s challenging to find an inexpensive turntable. Achieving decent sound quality often requires a modest investment, and the turntable needs to be placed on a stable surface and properly set up. If you’re working with a tight budget, digital streamers may be the more practical choice. It’s worth noting that I may be in the minority on this subreddit, as I believe there are discernible differences in sound quality among DACs. However, the differences in sound quality between turntables are even more noticeable.
I defy anybody to listen to the new Linn Organik DAC and still say there is no discernible sound quality difference between DACs.
The only sound quality differences between DACs are ones that are designed to sound different but not better. In other words, they bake EQ into the circuit. DACs that eclipse the threshold of audibility exist in the $150 and under range. It’s a solved problem.
Yes. I recently acquired the Akurate with their previous DAC technology, Katalyst, and that was a nice improvement from my previous DAC. Unfortunately, my bank account has forbidden me from auditioning the Organic. Additionally, the upgrade cannot be done to the Akurate gears, so I need to buy a new streamer/amp. It appears to be a significant upgrade, but I’m content not to be tempted at the moment.
I was really lucky. I had the Selekt with Katalyst DAC. I heard the Organik at the Linn factory and I had to have one. I got £500 trade in on my Katalyst and a Utopik power supply for free.
a beautiful response! and i completely get all your points, im purely talking on a technical level
I look at it as people into vintage cars. It takes a lot of money and effort to get the same performance out of an old car than modern ones but that is where the fun is.
Music is emotional not technical in my opinion.
I just treat streaming as the best record store I’ve ever been to, but I still like the idea of curating a physical collection. Streaming just helps me be even more careful about what I purchase.
A most eloquent response. I echo your sentiments. Cheers.
This says it all, vinyl is constrained. I dig vinyl and have many albums on vinyl, but it is not this magical, mythical, etherial experience people make it out to be. Anything you play on vinyl had to be mastered specifically for vinyl, with limitations. I won’t go in to all the details and limiting factors of vinyl, but I can say that any record made within the last 15 or more year was most definitely produced with a DAW. DAW stands for digital audio workstation and any modern/semi decent computer can run a DAW, when the producers/engineers/musicians make an album, it is digital. Whether us audio appreciators want to accept it or not. They export a WAV from the DAW and that’s the highest quality version – as close to the artists vision we will get, anything other than this is a downgrade/crossgrade… I’m sorry, I hate to say it, but it is. I know vinyl has unique characteristics and we love the experience, but it will never be able to reproduce 1:1 what the DAW spat out. It has to be ‘remastered’ for vinyl – a cross grade. Now, and I never understood this in the Audiofile realm, if you want a super accurate representation of what the artist heard, grab some studio monitors and listen to the wav/flac, you will get as close to what the artist heard. Anything else will colour the sound. Rant over
Not sure I’m on board with forcing myself to not skip tracks I don’t want to hear. That said, I’ve found a few blues and jazz stations, most of them out of France, that I can listen to for hours. Why the French are broadcasting so much good music I prefer as opposed to Mississippi, or Chicago, I’ve no idea.
I may be the only one, but I have found myself having some tracks grow on me through repeated listening. A track I did not like on an album suddenly becomes my favorite after a while. I’m not saying I skip tracks, but I like to give an album from an artist I like and respect a couple of runs, especially when the artist changes their style or does something unexpected. If I like them, I usually give it a go. Also, if I get into a new music genre, it may take some getting used to. I also find listening to internet radio a good way to force myself to discover new artists or musical styles, rather than just playing my old favorites over and over again. Part of the fun is finding new favorites.
This!!!
I recently took my cd player out of the loft and have been re buying all of my CDs I got rid of. All of a sudden I’m in love with music again.
I just don’t listen to music in the same way on stream. I find myself listening to the same songs all the time.
Instead of repurchasing CDs and filling up space for 10 songs at a time of which you’ll like 2, perhaps you could also rethink your audio equipment in general.
I honestly agree how good Linn steaming can be and the Lp12 is an amazing player. I often find modern LP12s can often beat some digital recordings even out of a Klimax DSM although some recordings are very poorly cut on vinyl so results may vary. If there is a great recording of something on vinyl it will most likely beat out digital in terms of sheer performance.