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Diff in recording/reproduction in Analog/CD/SACD

Without going in to too much technical details, is it possible to discuss why analog sounds better? (Although having limited analog auditions, I think digital could come very close). Starting from how the recordings are made-old and modern, and recorded ( signal type and quality) on master tape and how the mastertape signal is transfered/reduced/upsampled? on Records/CD/SACD.

Once we go thru the original signal waveform and its transfer on records/CD/SACD, how it is being reproduced thru cartridge/laser to DA/laser to DA?

I know details are very involving but is there clear consensus that anlog has the least curruption of the original signal? Does not different cartrideges designs reproduce the signal 'differently' than the original, adding its own coloring to the signal?

Is Analog clearly the winner in the battle?

I would really like to know if there is some material out there that discusses these three different mediums.

TIA.

Nil
nilthepill
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,333 posts
 
Digital is far superior to Analog. This is a well known fact. Why else has digital become a standard for playback and recording? Perhaps those who prefer analog are either nostalgic or have made such a significant investment in vinyl that they are reticent to switch due to the cost.

In theory CD should be pretty close to perfect for playback. Some people claim an imprvement with SACD....certainly a higher bandwidth may have some advantages ofr studios ...but very unlikely to make a difference in playback.
dopogue
1,767 posts
 
Shadome, I could prove you wrong in 30 seconds. Listen to a CD or SACD on my $3,000 player. Then to the same performance on vinyl via my replinthed Lenco turntable. Forget theory, let your ears tell you what's real. Dave
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ejlif
1,243 posts
 
Digital is a standard for playback and recording because of convenience alone. Think of CD sound as a 3.0 megapixel photo, SACD is 8.0 megapixel, analog is infinite megapixel, it's all there, not a stairstepped digital interpretation of the real thing. Recording studios use digital because that is where technology has gone and it's cheaper and easier to use and time is money. I can only imagine how great a world it would be had they pushed analog technology the way they have with digital.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Nothing would make me happier than to give up my vinyl rig. No nostalgia here. The records are fragile and require regular cleaning. They take up a lot of storage room. The turntable requires very careful setup and siting. The whole affair seems kind of stone age (pun intended). On the plus side, the art on LPs can be fully appreciated while the stingy CD cases barely let you see it. In the final analysis, I am ready to donate 4000 albums and three record players to Goodwill as soon as I find a medium that sounds better to me, CD is certainly not it and the software available on the higher density formats is too limited. Still waiting.
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,550 posts
 
Viridian,
How many hours must I sing to you in exchange for those albums, and just one record player? You said you wanted a better sounding medium. What's better than live? Send me a setlist, and I'll get working on it. And don't fuss over cleaning the vinyl. I'll take care of that here. Heck, I'll even drive to Portland to pick up the booty.
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