RE: digital = clarity and duplicable

I'm not going to make an argument on preference as to what sound you like better. For that matter, vinyl's sound (minus the scratches and pops, etc) can be simulated using an equalizer if need be.

As far as audio capability - vinyl cannot touch digital. The only limitation to digital's ability to reproduce sound perfectly is the sampling rate and channel width. Obviously one sample a second at 2 bits would be completely unintelligible and crappy. People can argue that your typical 192kps stream is impossible to discern from an original. Keep increasing the sampling and like our good friend calculus shows - it's the same as the original. You can't sound better than the original.

Differences in the sound are probably the result of studio engineering performing various degrees of acoustic compression. For example, you can hear a good 80s power ballad's low notes at the same volume as you hear them belting out the chorus ... big hair waving and all. Digital provides so much "original signal" and audio tools are so advanced that studios tend to alter the tracks more and more. Perhaps that is the sound that isn't as desirable.

But when you 'put the needle on the record (when the song beats go like this ... pump up the volume ... pump up the volume ... dance! dance!) ... where was I? That needle can only vibrate within a finite amount of the total sonic gamut. It's physically inferior by design. You may LIKE the sound. But it is capably inferior.

I'm actually surprised nobody uses a laser pick-up on the vinyl track. There would be zero wear & tear on the records over the course of time and it would be the exact same technology as a CD - just a change in light reflection based on pits and grooves. You could even make a digital record that way if you wanted to.

Star This to Save in Your Profile