It's pretty simple AJ. We visit each other and listen to music for an afternoon. We have fun. We listen to both vinyl and digital. In the end, I usually prefer the vinyl. I also happen to think it sounds more convincing. I don't know if it was level matched and the signal certainly did not go through an ADA loop.
That does sound simple and fun. But, unfortunately as I knew, totally invalid. You were in no way comparing just vinyl to digital. You forgot all the other differences, like recordings, levels, etc physically, then things like expectation biases, beliefs, etc, etc.
The method I described is an actual test of vinyl vs "digital". It is a "digital" version of the actual vinyl itself, being played in real time, not a rip, etc. The ears you trust just listens to the vinyl exactly as you normally would, then switch to another input of your very own transparency, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. preamp and hear the "digital" version of the vinyl, in real time, clicks, pops, rumble, crosstalk, etc, etc, every bit coming through "digitally".
You can probably imagine how easy it is to hear all the very real digititis stuff on the one input. Oh, btw, you won't know which input is which beforehand, as not to create any expectations. Mr Wayne is going to show us just how easy. Stay tuned, it will be as you confirmed, lots of fun.
I don't think the vinyl sounds exactly like the real thing, but it sounds more like the real thing than does the digital, to me.
Given the type of comparisons and systems you are exposed to, hardly surprising. Yes, it's long been known vinyl doesn't sound like the real thing and if you've read any of my links, you might see science has also known and left that behind a long time ago. Would you have been interested in an audiophile exposure to outside systems experience like this?
http://www.onhifi.com/features/20010615.htm
You may argue that that is just a preference. That is fine. Call it what you like. The thread is about analog vinyl being the benchmark. For me, it still is. For others, it may not be. For you it definitely is not. That is also fine.
Yes, I was very clear up front that arguing preferences is silly, arguing objective facts like noise, distortion, crosstalk, frequency response, dynamic range, groove echo, wear, etc, etc. isn't .
Though of course some folks might prefer all.
I don't know if any of these guys is a member of the Boston Audio Society.
Ok, was just checking to see if any might have the technical knowledge to do the valid comparison I detailed, that's all. Many BAS members should.
Sure, it is a small sample size, but still, 100% of us listen to reproduced music and to live orchestral music at the BSO, so we know what the real thing sounds like.
And recognize the limitations of vinyl compared to it, good. As you agree, we all have our preferences and some prefer vinyl, while others like myself, prefer something closer to the article linked above, which is distinctly a non-vinyl type experience.
cheers,
AJ
p.s, so with no digital in your system, how do you address all the bass mode peaks and dips etc in your room? You don't mind hearing them?
