[ajzepp]

I've been around these parts (AudioCircle) for years, but the final frontier for me has always been vinyl. I heard a nice analog rig here locally a few years back and was floored by it. So I'm going to make a modest investment in a turntable and see if it takes.  I already have a U-turn Orbit (Grado cart, upgraded platform, cue lever) and a Schiit Mani on the way, and now I'm trying to choose some initial vinyl titles to get a collection going.

So first of all, even if those gear choices are complete crap, just leave me to my "ignornace is bliss" for the time being...if this goes well, I plan to upgrade to something nicer in the future. What I really am curious about is this: Based on what I've read so far, I want to avoid albums that are digital recordings pressed to vinyl. It was explained to me that when vinyl sounds better than the CD, it has more to do with the recording and mastering than it does the medium. I have no idea if that holds up or not, but the source seemed to be pretty valid. Anyway, IF this is true, is there some sort of reference online or other source of info that will detail for me if the recording was analog-to-vinyl vs digital-to-vinyl? I sub to a music service, so there's really no point in buying any record that isn't likely to sound different/better than the lossless digital version that I can stream.

Any thoughts?

[FullRangeMan]

Current pressing LPs are all from digital masters, Analog LPs are some rare today in the used shops due deep pockets guys and mainly Asia audiophiles already have bough all the good stuff.

So hence this unfriendly situation I prefer listen CD where there is no wear and noises.
Good luck.

[Photon46]

The advice to avoid digital to vinyl recordings is complete bunk IMO. As FullRangeMan stated, almost everything recorded in recent times began as a digital recording. I have many recordings in both vinyl and cd or sacd versions that are digital in origin and each format has its strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, the digital versions sound better, sometimes the vinyl sounds better. If you are a classical listener, you will find many digitally recorded albums that are stunning IMO. Do digitally recorded albums sound different from all analog recordings, yes they do. Are they inferior? I suppose that's in the ear of the beholder. Usually, there may be particular aspects of a recording that sound better in each respective format. That said, I'm not sure I would go down the path of collecting vinyl if I were starting all over again. I started collecting vinyl fifty years ago so I'm invested in the medium. I wouldn't pay the prices being asked today for many of the recordings I bought cheaply years ago.Good digital playback has advanced to the point it gives up little if anything to vinyl unless you are talking about six figure vinyl playback rigs. I did have to step up to the level of a Luxman D-08u before I felt that digital was a satisfying as my vinyl playback however. Vinyl also requires a lot of cleaning and careful interaction if you're going to avoid snaps, crackles, and ticks during playback.

[toocool4]

Don’t worry whether the original source is Analogue or Digital, it all depends on how well they have been done. Both sources sounds good when done properly.

I don’t collect vinyl, I buy music I love they just happen to be on vinyl. I recommend you do the say.

[Letitroll98]

I have what was touted as both the first digitally recorded lp and the worst recorded lp of all time, Ry Cooder's Bop Till You Drop.  And horribly recorded it was, nearly unlistenable even though I really liked the music.  As noted today's recordings are all digital and sound just fine if everything else is done correctly.  There's a lot more complaints on pressing quality which I've experienced, a couple albums horribly pressed on all or part of the lp.  Just make sure you have a return policy on new pressings.

[vinyl_guy]

I recommend you check out Acoustic Sounds https://store.acousticsounds.com/. I believe they are the largest vinyl retailer in the U.S. They also press vinyl (Quality Record Pressings). Chad is focused on sound quality and has pressed many reissues from the original analog tapes, some in an all analog chain without converting to digital. Chad also bought Doug Sax's Mastering lab and uses some of the best mastering engineers when his company cuts new vinyl.

If you are looking for original issues of albums from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s that aren't reissues, Discogs https://www.discogs.com/ is a good source. I have had good experience buying from sellers on Discogs. I have found the grading to be accurate for the most part.

Enjoy

[cmvinyl22]

I have had good success with Records by Mail for used LPs.  Word of advice with grading.  "Very Good" is really not very good.  Stick to VG+ and up and be careful about "Still Sealed".  They often can be warped and the seller has no way to check that.  Going the used route will also mean having a good cleaning system which is a whole topic in itself.  In my opinion, the reward on used first issues or close to first is worth the effort. 

[Photon46]

The OP asked about a reference source for whether a recording was all analog vs. digital to vinyl. I think most experienced vinyl listeners would agree that the issue of recording quality isn't reduced to such a simple equation. I've often found that going to Steve Hoffman's forums to be a very good resource for background information on any given recording's origins and best versions to seek out.

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/forums/music-corner.2/

[ajzepp]

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful feedback

[dB Cooper]

I have what was touted as both the first digitally recorded lp and the worst recorded lp of all time, Ry Cooder's Bop Till You Drop. 

Hmmm... I am familiar with that recording and believe me, I have heard plenty of worse ones.

[Randy]

The advice to avoid digital to vinyl recordings is complete bunk IMO. As FullRangeMan stated, almost everything recorded in recent times began as a digital recording. I have many recordings in both vinyl and cd or sacd versions that are digital in origin and each format has its strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, the digital versions sound better, sometimes the vinyl sounds better. If you are a classical listener, you will find many digitally recorded albums that are stunning IMO. Do digitally recorded albums sound different from all analog recordings, yes they do. Are they inferior? I suppose that's in the ear of the beholder. Usually, there may be particular aspects of a recording that sound better in each respective format. That said, I'm not sure I would go down the path of collecting vinyl if I were starting all over again. I started collecting vinyl fifty years ago so I'm invested in the medium. I wouldn't pay the prices being asked today for many of the recordings I bought cheaply years ago.Good digital playback has advanced to the point it gives up little if anything to vinyl unless you are talking about six figure vinyl playback rigs. I did have to step up to the level of a Luxman D-08u before I felt that digital was a satisfying as my vinyl playback however. Vinyl also requires a lot of cleaning and careful interaction if you're going to avoid snaps, crackles, and ticks during playback.

I kissed Lps (what we used to call vinyl) good-bye 35 years ago with no regrets and have never looked back.  Good bye -  and good riddance. They were a pain in the ass.  I gave away about 1200 of mine (classical) last summer that had just been taking up shelf space since I started collecting CDs and SACDs. (with apologies to S Clark, Tyson and the other vinyl lovers here. The nice, smooth sound is not worth the effort it takes to get for me.)

[Photon46]

Hmmm... I am familiar with that recording and believe me, I have heard plenty of worse ones.

Gotta agree with you on that one. Bop Till You Drop has been constantly slammed as unlistenable and a worst case scenario of digital recording but I've never found that to be the case at all. Many, many popular music recordings from the eighties have more egregiously spitty and metallic high frequency characteristics IMO. Personally, I think the worst early digital to vinyl recording I bought was Herbert Von Karajan's box set of Haydn's Paris Symphonies on DG. I was surprised though when I listened to it again after adding High Fidelity Cables MC-1 and MC.05 power conditioners to my system. They really tamed much of the worst sibilant grittiness in the recording.

[Letitroll98]

I'd agree about some of those DG recordings, I have one or two of them from that period.  Although many mistakes were made producing digital recordings in the early days, I'd assume we'd all agree they've been 99% solved nearly four decades later.  Back then pressings were labeled DDA, or AAD, or whatever the digital vs analog recording chain was, and we all paid attention and had opinions on what was best.  Nowadays I haven't a clue if that's even listed on an lp such is the unimportance of any of those considerations.

[Elizabeth]

I think someone (me maybe) should definitely start up the old theory that digitally recorded LPs destroy Turntable bearings. This notion was a strong theory that lived on for a long time.
Time to prove it was TRUE ALL ALONG!!!
Want to know why your TT does not sound as good as it used to?? those digitally sourced records have destroyed your turntable bearings!!! 

Feel free to worry, your TT is damaged beyond repair....

[twitch54]

Current pressing LPs are all from digital masters,

I don't believe that to be true.........

Jillian Welch / David Rawlings come to mind as all analog as does Chad Kassem's operation.

[dB Cooper]

Gotta agree with you on that one. Bop Till You Drop has been constantly slammed as unlistenable and a worst case scenario of digital recording but I've never found that to be the case at all.

If you want to hear a good example of early bad digital, check out 'Chick Corea Akoustic Band'. It's everything those who don't like digital complain about- cold, hard, glassy. I haven't heard it on vinyl, but in digital it's intolerable to me. I didn't have the same reaction to 'Bop 'til you Drop'; in fact, I recall it as sounding pretty respectable on my old Dual/Ortofon/Hafler/Allison system. Don't know how I'd perceive the SQ today. Digital has advanced dramatically since its early days; the other technology, originated by Edison, hasn't IMHO, but to each his own.

[orthobiz]

Be careful on stevehoffman.tv, you might find that you have sacrificed your life as you know it (although lately we all have...). Wealth of information.

Also, analog planet has an AAA search area for all analog recordings.

Some of the worst of new mastering: Chicago Transit Authority 50th anniversary on Rhino. God it's awful, especially since Steven Wilson did such a good job on Chicago II.

Paul

[Douger]

Hey AJ, sounds pretty good! I recommend that you get a Funk Firm Acromat platter, that will improve your record player performance unbelievably! Check Music Direct or Sound Environment in Omaha...  Let me know which Grado cart you have,
might have som suggestions to improve that.

Doug

[ajzepp]

Thanks again, everyone. Made a last minute change to the turntable once I found out that the U-turn Audio factory was shut down b/c of the coronavirus. I went ahead and ordered the Fluance RT85 table with the Ortofon Blue cart. Will be here Thursday. Also got myself a turntable protractor, and have a  handful of albums trickling in.

Also, does anyone subscribe to that Vinyl Me, Please service? I had an interesting convo with one of the reps. This is what they said about their audio quality and the analog vs digital thing. I had asked them if they were mainly focused on the music itself, or if they were geared toward those who also place a premium on fidelity: "Yes, we focus on both. If you're especially wondering about albums that sound great, our Classics subscription specializes in jazz, blues, and soul albums, and all of them are remastered All Analog from the original tapes."

I signed up for their "essentials" track, but plan to pick up a title or two that are recorded from analog masters just to see how it sounds.

Anyway, that's my update...appreciate all the feedback. This is fun!

Doug: Thanks for the recommendation on the acromat. The table I bought doesn't have vertical tracking angle adjustment...can I still use that product without it?

[ric]

It's interesting that when I had my Dunlavy speakers, certain recordings sounded really, really good, but then switching to my Spatial OB speakers, those same recordings may have sounded good or better, or they may have sounded worse. Recently I purchased Jimi Hendrix Experience box set on vinyl (remastered) that had glowing reviews. I ended up reselling the set as I just didn't like the sound. I finally read a review that did NOT like the recording, that they thought sounded kind of flat--just didn't sound right and I agreed.
The bottom line may be that there is no guarantee of a recording sounding good on YOUR system, although it's a good bet if others call it such. For me, I could live with digital (if I had to) on everything except classical. I just prefer the sound of vinyl even after purchasing a Border Patrol dac (which sounds fantastic!) But even classical can sound crappy, so I try to stick to the Phillips label, or stereo 360, DG, RCA, but none are a guarantee of great sound quality.
One more thing is that Steve Guttenburg recently reviewed a newly digitized record, and said it was the best sounded recording he's heard, so watch for near future offerings of 3D printer's making vinyl!!!