He took a pricey path to discover what non-audiophiles have been enjoying for years.
An audiophile, SBY59TH, recently shared his disappointing realization on r/vinyl.
He’s been upgrading his vinyl system for the past 10 years and has invested a lot of money in his hobby. But, he found that even after spending a lot on high-end gear, the sound quality of vinyl still cannot beat the crisp and consistent sound quality of a cheap CD.
When Vinyl Meets Digital Sound
Over the past ten years, SBY59TH has built a collection of about a hundred vinyl records. This ranged from brand-new releases to vintage finds, high-quality pressings, and rare originals.
Besides collecting vinyl, the OP has also invested time and money in upgrading his vinyl setup. The core of this setup is his Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo turntable, which he has upgraded over the years, spending about €2,110 (or $2300) in total.
However, SBY59TH’s experience reveals the limitations of vinyl. Despite his investments, issues like dust on the stylus, vinyl wear, and occasional poor-quality pressings remind him of the format’s drawbacks.
This becomes especially clear when he compares vinyl to digital sources.
Using a 180g MoFi vinyl, he did an A/B comparison with a Bluetooth device on the same HiFi system. During his tests, he noticed that even the best vinyl couldn’t match the clarity and consistency of digital sound.
“Vinyl sounds systematically darker and softer, with more or less constant and perceptible sound distortion/alteration (resonances linked to the installation, cell quality, initial quality, and potential wear of the record…).” he claims.
“The sound of vinyl doesn’t have the clarity of digital. But, it must also be said that playback can also seem livelier and more dynamic. But this largely depends on the quality of the record.”
This made him realize that the effort and money he’d spent in upgrading his vinyl system only made it sound closer to the sound quality of a cheap digital source. Worse, it can’t even surpass it.
“All in all, I’d say I love my vinyl record. They’re really cool objects. I’ve got a collection of albums full of nostalgia and history. Some of them are fantastic to listen to, and I enjoy collecting them.” he says.
“On the other hand, I think that whatever time and money you spend on supposedly improving your vinyl system, you’re only trying to get closer to what you already have for practically free: the near-perfect sound of a digital source.”
Choosing Vinyl in a Digital World
SBY59TH’s post brought out a wide range of thoughts, feelings, and personal connections to music from the community. This debate included the different preferences among vinyl fans and the practical aspects of using various audio formats.
Many comments echoed the OP’s sentiments. These users shared their own experiences of reaching the same conclusions as the OP regarding the sound quality of CDs and vinyl.
A lot of the comments also critiqued the vinyl production process. Some are surprised by the poor quality of some vinyl records, urging for better standards.
Some comments also emphasized the practicality and durability of vinyl. This points out the high costs and maintenance demands of the vinyl format, in contrast to digital’s lasting nature.
“My biggest complaint with vinyl is how impractical they are. They can never truly be cleaned. They have a very limited life, especially without massive proper care/maintenance. And, the cost becomes very prohibitive very quickly.” says one user.
“I love the idea of vinyl, and I wish I had hundreds of thousands to spend on them. But it’s really hard to beat a flawless digit version that could potentially work forever. I respect those who do it, though.”
However, some still sided with vinyl. These users stand by the hands-on and ritualistic aspects of playing records. But, they also acknowledged that digital sounds better.
This reveals a common feeling: the appeal of vinyl is more about the experience and emotional connection than just sound quality.
I just told a French CD distributor the same thing you were saying in your article. But I was complaining about downloads!
i think that there is a mindset that is predisposed to the preference for lack of artifacts in the music. to a degree, I can go along with that. i, in particular, want the music to be convincing and to leave me satisfied and instill a degree of relaxation. this I find with LP and analog tape. SACD comes in at a VERY close second.
it’s funny but I have changed phono cartridges, preamps, and turntable/tonearm systems and not felt that the sound was wrong. CD, while enjoyable and that some music is ONLY available in that format, doesn’t give the satisfied/relaxed feeling that I derive from vinyl. the steep filtration of frequencies above 20kHz results in a lack of air and freedom in the sound as well.
streaming in hi-rez isn’t fatiguing but unless done with a good streaming source (Qobuz or Tidal for instance) and a decent dac, it is less than engaging.
with Redbook CD and a great dac that upsamples prior to filtration, things can be a lot more liveable as I found when I got my first SACD player.
Hasn’t MoFi been digital for a while?