[Audio Empire]

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:54:12 -0700, XYLOPHONE wrote
(in article ):

On May 10, 11:50=A0am, wrote:
There is mention of a download page where full fidelity recordings can be
had for $2.49.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/bu...ml?ref=3Dbusin

=A0 =A0"The change in sound quality is as much cultural as technological.=
For
=A0 =A0decades, starting around the 1950s, high-end stereos were a status
=A0 =A0symbol. A high-quality system was something to show off, much like=
a
=A0 =A0new flat-screen TV today.

=A0 =A0But Michael Fremer, a professed audiophile who runs musicangle.com=
,
=A0 =A0which reviews albums, said that today, "a stereo has become an obj=
ect
=A0 =A0of scorn.""

I am truly convinced that the highest quality audio is from analog
records,
recorded from professional studio tapes. as follows:

Subjectively and generally speaking, I tend to agree. Although, from a
technical standpoint, I do not pretend to understand why this should be so.
OTOH, the most palpably real audio recording I've ever heard, is one of my
own making and on a 44.1 KHz/16 bit CD, it sounds almost as good as it does
the 24-bit/192KHz master! Both sound better than ANY commercial recording
that I've ever heard irrespective of source or media or technology used.

First half of century: 78 rpm was the only spread technology. From
listening
experience, they got better as years went by. Especially as they went
from
non-electrical technology to the arrival of master tapes. Of course
the real
challenge is to find 78s in EX or Mint condition and use the right
stylus to
benefit.

I have a bunch of British Decca (London) "ffrr" classical 78s that sound
stupendous. Highs to roughly 15 KHz, good bass, and fairly quiet surfaces.
These are all from the late 1940s (post WWII).

1950s: Vinyl 45s and LPs arrived from 1949 on. A media war began.
With the RIAA standards adopted in 1953 or so, the recordings then had
to
have a standard balance between bass and treble. From listening
experience, late 78s in pristine condition played with good stylus
really
make your body vibrate and fell "live in the studio", really! The
other day I
listened to "Slow Train Blues" from Leathernecks on Mercury 78 from
1955,
and I really felt that, because I cleaned the record and I evaluated
it as EX or
better. The downside of 78s is truly wear, and the loss in quality is
more significant due to them playing on vintage equipment, with heavy
styli
or not always the right one.

More usual for 78's was being played with a WORN stylus. Most record players
in the 78 days used steel needles. They were meant to be replaced after each
play, but usually weren't. Often they weren't changed until the worn needle
started to change the color of the record from shiny black to a dull brown.
By then it was too late.

Second top would be of course the 45,
then the
LPs. Still analog with truly high fidelity if record is clean and
played with a
good stylus. The advantage is that vinyl is less fragile than 78s. I
find the
higher the speed the better the quality, because you cover more
material
per unit of time. CDs reissus of 50s performances will sound clearer,
yes,
but I feel I can't feel the vibrations, like I do with LPs or higher
speed
playbacks.

Can't feel the VIBRATIONS??????!!!!! I don't follow you. All sound is
"vibrations".

1960s: 78s stopped in 1960, so the top is now 45s, then LPs. Vinyl
continues to provide high fidelity and makes you vibrate. 60's records
have
deep grooves, more distant, probably because the songs are shorter
(average 2 to 3 minutes). Therefore they play loud and imperfections
or
defects are much less noticeable. Still getting copies in good or
better,
new condition, will give you the top in high fidelity.

??????????

Original
pressings are the
way to go. If impossible, I would get a re-issue, provided it's been
manufactured no later than 1980s, to make sure it's analog throughout
the whole recording process from master tapes.
An example: I preferred spending $325 on an original pressing of a
45rpm
from Underworld "Go Away"/"Bound" on Regency R-979 than getting the
2007 re-issue from Garage Greats at $15. They pretend it's the same,
but no. I listened to both, and the original truly makes me vibrate.

I still don't understand what you mean by "makes me vibrate"?

The grooves
on the reissue are not as deep, and I have never been able to
determine what
is their source and if digitalisation was involved. And my original
pressing is
only VG-, many clicks, but main thing is the overall quality is there!

Groove depth is irrelevant because it's the same for all stereo LPs, In fact,
the standard 45/45 system of cutting LPs dictates the depth of the groove
which is determined by the standard LP groove width and the isosceles
triangle formed by the groove width and the 90 degree angle of the two groove
walls. Groove PITCH (number of grooves per centimeter) is variable on LP
cutting, groove width and depth are not. All stereo records have the same
groove width and depth.

1970s: From mid 70s on, technology permitted to enhance sound
clearness.
Grooves are less deep, but I feel a wide range of sound effects can be
detected, especially if I use headphones. Some record companies are
better
than others, but in general, all records allow me to enjoy a
continuous
analog signal I can feel with my body. I use a $50 Shure stylus, but I
can
imagine if someone uses a more high-end one he can get even more from
his vinyl!

Again all stereo grooves are the same depth.

1980s: As for synthetizers, computer-assisted studio sound effects,
robotic
voices, etc... 1980s is the STATE OF THE ART decade, and I think it
will
remain 1st on the High Scores forever! Yes, simply because everything
has
been pressed on vinyl. I still find 45s are unbeatable because more
material
is covered per time unit, still LPs continue to bypass CD, even more
MP3 by
far. For example, I find Vertigo records make really good products.
Listening
to a Tears for Fears 45 is really a fantastic experience, I feel
people who
don't have vinyl are missing.

1990s to today: If processing is analog right from studio tapes to
record
pressing, consider it's the TOP like 80's. Otherwise, if any digital
process is
involved, you will probably won't feel the listening experience even
if they
try to make you believe it will by pressing it to vinyl.

Portability: The real disadvantage of analog records is it's not
portable. The
solution I use is to record my vinyl onto Metal or CrO2 tapes and
listening
with my good'ole Walkman! Yes I lose a bit of quality with respect to
the
original records, but I find it's still way ahead iPods :-)

Luc

Much of this seems to be nonsense. I'll give the poster the benefit of the
doubt here because his first language is obviously NOT English.