Vinyl vs. Digital Volume Compression

To what extent does vinyl have more dynamic range than digital?

  • Vinyl ALWAYS has more dynamic range than digital.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Vinyl NEVER has more dynamic range than digital.

    Votes: 2 33.3%
  • Only the "mastered for vinyl" version of an album will have more dynamic range than digital.

    Votes: 1 16.7%
  • approximately 10% of vinyl releases have more dynamic range than their digital counterpart

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • approximately 25% of vinyl releases have more dynamic range than their digital counterpart

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • approximately 35% of vinyl releases have more dynamic range than their digital counterpart

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • approximately 45% of vinyl releases have more dynamic range than their digital counterpart

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • approximately 55% of vinyl releases have more dynamic range than their digital counterpart

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • approximately 65% of vinyl releases have more dynamic range than their digital counterpart

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • approximately 75% or more of vinyl releases have more dynamic range than their digital counterpart

    Votes: 3 50.0%

  • Total voters
    6

cjfrbw

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Pleasanton, CA
There seems to be the usual confusing mix up in opinions about preferences vs. etc.

Tubes are natural compressors, and a lot of the best compressors are tubed, and were used quite a bit on the older vinyl masters.

One might ask, how many systems can actually play a true, uncompressed recording with full dynamic range i.e. zero to 120db? Such a system would have to be able to lucidly delineate the smallest whisper from the corner of the sound stage all the way up to the full crescendos without anything sounding unnatural or out of place, or leading one to go fiddling with the volume knob as the playback is in progress. Those are rare systems. Most audiophiles might not like completely uncompressed music because they wouldn't like the glaring differences between the soft playback and the loud playback. If you change the volume during a playback, you are basically asking for more rather than less compression in the recording, practicing volume limiting etc.

Also, with different microphones, some parts of a recording might be more compressed than others i.e. vocals, and also de-essers can be used. A lot of this is usual and customary mastering chicanery to squeeze things into a listenable mixdown.

Some of my most dynamic vinyl recordings are GRP label, digitally mastered, and sound excellent. I would never state, however, that the POTENTIAL for dynamic range in vinyl is greater than the POTENTIAL for dynamic range in digital. How the cooks deal with the recipe is a different matter.
 
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