How Would You Describe the Sound of Tape?

[christensenleif@msn.com]

To me digital sounds «antiseptic «

 

[Al M.]

To me digital sounds «antiseptic «

I would agree when it comes to some -- not all -- streaming.

At audio shows digital often sounds like that, too.

It is impossible for me to imagine how the term would apply to my CD playback.

 

[Rexp]

To me digital sounds «antiseptic «

I agree CD playback has a sound to it that I find unnatural but some streaming releases like this one sound quite natural:

 

[Mike Lavigne]

To me digital sounds «antiseptic «

I would agree when it comes to some -- not all -- streaming.

At audio shows digital often sounds like that, too.

It is impossible for me to imagine how the term would apply to my CD playback.

with digital there is the antiseptic aspect which is the default for most digital. one solution is to graft on a tube output stage....many choose this route. and there are degrees of that approach and degrees of coloration.

but talking about antiseptic, we can also have digital itself which retains the clarity, even boosts it, but then has the ease and liquidity and flow to not give a hint of antiseptic. until we compare it directly to better analog we think it's analog. we are not missing analog. that is ideal but not cheap.

but also there is the digital that is in a system where the careful fine tuning mollifies those antiseptic tendencies. and even staying away from streaming and files and sticking with discs seems to be more natural tonality friendly without breaking the bank. more meat on the bones.

so throwing around generalized labels misses the mark. but agree at it's base level it has antiseptic artifacts.

 

[Al M.]

and even staying away from streaming and files and sticking with discs seems to be more natural tonality friendly without breaking the bank. more meat on the bones.

That is my impression as well, that spinning physical discs more easily renders a natural tonality with meat on the bones. When it comes to top-level computer audio/streaming things may equalize.

so throwing around generalized labels misses the mark.

Agreed.

but agree at it's base level it has antiseptic artifacts.

If it is about how even modest vinyl playback has a more effortless musicality and digital is harder to "get right" until it gets to that level, I agree.

 

[microstrip]

To me digital sounds «antiseptic «

All the digital you have listened sounded antiseptic to you? Or there were exceptions?

 

[microstrip]

I would agree when it comes to some -- not all -- streaming.

Streaming is relatively recent - the high-end is slow to react to new concepts.

At audio shows digital often sounds like that, too.

Did you forget the miseries we listened from vinyl in shows before digital? No one would dare to play a non audiophile recording, any other pressings were terrible.

 

[Al M.]

Did you forget the miseries we listened from vinyl in shows before digital? No one would dare to play a non audiophile recording, any other pressings were terrible.

I don't think the problem was that bad, but indeed variations in pressing quality are an issue that seems to be less talked about among vinyl fans.

 

[hopkins]

I agree CD playback has a sound to it that I find unnatural but some streaming releases like this one sound quite natural:

View attachment 156869

Yes it sounds good but it is only speech. There are many other examples of good recording quality on CD.

 

[M2M]

I listened to Siegfried (Solti Ring cycle) on 4-track tapes over the past three nights. Just incredible sound and music. It does not make you think about audiophile stuff, just the music.

I too "discovered" this recently on Vinyl! Despite its old recording (as far i know first stereo), but sound like new equipment!
In CD remaster, sound like outdated recording and unmusical.

 

[microstrip]

I listened to Siegfried (Solti Ring cycle) on 4-track tapes over the past three nights. Just incredible sound and music. It does not make you think about audiophile stuff, just the music.

Can I ask why 4-track tapes?

 

[Grateful]

I had the extreme pleasure of spending the last week listening to digital, vinyl, and tape. I’d rank them:

1. Tape
2. Vinyl
3. Digital

However, I’m going to spend my money on 2 & 3 because of availability, cost, effort, etc. IMO, digital is becoming shockingly good. My decision is also heavily influenced by the media I own.

 

[adrianywu]

Can I ask why 4-track tapes?

Some people argue that the origin LPs released by RCA Living Stereo, Mercury Living Presence, Decca SXL, EMI (HMV and Columbia) are superior to any of the subsequent reissues, and this is reflected by how much some collectors are willing to pay for these titles. If this is the case, the 4-track (and 2-track for the older titles) are often superior to the original LPs, but usually at a fraction of the price. The original EMI Andre Cluytens Ravel set of 4 LPs in good condition are now going for more than £1000, whereas the individual tapes can be found for around US$20 each. The Beethoven violin concerto with Oistrakh and Cluytens now go for more than £1000 in good condition, whereas I found an NOS, still sealed copy of the four track tape, issued at the same time, for $100. In my experience, RCA and Everest tapes have the highest quality, but I have been impressed with the DGG tapes from the 1960s and how much better they sound compared to the original LPs. If you like the original RCA shaded dog sound, the tapes will give you that sound without the noise, distortion and compression of the LPs. The Everest tapes are at an entirely different level compared to the original LPs. And you can be reassured that the entire production chain was in analogue, and with all tube equipment ! In my experience, these tapes are often the best commercially available version of their respective recordings, unless you can get hold of a master tape copy. Commercial 2-track tapes are another level higher, since these were produced in far smaller quantities and can be astoundingly good. The tape I am showing here, which I bought for $15, is one of the best recordings I have in my collection, even taking into consideration the 300-odd titles in master tape copies.
Some HDTT high rez digital files were transferred from commercial tapes. You can download the files to evaluate the sound before buying the tapes.