The Oid wrote:I think it's quite interesting to hear a different take on a song you already like. I'm a massive fan of Physicist, it was the album that introduced me to Devin's solo work, but I'd still be interested to hear how it was supposed to sound. At the end of the day, if I don't like it, there's always the original. Some people didn't like Physicst, maybe this will help them "get it".
I'm a sucker for remixes and all that though.
I think hearing a different version of a song can give you a whole new appreciation of the original. You hear parts that weren't so clear in the original, and appreciate them more. At least I do. It's like going back to when the album was completely new to you.
Antiyou wrote:You may not be able to scientifically prove that you can hear a difference but it is there and it is the reason I will never pay for an mp3 or own an ipod.
I'd say that if there is a real difference, then it can be scientifically proven. Probably more difficult with vinyl vs CD because vinyl crackles audibly, which is a dead giveaway, but normally you can do a double blind listening test. If you can do better than random guessing, then there's a perceptible difference.
There probably is a pretty big difference between vinyl and CD to be honest though. Vinyl is an analogue format, whereas every sample on a CD is quantised to 16 bits, which has a maximum range of 65535 values (or −32768 to 32767). I wouldn't be surprised if that's in the range of human perception.
Since I'm at work, I'm not going to spend the time looking for the studies. There is a graph that shows what the human ear can pick up sonically. The argument is not about what you can scientifically prove hearing wise, it's what you are lacking by limiting the frequencies. You're not supposed to be able to hear the extra high and low frequencies produced by analogue, thus the cd. However, I can easily tell what is "missing" when I do a cd vs lp comparison. Maybe it is some sort of vibrational perception that reacts to the less limited frequency range in lp's. You can't hear it per se but it is perceptible. Other noticeable differences are the decay on notes or most noticably on cymbals. John Bonham's drums are a night and day difference on a good lp cut vs. any remaster I've ever heard.
Crackle only happens if you are using a cheap needle or are listening to a record in poor condition. I have 60's Japanese Hendrix records that are as clean and noiseless as their CD counterparts... They just sound better.
I have some LP's that were sourced from digital recordings that I still find superior to the CD version. A Perfect Circle's Mer de Noms comes to mind immediately. That LP is light years beyond what the CD version sounded like. NIN's The Fragile is the same scenario. I really can't speak intelligently as to how this is possible but I can assure you, it is a fact. It may have something to do with mastering the 24bit source specifically for LP, I really don't know.