Digital or analog recording?

[bilbobaggins]

I´ve got a question. It seems to me the record from CD analog source sounding better than from digital one. Is it possible? My machine is Sony MDS-JB940. Thanks for your help in advance.

[KJ_Palmer]

Many people including hi-fi reviewers have said that recording from CD to MD via analogue seems to give a vinyl-like 'warmth', especially with a high quality recorder like the JB940. Digital to digital can be a bit more cold and clinical sounding. Anyway, if you like it stick with analogue - you'll be SCMS free for ever :-)

[kino170878]

Probably true, but only so far. I think if you keep going the analogue route the sound eventually degrades unless you have a studio quality setup. I would use digital just for convenience, automatic track marks and no clipping above 0db, etc. But the SCMS is so annoying, wish I could hunt down one of those SCMS strippers. For sound, the first generation copy might sound best in analogue - has anyone tested this?

[poe]

A lot of it also depends on your CD players DACS. Here is also one case where high quality cables also make a difference. POE.

[boojum]

Regardless of the quality of your analog equipment you will have degraded files when making analog copies. It is the nature of analog to analog. High-priced cables? Yeah, right. Wire is wire. Make sure your connections are good. Put the money you saved by not buying snake-oil cable into a new MD recorder.

[poe]

Snake oil is one thing but buying cheap $5 from Walmart is another, if you don't expect to pick up radio interference. Good quality cables for transfering analog audio has been proven. It's not like digital 1s and 0s it degrades because of outside conditions also. Namely RF. I'm not saying go out and buy $200 Kimber Cable but I would say that if Kimber Cable makes some in the $50-$75 range, it could not hurt for recording purposes. These more expensive cables provide the one thing you mention superior connections, but also additional RF rejection, wire is not just wire.

I've thrown away far to many cheap cables away in setting up and fixing other peoples systems. Typically the question I hear most was what was causing all the background hiss in there system,reply you get what you pay for.

Now I'm first to tell you that products like Monster Cable at Circuit City is way overpriced. If you have a Best Buy in your area they carry a low end of Acoustic Research Cables that are fine and alot cheaper than the Monster Brand. If you have to go Monster Brand they do offer some that are a little cheaper I think you can probably pick up a 6foot for under $30 anymore you are more than likely overpaying. POE.

Edited March 10, 2007 by poe

[boojum]

Snake oil is one thing but buying cheap $5 from Walmart is another, if you don't expect to pick up radio interference. Good quality cables for transfering analog audio has been proven.

Where? Other than anecdotal are there any actual double blind tests which show there is a difference?? Please point me to it. No, Stereophile does not count for anything but snake oil sales.

When you say you were throwing away cheap cables, are you comparing shielded to unshielded??? This is all interesting to me and I would like to learn more.

[poe]

I can no more recite the countless articles I've read on this very subject as you can tell me what you had for lunch 6 months ago on a Tuesday, so I ask you prove that good quality cables are snake oil. You like to quote but left out the part where I said you don't need to buy $200 Kimber cables, but if they have some in the $50-75 range, that statement alone does not make me a member of the elitist who read Sterophile magazine(although I have a read few).

If you really have to have proof go Google Kenith Polemann (I think that's spelled right) I'm pretty sure I've read a article or two about the benefits of good quality cables for analog audio from him. He's a writer for I believe for it's "Home Theater Magazine" or whatever, I do remember that it's the one where they combined "Video Magazine" and "Stereo Review" together into one mag. I've read stuff from him and many other "Professionals" about this subject.

I am buy no means a professional installer, but heres a acid test. If you can talk to a pro about what they use for their custom setups for cables connections. This is easy to answer so I'll answer it for you they use bulk wire and connections from Kimber Cables and other companies of equal quality. They don't use cheap crap because they know the problems cheap wire can introduce into a setup. I'm sure they would also tell you that they would never stake the quality of their setup to save a few bucks. I can tell you that almost all the pros use good quality wire and connections, they're pros so I think this counts against the snake oil theory. You can choose to say they say they don't count because it's not a double blind test or something. I counter that by saying that numbers can be manipulated to make them say anything you want them to say.

As far as me throwing cheap cables from setups, I've cut a few of them open to see if they had any shielding typically they were the standard foil but in one case it didn't have any sheiding at all. After removing the junky cables from these systems the low level noise that could be heard through the receiver disapears, if it looks like a duck, it quacks like a duck, well it's a duck.

I am in no means trying to piss you off nor advocate buying $200 cables, but I am trying to point out that "good" quality cables do make some difference in the transport of analog audio. The pros use decent stuff so as far as I am concerned that's proof enough.

[boojum]

I can no more recite the countless articles I've read on this very subject as you can tell me what you had for lunch 6 months ago on a Tuesday, so I ask you prove that good quality cables are snake oil. You like to quote but left out the part where I said you don't need to buy $200 Kimber cables, but if they have some in the $50-75 range, that statement alone does not make me a member of the elitist who read Sterophile magazine(although I have a read few).

If you really have to have proof go Google Kenith Polemann (I think that's spelled right) I'm pretty sure I've read a article or two about the benefits of good quality cables for analog audio from him. He's a writer for I believe for it's "Home Theater Magazine" or whatever, I do remember that it's the one where they combined "Video Magazine" and "Stereo Review" together into one mag. I've read stuff from him and many other "Professionals" about this subject.

I am buy no means a professional installer, but heres a acid test. If you can talk to a pro about what they use for their custom setups for cables connections. This is easy to answer so I'll answer it for you they use bulk wire and connections from Kimber Cables and other companies of equal quality. They don't use cheap crap because they know the problems cheap wire can introduce into a setup. I'm sure they would also tell you that they would never stake the quality of their setup to save a few bucks. I can tell you that almost all the pros use good quality wire and connections, they're pros so I think this counts against the snake oil theory. You can choose to say they say they don't count because it's not a double blind test or something. I counter that by saying that numbers can be manipulated to make them say anything you want them to say.

As far as me throwing cheap cables from setups, I've cut a few of them open to see if they had any shielding typically they were the standard foil but in one case it didn't have any sheiding at all. After removing the junky cables from these systems the low level noise that could be heard through the receiver disapears, if it looks like a duck, it quacks like a duck, well it's a duck.

I am in no means trying to piss you off nor advocate buying $200 cables, but I am trying to point out that "good" quality cables do make some difference in the transport of analog audio. The pros use decent stuff so as far as I am concerned that's proof enough.

I have been screwing around with audiio for 55 years now and have never seen anyone present any proof anywhere that high-priced cables are any better than just plain cables. I sure have enough "unidirectional" interconnects. Unidirectionals for alternating current? Huh? Any publication which tells you that the high priced ones are better, without double-blind testing, and which accepts advertising is shilling for its advertisers. That pros use the fancy stuff is true, but I am pretty sure it is because what they are using is rugged and has tips which last through numerous pluggings and unpluggings. What is there about one copper which makes it so much better than another?? Cu is Cu. Same for steel wires. The flimsy crap is just that. But any reasonable quality wire is as good as the most expensive. If the expensive ones were better the manufacturers would include tests to prove it! I have never seen those test results in an ad or an article yet. Maybe tomorrow. ;o)

However, if you are happier with the high-priced stuff that's great. An ad or anecdotal evidence that it "sounds better" does not work for me. I am secure thinking that physics is real. And I do not have to prove anything. You are the fellow who said the expensive, moderately expensive, was better, not me. I said I do not agree and think you are wrong. It is up to you to prove your statement is right. You posited the theory. Now you are obliged to defend it. That is how it works.

Pohlmann can write whatever he care to. He is paid to write that stuff. Where the proof? Show me the money! ;o)

Cheers

[rayzray]

i (rayzray) capture my music off the TV Music channels in Digital onto DVD-R's;; and also onto 80 min standard MD too;; yes TWO ways.. like "Bi-musically"..

THEN,, transfer ,, ANALOGUE to Standard MD's where i can control the Level of Volume and spaces between the songs..

one that analogue is made;; i can copy as i wish Digitally from then on..

i PREFER Analogue to Digital and have a good ear for music;; 42 years singing and playing in bands..

yes;; i would say it is like a Vinyl..

i also like the fact that i (rayzray) SET the volume level by ear and meter once and NEVER have to worry about volume changes in future transfers..

that said;; i (rayzray) usually DON't "Do" as any members here "Does";; yes,, yous are the experts;; but i (rayzray) am the "Happiest"..

Edited March 11, 2007 by rayzray