Octave Records DSD vs vinyl

What are the differences when it comes to sound quality and converting DSD to vinyl?

[signalfixer]

Best sound I heard on my setup was from a vintage pre recordef reel to reel tape. It bear both vinyl and digital on that track. Awesome

[johannkrist]

I just ordered my first Octave records vinyl. Can´t wait to get it. I have no way of playing DSD on my setup. my sources are my modified Rega P6 (upgraded tonearm), a Rega Apheta2 MC cartridge and a Rega Aria Mk2 Phonostage, Digital, Rega Cd player, Bluesound Node2 connected to my Rega Dac R. So for me no DSD but the setup sounds awesome, I feel like I hit a sweetspot with my setup. . Amps are a pair of Vincent Audio monoblocks and a Vincent Audio pre amp. Speakers are Monitor Audio Gold 300 sitting on a Iso Acoustics Gaia isolators.

[youngbuckster]

I have The Police's Ghost In The Machine SACD from '03, as well as the original US '81 pressing on vinyl and I have to say they are very, very close. The vinyl does have the advantage at sounding more natural and being at times more dynamic. I believe this album was mastered louder though so this might be why they are so close in sound. Recently I've started to listen to records more and I have to say some I think would need more than DSD64 in order to capture all the details.

[marcbegine]

I listened (and possess) both "Bach Cello Suites" by "Zuell Bailey" on SACD and on Vinyl. My Brain says SACD, my Hart says Vinyl. Both are Masterpieces of Mastering by Gus Skinas!!

[alanarakelian]

Ultrasonic record cleaning will take vinyl up to the highest level possible. Truly breathtaking. The gold standard is the Degritter cleaner.

[marcbegine]

Hi Paul, still seeing no Cartridge on your Turntable!!!

[georgemartinezza]

whatever
no matters
in my house, in your house, in the studio, inside the room with the band, it sounds different.

[davidfromamerica]

Have a shelf dedicated to PS Audio disc, vinyl records and Paul’s books.

[anthonymartino]

Does Octave records produce any re issue of classic rock or music or is it their artist etc? I have not heard anything from them I would critically sit and actually listen to. Is their any decent Jazz. or jazz/fusion etc?

[mjot]

Paul should run a buy one get one sale.

[Toymortal]

I hear the title of Paul's next book is 99% Bull?

[wolfmanzz]

Vinyl is much more listenable and pleasing. Before this video, I have used the digital copy to optimize my set up, comparing Audiophile Masters Vol 1 and III with the digital copy. Digital is not superior; it is just different. For long hours of listening (I work from home) I use vinyl. Much more pleasing, listenable, and natural. And why is it those claiming the “superiority” of digital have no optimized vinyl playback?? Or no vinyl playback at all?? Or got frustrated with their Crosley turntable?

[fasteddie]

If listening on the same system, what exactly are you "dialing in?" Assuming the turntable is set up properly in the first place, not sure what good this does other than comparing the sound of the two different mediums.

[ptg]

I have done exactly that on a few Octave Records releases... Vinyl still sounds more natural to me... but the difference to my ears is small.... I wish SACD layer DSD playback can do more than DSD64 as I think some of Octave Records recordings are at DSD256 ?

[keiserrg]

I'm this case I'm not sure I agree. If you are recording directly in DSD, and then mixing in DXD, then the final, "complete" master is in DXD (= PCM). So... There would need to be compelling reasons to then return to any other format from DXD.

(Maybe there are....?)

[daveuk]

Question. Am I better buying the DXD or DSD version of any Octave records release for best SQ? I can play all formats on my dCS DAC.

[johnvillano]

How/where do you submit your question(s) for Paul to answer?

[starmaniac]

As long as the recording master is digital, of course DSD will be fundamentally superior to vinyl. (Has of course a lot to do with the reproductive equipment) But vinyl will always win on warmth and charm factor 😊

[NoEggu]

@2:37 "I believe that difference comes from the phono cartridge".
Yes, but there is more to it.

The same statement could be said this way:
"I believe that difference comes from the DAC". (on Paul's end that plays the DSD file)

-- or --
"I believe that difference comes from the transport". (on Paul's end that feeds the DSD file to Paul's DAC)

Yes, the cartridge is a major influencer on the sound quality. But there is also the digital to analog conversion that Paul's team does in their studio.

We should not accept that conversions between analog and digital (in either direction) is magical, and that because digital is involved, perfection is a given.

Any time you convert from one format to the other format, there are conversion boxes that are now part of the mix.
Those conversion boxes, like any other piece of stereo gear, have a "sound" to them.

In the case of converting from DSD to analog, the conversion box must generate the analog signal from scratch (from nothingness) -- just as CD players create an analog signal from nothingness -- from silence.

Ergo, the conversion box that Paul is using matters.
Also, the transport box that Paul is using also matters. What box is feeding the DSD data stream to his digital-to-analog converter?

Paul, what is your process for converting the digital master into the analog signal that gets cut into the vinyl's master plate?

[randallcollura]

LOL, why do people believe that changing a DSD master into a vinyl record is the best way to listen to a DSD master? Makes NO sense to me...