Which Needle Drop Do You Prefer? [Poll]

Discussion in 'Music and Recordings (vinyl , 8-track, etc.)' started by bazelio, Feb 11, 2017.

?

Which needle drop do you prefer?

  1. The first one.

  2. The second one.

  3. They sound identical.

Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    I finally got around to this, and yeah, I knew it was Pictures, which tells you how old I am. Like @shaizada , I too preferred the first track, which also reflects my sound preference. I laughed when I read his description, cause i was slightly harshing him about being on the minority about the arm, but its definitely more nuanced, as he said. The ratios on the survey does reflect the prevailing opinion, though.

    If you like this sort of thing (and who doesn't, as an audiophiliac), look out for the Mercury Dorati /Prokofiev/LSO Scythian Suite. All the earlier pressings, even up to the Golden Wings are pretty good. Some of the later reissues are spottier. Also the Mercury Dorati/Stravinski/LSO The Firebird. These make any rig sound good, even the Vendor releases sound okay. I know it sounds greek, but do look it up if it piques your interest.
     
  2. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    There's also an RCA collection for pops and classical both named 'Stereo for the Joy of it' which has a bunch of LSCs in them. The classical one far outweighs the pops one in terms of listenability, and these collections tend to have later pressings for the titles, but its an easy way to get started. I think the only bad one in the classical one was the Dvorak: New World Symphony. During vinyl's dark ages I would see one or two of these every few months, but I think the Hipster invasion may have inflated prices lately.
     
  3. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    Hello folks!

    Was having a conversation with @bazelio and as a result, ended up doing a small sample recording from one of my turntable rigs.

    It's not the full song, but you get an idea....it's about half a song, enough for some Solo's to come in.

    Have a listen and would love to hear what you guys are hearing through your rigs. Digital doesn't really translate what the real thing does, but, you do get an idea from this. Enjoy!

    Title:
    Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' from the Music Matters 33rpm.

    Recording Chain:
    EAR Discmaster, Kuzma 4 Point Tonearm, Dynavector XV-1S, EAR 912 phono / preamp tape out, Jorma Prime RCA cables into KORG MR-2000S (Bussman Mods) at 24bit-96Khz.

    Raw and Unedited.


    I'm curious what you guys think....I don't do much digital recording of vinyl, but this result is really good! tons of decays and textures despite doing a transfer to digital....there is a lot more if heard all analog....but u get an idea. Whoever downloads, good or bad, please comment!

    https://ufile.io/lce03
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2017
  4. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Dang, probably my favourite jazz album. I'm away with work at the moment but I can't wait to listen and compare to my Audiowave XRCD version (which is the best digital master I have come across...)

    EDIT: on second thoughts, maybe ignorance is bliss.
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2017
  5. Abhishek Chowdhary

    Abhishek Chowdhary Friend

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    Sounds nice and easy. Whatever instrument is playing in the left channel (I've heard it a lot in Indian marriages but do not know what it's called , Brass maybe ) the timbre and tone is spot on, perhaps the closest digital to real. Background isn't as dark as I'd like.
     
  6. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    Some of us were talking about these 8 needle drops last night. I think @JoshMorr and @JK47 preferred #2 while @shaizada and I preferred #5. We chalked it up to similar DACs, since the nuclear reactor in the upstairs of G's house bears no resemblance to my to rig. But this gave G the inspiration to make his own recording, which we'll call #9 - and it wins in an absolute landslide. The cavernous soundstage is just miles ahead of those MM needle drops and just an organic feel up and down. The bass is ever-present while never getting in the way. The highs extended without ever being sharp. The textures and decay, fantastic. Just great execution of the cymbals. And on and on... Thanks again, G!!
     
  7. Abhishek Chowdhary

    Abhishek Chowdhary Friend

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    I think 5th sample had the most realistic tone. 3rd was fine as well but a little heavy and mildly bass focused. Rest all had tone/timbre issues.
     
  8. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    It's going to depend on your DAC and chain. It's no surprise to me that Schiit DAC users prefer #2. All eight of them are terrible compared to #9 though.
     
  9. Abhishek Chowdhary

    Abhishek Chowdhary Friend

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    #9 ? Where's that ?
     
  10. Abhishek Chowdhary

    Abhishek Chowdhary Friend

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    OMG!!!!! No way :eek:

    The one Gaurav posted sounds totally different. I mean as if the instruments are totally different. How can it be? Why such a huge difference ?
    Are these really the same recording? Still cant believe. Those 8 samples sound so synthetic in comparison.
     
  11. Daveheart

    Daveheart Friend

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    It sounds like I'd really enjoy your system @shaizada. It definitely sounds better than any of Fremer's drops, but considering that pretty much everything is different, all it really makes me want to do is buy that Music Matters version of Cool Struttin'. It really can't be compared to any of those 8 drops as it's not even the same recording, much less the same master or chain. However, your drop sounded significantly better when compared to two different CD masters I have on hand. The recordings I have aren't particularly compressed compared to many albums, but compared to that drop they sound slightly compressed and sound like someone added extra reverb to the recording.
     
  12. Daveheart

    Daveheart Friend

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    That would because the 8 drops are from a Sonny Clark tribute album from 1986 rather than the original Sonny Clarke album from 1958. It is completely different.
     
  13. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    I always pictured the Dyna house sound to be a bit dark so I am surprised that the XV-1S is not that at all. If anything on this recording it sounds like it has small top end lift. I was impressed by the width of the soundstage. Instrumental separation is awesome for example I can clearly isolate the drums from the bass in the right channel if I choose. I'm not familiar with the original recording so it's hard to say for sure but I feel if if there was an area I would like to improve would be a bit more speed/transient snap; for example I would like to hear more definition and tightness in the bass.

    Slight off topic but I revisited the Fremer mm phono comparo at home today with the Schiit stack/UERM (did it at work with UERR/GO2A the first time) and the result is the same for me with 2 and 3 sounding best. To me #5 sounds like a disjointed blob of sound. Tonally it's nice but I can't isolate anything. The bass is not integrating with the mids is not integrating with the treble its just a big muddy mess. I would have preferred he use the Caliburn or a better table to move the emphasis more on the phono stage. I don't like Rega tables at all....
     
  14. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    I gave them all a listen and I've come to the conclusion:
    I like the vinyl best and it's not even close. So much more presence and realism, body and bite.
    Gaurav's wav comes in second, but it's kinda like coming in second to Usain Bolt, when he's looking over wondering where his competition is. It sounds very undigital and lifelike, but it's got nothing on the vinyl.

    Then comes all of the Fremer ones and they just kinda sound, meh? I had a hard time even listening to them, so they are all kinda not my favorite. Maybe bad source material?

    So the final result is:
    1. Usain Bolt
    2. That one fastish guy from the US
    3-10: DNQ
     
  15. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    Is the Music Matters remaster of this album worth getting? The original mono pressing is ... a bit out of reach...
     
  16. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    Guys, please share some thoughts on this youtube rip compared to what you hear on the rip I posted:



    Now I'm curious what you guys are hearing out there.

    Here is mine:

    https://ufile.io/lce03
     
  17. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    Gave these a listen, and the second one is nicer, had to swap into my HE 4 before it was really apparent

    Though... I'm noticing a pop right at 7 seconds, and at other times... that's kinda driving me crazy... just a itty bitty little pop... I've tried every output setting I have through FooBar, and I even used jRiver Media Player, and tried all of it's different Digital Output settings... I even checked DPC, to make sure I wasn't having latency issue with local play back [had that problem years ago, I still check for it every time I update my drivers] An no matter WHAT I do, there's that dang pop... in-between the 7th and 8th second, I swapped between a few different amps as well, and it's still there...

    Some of my favorite Vinyl rips have... a very low level almost constant crackle/pop noise that I enjoy. But these are kinda loud and intrusive

    Is it supposed to be there, and if so how do you get rid of it... or what contributes to it
     
  18. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Youtube has much narrower stage. Slow overall; leading edges on the drums and bass are all blurred/MIA. Images are not well defined in space at all. Frequency response is darker but I'm OK with that. Tone is meh... not awful but not particularly convincing.

    In short yours is a lot better and the difference is significant.:cool:
     
  19. winders

    winders boomer

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    I like your drop better. The Youtube drop has a much narrower soundstage. In fact, I think there is some crossover in the Youtube recording. If you listen to the trumpet at about the 3 minute mark, on your recording, the right channel has almost no trumpet sound. The Youtube recording has much more trumpet volume so it more centered on the soundstage. Are these from the same mix?
     

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