This is a discussion which I believe in, in one direction but n
Hi Don
This is a discussion which I believe in, in one direction but not the other. I do believe that 78s, both acoustic and electrical, sound better when played on modern playback equipment; however, I don't think an old player should be used to play records which are more modern than the player itself. For instance, I don't think a pre-1925 acoustic player should be used to play electrical recordings and the only records I play on my Orthophonic Credenza are American recordings made between 1925 and 1936, (before the introduction of high frequency pre-emphasis), or European recordings which stayed flat on the high end.
db
>________________________________
> From: Don Cox <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 9:40:49 AM
>Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Mercury Living Presence
>
>On 13/06/2012, Mark Donahue wrote:
>
>> I just want to make one quick comment about this idea that playing
>> back 60 year old tapes is best realized through playing them back on
>> 60 year old machines.
>> The reality here is that the ability to get the signal on to tape is a
>> much easier task than getting it back off and the recorders of the day
>> were much better at recording than playback. I remastered the entire
>> Living Stereo series and was stunned as to how much information I
>> could get off these tapes using state of the art modern analog
>> playback. I then compared these to the transfers that were made with
>> an Ampex 300 that was restored for the CD reissue project at RCA in
>> the late 1980's and the differences were nothing less than astounding.
>> Modern playback with low wow and flutter and an order of magnitude
>> better performance in frequency response, noise and distortion
>> revealed information that was on the tapes that had never actually
>> been heard.
>> As always, YMMV.
>> All the best,
>> Mark Donahue
>>
>This is the same question as "Should acoustic recordings be played back
>on an acoustic player or by using a modern electrical cartridge and
>arm?"
>
>My vote is for the modern equipment, assuming it is first class.
>
>Regards
>--
>Don Cox
>[log in to unmask]
>
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