This is the real way to tell which medium is better, vinyl or digital. This is the way the big boys do it, with an engineering matrix. For the purposes of this comparison, which is strictly subjective, by the way, we will develop a large comprehensive matrix of audio parameters that are weighted so that they can be prioritized. This matrix is intended to be a tool only, obviously you can assign your own weights to the Audio Parameters and can add or subtract Audio Parameters to the Matrix. To complete the Audio Parameter Matrix simply score each parameter for Vinyl and Digital, using a score from 1-10. Then multiply each score obtained by listening to both media by the weight assigned to that parameter thus obtaining a Total Score for each parameter. The Total Score for each Audio Parameter will be a number between 1 and 100. The winning medium will have the highest sum of Total Scores. The weights shown are my preferences, you can of course set your own weights on your own preferences or stick with mine. Of course, this matrix can be used to differentiate vinyl and CDs, vinyl and hi res downloads, cassettes and CDs, CDs and SACDS, etc.

For each medium fill out the following matrix:

Audio Parameters (weighted 1-10)

AUDIO PARAMETER ................................................................. SCORE (1-10) ............................................TOTAL SCORE = SCORE X WEIGHT

AIR (8)

SOUNDSTAGE (HEIGHT, WIDTH, DEPTH) (9)

TONALITY (9)

RESOLUTION (8)

SPEED (7)

TRANSPARENCY (8)

AUDIBILITY OF TAPE HISS/POPS, CLICKS, ETC. (7)

TIMING/PACE. (8)

BASS RESPONSE (7)

MUSICALITY/DANCEABILITY (9)

HIGH FREQUENCY EXTENSION (7)

MACRO DYNAMICS (DYNAMIC RANGE) (8)

MICRO DYNAMICS (7)

PRESENCE/REALISM (9)

NATURALNESS/CORRECTNESS (9)

WETNESS (6)

SWEETNESS (10)

WARMTH (10)

PLUMPNESS/FATNESS OF BASS (9)

BASS EXTENSION (8)

BASS ARTICULATION (7)

BASS SLAM (8)

CHANNEL SEPARATION/SEPARATION OF INSTRUMENTS (6)

APPARENT SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO (5)

HIGH FREQUENCY REALISM AND LACK OF DISTORTION/GRAIN (BELL LIKE TONALITY) (10)

COHERENCY/MADE FROM WHOLE CLOTH (8)

SOLIDITY/DENSITY OF SOUNDSTAGE (8)

BLATTINESS OF HORNS (7)

SQUEAKINESS (8)

APPLAUSE AND RAINDROPS REALISM (8)

....................................................................................................................................................SUM OF TOTAL SCORES =

Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica
We do artificial atoms right