"High Definition Vinyl" - a market reality?

[Marcus]

This is not exactly new but is interesting nevertheless. I wonder if there is any progress...

Pro: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016...ome-a-reality/

Contra: http://www.emusician.com/gear/1332/7...take-off/57216

[Rust]

One may apply for a patent that is essentially based on a theory, but going from a theory to an actual product isn't always easy and sometimes not possible. The "scratching a wiggly groove" is a technology that has been refined for around a century by some of the best engineers in some of the best labs by large companies with substantial financial resources.

Giving it some thought, I don't see a laser cutting a groove with two signals at 90 degrees in the micron range without problems at the bottom of the groove. Something that would not be an issue with "scratching a groove".

The second article mentions 3D printing a record. Let's just say that a 3D printer that can hold the tolerances required for accurately reproducing an LP does not yet exist, nor when such an item does exist it certainly won't be free. Not to mention the printing media. Is the ink free for a cheap printer? No, the printer companies make the money from the ink, not the printer. Imagine what they would charge for sub-micron media suitable for printing an LP.

So physical media (tape and LP), even with the drawbacks of eventual deterioration, is still the only way to obtain high quality reproduction. Digital keeps edging closer as conversion algorithms are developed and/or refined. at word depths and bit rates above 16/44. In theory 16/44 should be enough, providing the analog signal to be converted has no content above say 19 kHz. Which is why 96 kHz should be the considered the minimum sampling frequency for decent recording and playback.

Not to say there aren't decent sounding recordings at 16/44, just that in too many cases it's like trying to polish something not quite as bad as a turd. Due to the two or three decade period where CDs were pretty much the only media available I have aa largish collection of CDs. Too many of them sound less than good to put it kindly. Some due to the labels indifference. incompetence and inability to produce a quality product, some due to early analog to digital converters not being good enough, whatever.

So bottom line, the ancient LP done properly is the least expensive method of quality sound reproduction. Yes, 15 IPS tapes are better but I can't pop $300 to $500 for a tape plus whatever it takes for a good RTR. Aside from which titles I would listen to are not on the market in tape. Some might point out that there are ultra expensive turntables out there but I can't pop for one of those either. But there is good stuff to be had for $1000 and less.