this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2026
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It mattered more back in the analog days, I think. Now that it's all digital, and going through dac's, its all just about being good enough for 1's and 0's to get through. "Noise" doesn't exist for digital audio. It either works, or it doesn't.
It definitely mattered a hell of lot more in analog days. Getting a properly calibrated reel tape machine through a properly calibrated tube amp in a properly dimensioned room with good speakers is a feat, and absolutely sounds amazing.
Nowadays, it's about how they mastered it. I can tell you for a fact Ozzy's no more tears CD sounds like shit and the double record mix is FARRRR better, because it doesn't have the life squished out of it from brickwalling. Is that digital vs analog? No. Its mastering.
Analog will sound better if you spend a SHIT ton and have an insanely good source. Digital will also sound amazing if you spend a lot. I myself very much enjoy listening to my original reels of 50s-70s music because you really can get so close to being in the studio and hearing everything, because they couldn't edit it to death.
Bridge over troubled water on a reel is a real experience.
This is 10000% true!! I worked as a mixing and mastering engineer for a while, and lemme tell you... the loudness wars never ended. This is why I still collect vinyl, the medium is kinda shit, but the masters are so much better that it's hugely worth it for a about 2/3 albums I own (1/3 are duds; I can live with that).