Jérôme Sabbagh’s album “Vintage” is a celebration of jazz music, recorded entirely in analog to capture the essence and warmth of this musical tradition. Released by Sunnyside Records in 2023, the album features a quartet of exceptional musicians including Jérôme Sabbagh on tenor saxophone, Kenny Barron on piano, Joe Martin on double bass and Johnathan Blake on drums. The choice of analog recording reflects Sabbagh’s desire to create a listening experience that is as authentic and faithful as possible to live performances.
More détail from the vinyl “Recorded by Ryan Streber at Oktaven audio, mount Vernon, to multitrack analog tape on a STUDER A80O mkii at 30 ips, november 5, 2020 mixed by Pete Rende at Brooklyn recording, on a custom 1/2 inch tube Ampex 351 at 30 ips, november 13-14, 2022 assistant mixing engineers: Andy Taub, Samuel Wahl mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman mastering, Hollywood master lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman directly from the analog tape, using an all-tube system.“

I’d like to thank François Saint-Gérant of Ana Mighty Sound for the opportunity to test his master copy tape on his Studer A80 magnetophone.

For this review, you will find 3 versions tested: Digital File (rom code included with the vinyle, numeroted vinyl record AAA and Tape (master copie).

Below you will find the description of the different editions, as well as the measurements of each edition in the following chapters.

The album is composed of 7 tracks:

1. Vintage
2. On A Misty Night
3. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
4. Elson’s Energy
5. Slay The Giant
6. We See
7. Ask Me Now

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Digital File – 2023

Presentation

The vinyl includes the instruction for downloading the digital files presented in 24 bits 192 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR12

The waveform of the digital files shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR12.

The spectrogram shows that the maximum frequency rises above 20 kHz (yellow arrow). With music beyond (white arrow) and also the normal presence of noise in the high frequencies characterizing a source of analog magnetic-band origin.

Synthesis and listening

The principle of digital digitization makes it possible to render as close as possible to the master tape, without the constraints of analog playback in terms of adjustments and calibration. As this version is available with the purchase of the vinyl, it’s an easy way to compare the two media in the best possible conditions.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Restitution: ●●●●● (5)

Sample : ”Vintage” 24 bits 192 kHz:

Presentation

This the limited numbered edition of the vinyl record realised in full analog AAA.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR13

The waveform of the vinyl record shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR13.

While we expected to find a spectrogram similar to the bands, here we find the problem of Bernie Grundman’s lacquer cut, with a maximum frequency of 17 kHz (yellow arrow) and a more pronounced line indicating strong level variation (+15 dB and -25 dB), as detailed in the spectrum analysis at the end of the review. Above, there are also level variations (white arrow) and signal and distortion variations due to the vinyl record playback principle.

Synthesis and listening

We greatly appreciate the initiative of offering a purely analog vinyl record, which is the culmination of purely analog recording and mixing with beautiful mastering by Bernie Grundman. Vinyl records have a very low surface noise.
It’s the only affordable, high-quality medium for the transmission of an analog source.
Unfortunately, perfection is not always achieved, and on this vinyl record we find very large level variations above 15 kHz, due to Bernie Grundman’s lacquer cutting, which, for those who hear at this frequency, brings less naturalness than the analog tape or the digital version. Without this problem, this vinyl record would deserve 5 stars.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Surface noise: ●●●●● (5)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Vintage” 24 bits 192 kHz:

Presentation

This is the copie (15 ips, 38 cm/s, 1/4 inch, CCIR) of the master analogue tape on a custom 1/2 inch tube Ampex 351 at 30 ips. The tape was played back on a Studer A80.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR12

The waveform of the tape shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR12.

The spectrogram shows that the maximum frequency rises above 20 kHz (yellow arrow). With music beyond the high-frequency noise (white arrow) characterizing a source of analog magnetic-band origin. Noise is a little more present than on the digitization of the master tape running at 76 cm/s (30 ips) vs. 38 cm/s (15 ips) for this tape.

Synthesis and listening

We’re in the world of pure analog here, and tape is the most faithful analog reproduction medium available. It offers a rendering very close to the master produced by Bernie Grundman, with a very fine, dynamic quality.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Surface noise: ●●●●● (5)
• Restitution: ●●●●● (5)

Sample : ”Vintage” 24 bits 192 kHz:

Superb work on this Jerome Sabbagh record, with the implementation of a pure analog chain, from recording to final master on 1/2-inch tape at 76 cm/s (30 ips). The master tape copy provides the closest analog rendering to the master. The vinyl disc remains the simplest and most affordable solution for pure analog support, with the added bonus of a high-resolution digital version (24-bit 192 kHz).

Jerome has announced a new album, “Heart”, also produced in pure analog, which you can pre-order here on his website. We’ll talk more about it when it’s released.

Dynamic Range measurements and spectra are shown below.

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Measurements

Dynamic Range comparaisons

Dynamic represents the ability to reproduce a wide range of sounds from the softest to the loudest. The target is to compare the dynamics of the music and not of the media (CD, digital files or vinyl).

For our 3 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Digital File – 2023	Vinyl – 2023	Tape – 2023
Global	DR12	DR13	DR12
Min	DR12	DR12	DR12
Max	DR14	DR14	DR14
Vintage	DR12	DR12	DR12
On A Misty Night	DR13	DR14	DR13
A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing	DR12	DR13	DR13
Elson’s Energy	DR12	DR12	DR12
Slay The Giant	DR14	DR14	DR14
We See	DR12	DR12	DR12
Ask Me Now	DR12	DR13	DR12

Good dynamics for all the versions tested, with au good Dynamic range DR12.

As a reminder, the scale goes from 0 to more 20, but the dynamics are considered good from 12, quite good between 10 and 11, and deteriorate below 10.

Spectrum comparisons

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Vinyl – 2023 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Digital File – 2023 (blue curve).Very close superposition of the curves between the digital version and the vinyl (very small difference at the bottom of the spectrum, yellow zone) up to 15 kHz.

Unfortunately, beyond 15 kHz (red zone), there’s an accentuation of almost 15 dB (16 kHz) followed by a drop of 25 dB (17 kHz), this accident in the bandwidth will have an impact on the higher frequency range. This has unfortunately been a feature of Bernie Grundman’s vinyl cuts for several years now. It’s a pity that, with such care taken to produce this album in pure analog, it should be disrupted by a vinyl cut that isn’t up to scratch. What goes on at Bernie Grundman for lacquer cuts!

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tape – 2023 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Digital File – 2023 (blue curve).The 2 curves are perfectly superimposed up to 15 kHz, with a slight attenuation of the band beyond this frequency (yellow zone). There’s a small parasitic peak below 30 kHz.

Detail of the ratings :

• Dynamic :
  1. Significant dynamic compression, DR less than 7
  2. Compression of the present dynamics, DR between 7 and 9.
  3. Correct piece DR >=10
  4. No dynamic compression (DR >12), dynamic rendering
  5. No dynamic compression, high DR and very dynamic sound rendering
• Spectrum :
  1. Spectrum cut and less than 15 khz
  2. Spectrum cut at 15 khz
  3. Spectrum not conforming to the original and cut (not HD) or original but limited bandwidth (but less than 20 kHz)
  4. Spectrum conforming to the original (but not HD)
  5. Spectrum conforming to the original with HD resolution (higher than 24kHz)
• Surface noise (only for vinyl):
  1. Continuous audible noise
  2. Audible surface noise except on passages with a high level of noise
  3. Reduced surface noise, barely audible on low level crossings
  4. Low surface noise, very good quality
  5. Very low surface noise, no defects, almost inaudible on the quiet passages (exceptional disc)
• Spatialization :
  • Between 0 and 5 for 5.1 or 7.1 channels configuration
  • Between 0 and 10 for Atmos configuration (7.1.4)
  • For more information on spatialization, you can read the article describing this parameter here.
• Restitution :
  1. Low quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  2. Average quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  3. Quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Good record.
  4. High quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Very high level disc.
  5. Maximum quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Exceptional disc.

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