Why are recordings from the late 60s and 70s so pleasant?

Vinyls have even harmonics which add to a smooth, natural sound. If the vinyls were digitized with a high quality ADC then those harmonics will be present in the digital version. Tube equipment also produces even harmonics so is often more pleasing than solid state. Some people, especially those who few up with solid state equipment and high levels of compression, find that those even harmonics make the sound soft.

Electric guitars produce odd harmonics which is why the sound usually has an edge to it. By comparison string instruments produce even harmonics.

And, as many have noted, the lack of dynamic compression will lead to a much more natural sound.
 
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Some believe the 60s-70s were the pinnacle of vacuum tubes, hand-built, lovingly assembled and individually-tuned studio gear.
Mercury Living Presence, Decca, et al each had a "sound" that was carefully honed to perfection by engineers that loved their craft. These recordings will always command top dollar.
 
They sound better on a psycho cultural level - real artists and songwriters along with dedicated production studios. They were an organic part of the emerging psychosocial structures of the time, and not just anther corporate money making machine. Their legacy will transcend the rubbish pap being promulgated these days.
 
FuckaZip said:
As they wrote in their review/table (...The Sound Quality is still very good.), I think it’s a very good production that sounds good on my system at both low and high volumes. Did I misunderstand your question? 🙄
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No I just expected a higher dynamic range. This review also says it sounds good but complains about "mindless compression"
An example of a band that sounds awful on most of their recordings is The Killers. I have a few but never play them because of the sound ☹️
 
dtc said:
Vinyls have even harmonics which add to a smooth, natural sound. If the vinyls were digitized with a high quality ADC then those harmonics will be present in the digital version. Tube equipment also produces even harmonics so is often more pleasing than solid state. Some people, especially those who few up with solid state equipment and high levels of compression, find that those even harmonics make the sound soft.

Electric guitars produce odd harmonics which is why the sound usually has an edge to it. By comparison string instruments produce even harmonics.

And, as many have noted, the lack of dynamic compression will lead to a much more natural sound.
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Agree with dtc

Analog recorded music, analog mastered, analog playback ( i.e. original old Vinyl, Real to Real tape recorders ) do technically measure awful, but the harmonic distortion is likely what yours ( and mine ! ) ears prefer.

So, if analog is outdated and less perfect than digital on paper, but my ears like the harmonic distortion from analog recorded music? Give me more of it !! 😀
 
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Sake said:
Agree with dtc

Analog recorded music, analog mastered, analog playback ( i.e. original old Vinyl, Real to Real tape recorders ) do technically measure awful, but the harmonic distortion is likely what yours ( and mine ! ) ears prefer.

So, if analog is outdated and less perfect than digital on paper, but my ears like the harmonic distortion from analog recorded music? Give me more of it !! 😀
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Yes. Opinion/knowledge: The harmonics and any other effects that sound pleasant need to be done in the studio, not somewhere in a playback chain.
 
For those years you have a better chance that they were recorded will all musicians playing together in the studio, some ambience mics in it, giving a more natural acoustic presentation like "air and space" to the sound, though effects have been in use from long before (as the reverb room from Van Gelder recordings). Also -in my opinion or imagination- think playing together could make the musicians achieve a more rounded or whole presentation.

Being said that, very well recored music using all resources available now is technically capable of being better than old days, but technically perfect recording is not the only variable envolved in the decisions, in fact recording for example with the whole dynamic range for the 0,5% (just guessing) listeners that enjoy hifi with good gear at home would probably ruin the experience of the rest that listen in the car or in the Metro with poor headphones...
 
I just tried playing Hot Fuss by the Killers and gave up halfway through. It actually makes Flaming Lips "At War With The Mystics" sound good with a similar Replaygain value of -10.7dB 🤣
 
HansD-NL said:
Yes. Opinion/knowledge: The harmonics and any other effects that sound pleasant need to be done in the studio, not somewhere in a playback chain.
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In today's world analog or tubes are rarely used in the studio. However, tube equipment can add those even harmonics, which, to many of us, it a very pleasing sound. There is still a market for tube equipment for home use.
 
dtc said:
In today's world analog or tubes are rarely used in the studio. However, tube equipment can add those even harmonics, which, to many of us, it a very pleasing sound. There is still a market for tube equipment for home use.
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I shall be content if they use the tubes in the studios and replace them there on a regular basis.
At home I prefer the analytic and service-free type equipment.
As much as I love a smooth sound, it has to be in the recording.
 
BTW, I‘m just listening to one of those. Only via Bluetouth in my study and it‘s still so nice😊.

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