2. digital
  3. 180931-6055

Digital is far better than vinyl

I have invested a decent sum of money into my digital setup, including a decent streamer (Innuos Zenith MK3), a very good dac (Denafrips Terminator 2), Eno filter, and good cabling. But after being told by many here that vinyl is vastly superior to digital, I thought let’s build an analog system and see what all the fuss is about. So this is what I did ...

I picked up an Audio Technica TT from Amazon for around $299. I then used one of the older integrated amps with a built-in phono, which I believe I paid around $500 a few years ago. And, finally, just to even out the playing field I bought the cheapest possible cables from alibaba. Since I didn’t have extra rack space to put the TT on, I got a couple of bricks and built a DIY platform for it.

So after listening to the analog setup for a few days, I can proclaim without a shadow of doubt that digital is far, far superior than vinyl on any given day, and twice a day on Sunday.

What has been your experience? And please, don’t mention your gear or any special. cartridges, isolation, etc. Not interested in your system details. I just want to make sure you guys understand that digital is far, far superior than vinyl.

128x128arafiq

Showing 6 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,473 posts
 

This is great. There seems to be two groups here. One that only read the title and the group who read the whole post.

For those who only read the subject. This was a joke.

 

I admit it is pretty funny to see a post get serious as opposed to going off the rails.

ghdprentice
6,473 posts
 

OP,

 

+1

ghdprentice
6,473 posts
 

@gte357s

This is an unusual experience. Typically in this price range vinyl outshines digital. What is your Phonostage? I would look carefully at your analog end. See, if there is a cartridge alignment or others mounting problem. I would take it to a pro for setup.

On the other question. If this is all I had invested in vinyl I would not go on, especially with the poor sound. Typically in your price range vinyl just sounds so much better, it pulls you in. Digital will just get better and streaming best of all is nearly free with $14 / month with millions of tubes many higher def than CD. It is here and the future.

ghdprentice
6,473 posts
 

@gte357s

 

I guess all your experience points to digital. I mean if I didn’t have over 2,000 albums in outstanding quality that I collected over the last 55 years… I wouldn’t give vinyl a second look. In my system vinyl and digital are neck and neck… the better depends on the album. But I have $45K invested in both the analog and digital end. This is the investment range where they tend to be similar, in much lower and much higher price ranges vinyl tends to sound much better for a similar price range.

 

I would still consider having a professional come over and examine your system. It would be worth a couple hundred to see if there is some glaring problem. Typically one gets a pretty cheap Rega, a decent phono stage and it trounces one’s digital end.

ghdprentice
6,473 posts
 

If I did not have all my legacy analog stuff, I would not give it a second look. I would put every cent into digital… digital streaming.

 

I am currently listening to Count Basie album recorded in 1957 Chairman of the Board) on streaming. If I did not know better I would guess it was vinyl. If I had twice the budget in digital… it would be even better, no question that is where to put your money today.

ghdprentice
6,473 posts
 

👍😊

More to discover