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 1 response by nicktheknife

I get these Weekly Recaps in my email every Friday.  I don't contribute much to the forum but read it quite a bit for some of the good to great info that can be found here.

I don't think I made it through the entire OP before I realized it was satire.   

What amazed me is how many didn't.

I still enjoy my records and as a rule think it sounds better than my digital system.  

I realize my digital system isn't the greatest but neither is my analog system which consists of a Technics SL1200 GR, Ortofon Rondo MC and Mobile Fidelity Studio Phono Pre. 

The digital end is a Bluesound 2i into an RME ADI-2 DAC.  I'm curious to see how much more I have to spend to get the digital to sound as good as the analog system. Yes, I realize I could get a better streamer and better DAC with better cabling.  I'm also using CAT8 cable directly to the streamer.  Can't remember off hand what digital coax I'm using from streamer to dac but it wasn't the cheapest nor very expensive.   I enjoy it for what it does and have come across a lot of new music (to me) using my Tidal subscription.  I'm going to trial Quobuz to see which I prefer.  I'm using the RME which doesn't do MQA.  So, MQA is not a must.  

The sound is overall good.  Just not up to par with my analog system which as you can see is pretty much on par with the digital sys as far as $$$ goes.  Maybe a little more or less.