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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
thecarpathian
4,195 posts
 

@lalitk ,

Ah! I didn’t think of it in that direction. I believe you're right.

Reverse irony, as it were. Terrific Insight, kudos!

mahler123
3,144 posts
 

I missed the satire. I guess you have to have a longer memory than me for thread that was being parodied.

this happens within the digital topic all of the time. People buy a streamer for $10K compare it to a $300 CDP and declare that streaming is a far superior medium

rcaguy
6 posts
 

Well-recorded digital can sound better than "vinyl"...but typically it doesn't if it's highly processed for lowest common denominator (LCD) replay, as is most pop music for earbuds, cars, & boomboxes. But with high quality replay, over-processing artifacts are clearly audible. So vinyl in its heyday was mastered for highest quality in the groove. If these disks sound bad, it's usually a replay problem: improper alignment, tonearm-cantilever resonance, cartridge loading, preamp EQ, stylus tip shape, and more. With digital, there are "no user-serviceable adjustments inside." However with vinyl, consumers and installers are invited "inside," perhaps with a reference book such as "Better Sound from your Phonograph 2nd edition,” out now.

prosdds's avatar
prosdds
9 posts
 

I am 69 y.o and have had both high end turn tables and cartridges and high end CD players and high end DACs for streaming content to high end systems.  I would also agree that Digital is "better" than vinyl.  However what I miss about vinyl is the nostalgia of it.  The smell of the records and record jackets and the large format artwork on the album covers. The heavy turn tables often a work of art themselves. I miss the nostalgia and the "ritual" of handling and cleaning each disc after placing it on the turntable.  However that aside, digital is awesome that it is so bullet proof and effortless in finding and playing hundreds of thousands of songs without having to buy and store media.  Streaming services are awesome and although the bit rate is less than CDs, most people cannot hear the difference. Certainly not anyone above 30 (Unless their mother was Lassie.)

thecarpathian
4,195 posts
 

Now that we’ve got that straightened out, I'm looking for a good quality dac for my turntable, any suggestions?

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