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Digital vs. Analog a reasoned comparison

This is not meant to be a "which is better" thread. But I'd like your thoughtful comments on this. It is more an observation about price/performace ratio.

We have all read the various digital vs. analog threads. The analog side of the thread usually can be summed up, "ha ha! analog has been the best format this whole time and now with SACD you digital people are just starting to get close to what analog can do..." The digital side of the thread can usually be summed up as, "well, digital is a lot easier and there is lots of music out there..."

Having both a pretty good SACD player (Sony XA777ES), regular CD player (MAC MCD 205, and an average turntable (Denon DP-47F).

I would like to make this comment:

In the sub 1K reaIm think you have to spend a lot more time, money, and effort to make vinyl sound really good, than you do with digital.

All I mean by this is, assuming a reasonably good system, I think you can get some really good digital sound (redbook even) for $500. Put that same $500 into a vinyl rig and I don't think it will sound better than the digital. But in my experience, the only time I have heard really awesome vinyl is when the analog gear (table, arm, phono amp, various fluids and brushes, and a very clean not played too often and well cared for album) were of extremely high quality (many thousand dollars). And in that case, the music sounded as good as I have heard. I mean that. Great sound. But tricke down a bit, say to my Denon and the phono stage in my MAC 6900 integrated, and it does not sound as good as even 1K CD players I have owned.

For my taste, and level of effort I am willing to exert, digital is easier and the better players offer more good sound than an analog rig FOR AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF MONEY. Another way to convey my thoughts is that a 1K CD player will sound better than a 1K turntable. In my own experience this bears out. I am curious of the thoughts of others though.....
pardales
12 responses Add your response
audio999
178 posts
 
Tim,i was using the standard Goldring cartridge than came with the MMF-7.

Subaguru,my DP85 was better than all my previous CDP's : SCD777,EMC1,and AA Capitole MKI and MKII.

Try it and peace brother !!
mikesinger
572 posts
 
psyschanimal i would have to disagree with you.

i have a friend who is selling a vpi jr, audioquest arm( 9 model), cardas neutral phono cable and cartridge and creek phono stage for $900.

that combo sounded better than the marantz sa-1 and the tubed BAT cd player ( + 4k player- not sure of exact price).

the PRAT with analog cant be touched by digital units.

i am forced to belive that class c analog is still better than class a digital

my next purchase will be a turntable than sacd. there is simply more software ( cheaper i might add ) and still sounds better than sacd.

imo, the analog guyes have been right all along....
subaruguru
1,375 posts
 
Accuphase must be shuddering! Let's not get UNreasoned...!
flemke
596 posts
 
Audio999

I agree. What cart. did you get?

Tim
audio999
178 posts
 
I bought used MMF-7 with cartridge for $550 (New is $999)on Audiogon and it was better or even much better than my $16,500 Accuphase DP85 playing my favorite Jennifer Warnes FBR.

There is ghost on the groovvveeeesssss.......
flemke
596 posts
 
Before I purchased my VPI scout,I had a MMF-7 and found that I was listening to music. Not a copy of music. It's hard to explain. Kind of like looking at a digital picture compared to 35mm film. The scout sounds better than any digital front end I have ever heard. Digital is closing in some,but it's not there yet.

Tim
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
High end is who you are, not what you are. TTs need to be properly set up & matched and there are no belt drives in the sub $1K category that will give the pace, clarity and dynamics of a properly filtered $1K digital rig. Now, I have a KAB modded Technics 1200 with outboard power supply plus tonearm fluid damper and that's a whole different animal for around $1K.
Post removed 
pardales OP
652 posts
 
I appreciate the thoughtful comments thus far. Just to reiterate, this was only meant to compare price/performance ratio at the relatively inexpensive level. I know both analog and digital front ends can sound awesome. My post was only meant to put forth the proposition that it is a lot more expensive (and time consuming) to do analog right than digital, and that at the lower price point it is less expensive to achieve good sound from digital.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Rockvirgo, I agree with your post up to the last sentence. I think the format war has much more with those who see audio as a hobby, and those who want to spend their time listening to music. Playing CD's isn't much of a technical challenge. Buy a good CD player, tune your system once, and you're done. But the challenge of selecting matching analog components, learning how to tune these components and keeping them in tune, then finding quality LP's that you want to hear and to play is a daunting one that can consume a huge amount of time. Now thats a hobby! Either format can produce excellent results, and each format has some huge warts on is its nose you have to be able to look past if you are going to enjoy it. As much as I love good LP's I've given up trying to find new one's - there is just too much new stuff on CD's to explore.

Pardales, I think in the 2000 to 3000 range either format should be giving you a good return for your money.
rockvirgo
587 posts
 
For about 15 years I listened to LP only - no tuner, no tape, just LP's. Today I've got LP, cassette and CD working in my system. I use the CD daily. I play tapes maybe once a week. I spin LP's maybe once every three months. I have absolutely no urge to buy and baby another LP. Sometimes I dream about getting some more blank tape, but I'll probably re-record when the need arises. Finally I feel no compulsion whatsoever to upgrade my LP or cassette playback.

If we must compare, I'd say the best format for any individual listener is the one he/she uses the most. The real war is not over formats; it's between the open and closed minded people.
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