2. analog
  3. 182368-527

For the first time...

...my digital rig is besting my analog rig in terms of sonic presence and projection. This has never happened before as I've always been more focused on my analog side, letting the Oppo 105 do its thing. However, with some recent additions and changes, my digital side sounds much better and I'm uncomfortable with that. 

Analog:

  • NAD 558 turntable
  • Hana SL MC and Clearaudio Maestro V2 MM
  • Hagerman Trumpet MC phono stage

Digital

  • Oppo 105D BDP
  • Schiit Gungnir DAC

Amplifier

  • Schiit Ragnarok 2

Speakers

  • Reference 3A de Capo-i

I think the Gungnir was the game changer as it added a sonic presence and clarity missing before. I find my analog reproduction seems to strain more to achieve much the same signature and I don't want to jump back on the upgrade train in order to achieve parity. Blah.

128x128simao

Showing 1 response by audphile1

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,345 posts
 

@simao endless pursuit. Analog and digital will most of the time sound totally different.
Few ways to deal with it -

  1. continue upgrading both digital and analog (you will end up doing just that because every upgrade presents a possibility of pushing digital performance beyond analog and analog performance beyond digital)
  2. Acknowledge that your analog front end will sound different and at times not as good as digital and leave it at that if you are so attached to your vinyl rig
  3. Abandon analog altogether, at least for time being, and focus on digital only, since having both will land you neither here nor there, unless you have unlimited budget and time.

My preference would be option 3. I’m pretty much in the same spot right now.

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