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Help: DSOTM Sounds better on CD than LP

I was listening to Dark Side of the Moon the other day on CD thoroughly enjoying myself when I remembered that I had the LP of this album. I dug through my collection with great anticipation of the joy that I would soon know. I put on the LP and something horrible happened. Gasp…..The soundstage collapsed in on itself and the magic or the album was lost. As you all know CD should never sound better than analog so I am now faced with the dilemma of how to bring balance back to the universe.

I would like to upgrade both my cartridge and phono amp. I am willing to spend up to about $3k for the pair but am willing to move up or down a bit from there based on significant improvements in sound or a lack thereof. The cartridge will be new and the phono will be used. I have thoroughly searched the forum and have a few carts in mind but would like to get some informed opinions from you all on what combination would best suit me.

My current setup is as follows,
Speaker: Thiel 3.6
Amp: Parasound HCA-3500
Pre: Classe Cp-50
Digital: Esoteric X-03
Table: Spacedeck
Arm: Space Arm (The carbon fiber one)
Cartridge: Nottingham Tracer 1
Phono: Grado PH-1
System

Let me try to give a little description about what performance aspects I am looking for. I have had both tubes and solid state in my system before and I am open to either. I have found that I prefer my music to be coming from a dark abyss rather than from a live silence. My current setup has great tonality and is very listenable but lacks in absolute resolution, detail and staging. I would like more of each of these. It also works great for singe instruments and solos but when the whole band comes in it seems to get confused about where to place the instruments and how to distinguish between them.

Thanks in advance for helping guys.
cadence151

Showing 5 responses by axelwahl

axelwahl
788 posts
 
Hi Mapman,
yes, a wise man's advise. I feel you DO have strong a point :-)
Axel
PS: what will it be in the end "frightening" or "relaxing"?
To do both, WILL come at a $$$$price!
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Hi Cadence151
I don't want to spoil it for you, but you seem to be LOOKING for some good, logical upgrade reason, so GO FOR IT! :-)

But maybe, you would not want to use that album if you are done...
We still have not heard yet what some of your other LP vs CD yield -- if the wife is watching you got my vote.

Hey, your system truly SUX, it is in dire, most immediate need of an upgrade! :-)

Now go and enjoy the trip, but don't loose sight of the budget.
A.
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Cadence151,
take some solace. I have the same issue with my DSOTM when compared to their last reissue (with SACD layer).

The vinyl gets me simply back to 1972, when I listened to it first (warts and all). I think the pressing (mine) is about that old --- "So, what do you expect"?
Listen to what J.J. Cale has to say for an answer :-)
A.
PS: If your other vinyl sound fine, there is your answer...
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Mapman
now I have to say: "you are a smart man also..."

I go along with EVERYTHING you just put. But now we are talking multi $$$$bucks. Obviously all a question of budget.
No way to try and get it all sorted by switching only one component --- too bad.

The trick is to identify your weakest link and start from there --- and I don't feel like making that call. (Hardly for myself :-)
A.
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Hey Arnold_layne,
Sounds like you just made MY day :-)
>>> If you are using standard US pressings of Pink Floyd albums, they will sound dull and lifeless<<<

I though it was just the case with SA pressings!
I'm still surprised how many (all?) listeners got so carried away with this in 1973... => (hey Bill, we got that right now, yes!)

Cheers,
Axel
PS: But now we have to wait and see if D. comes to tell us it's only a case of non-compliant VTA -...
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