2. analog
  3. 194290-5063

How much do I need to spend to make vinyl sound better than digital?

All,

I have a solid vinyl setup that I like to think of as entry-level “plus:” Project Debut Pro with Sumiko Moonstone cartridge.  I enjoy vinyl for the ritual but find that my digital gear - a $400 ifi streamer and the AKM DAC built into my Anthem preamp - beats the analog rig in most ways.  Far better imaging/soundstage and much tighter bass without the occasional distortion/sibilance/warbling of the vinyl rig.  I haven’t messed with cartridge setup other than to check the factory-performed alignment, which looks perfect.  The table is perfectly balanced, counterweight set correctly with an electronic scale, etc - so I have no reason to think there’s a setup problem.  
 

Is this par for the course for this level of vinyl gear?  What do I need to spend to get my vinyl gear to match the performance of decent digital?  I’m thinking of upgrading to a Clearaudio Concept, perhaps with a Hana SL cartridge, but I want to make sure doing that is going to deliver a fundamentally different experience than what I have right now with the Project/Sumiko combination.

 

No interest in flame wars or rehashing the vinyl/digital debate.  I know vinyl can sound wonderful and am simply trying to decide whether I can afford the price of entry for a system that can gets the basics right (no audible distortion/sibilance, decent imaging).  I thought the Project/Sumiko would have gotten me there, but for whatever reason it hasn’t fit the bill.Thanks for any insights. 

lousyreeds1

Showing 1 response by mswale

mswale
210 posts
 

I have the TT & Cart, had this same issue. Wanted my vinyl to sound better. 

Here is what I did.....

Upgraded my TT with upgraded cable, alm sub platter, acrylic platter, Sumiko Moonstone, lastly hi-power power supply. 

Everything helped a little, the cart was the biggest upgrade. Sadly the TT has a lot of noise, and no matter what will always be a low end TT.

Upgraded my TT to a Pro-Ject X2, with Amethyst cart & alm sub platter, along with a referb on my pre-amp. power supply & cable moved over to the X2. Everything is on another level, much lower noise, more detail, just sounds better everywhere. Sounds on par with my digital front end. 

IMHO, to really get the big before and after, you need to spend 2-3X as much as you have now. Would say you are in the $1500-2000 range.

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