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 3 responses by r27y8u92

r27y8u92
54 posts
 

Let me make (the vinyl and digital) clear.

If you like any music record which is not available as digital form, then you have no choice, and have to play LP records. And, you need to spend some reasonable money to get decent sound (music).

If your favorate music is available as both analog and digital, go to digital form. Tha's it. 

For example, I like 1990's K-pops, which were sold as analog and digital form. I do have both forms of exact music (same singer, same year, same recording, etc). The digital is FAR superior to the LP!. If you like Tammy Wynette,songs, and if there are two versions, one from Tammy Wynette and another recorded from just your wife. For the real nice music, do you play your wife's recording?

Digital is far, far better recording media to analog. The music source is most important.

r27y8u92
54 posts
 

I have ca. 1,000 LPs. I got from mostly "Everyday Music". 50c each. So, ~$500.

I cannot say possession of $150,000 is stupid, but also I refrain to say that was wise.

The 1,000 LPs give me really emotional music pleasure. I can say this is wise.

r27y8u92
54 posts
 

The 1,000 LPs:

1,000 = the number of LPs, not $1,000.

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