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
facten
2,947 posts
 

@r27y8u92 "I have ca. 1,000 LPs. I got from mostly "Everyday Music". 50c each. So, ~$500."

Interesting, their Discogs website indicates that they have 3280 vinyl records, only 55 under $5, and none below $3.99

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

These statements seem to contradict one another, as well as, the very first statement   as you stated that you only paid an average of $.50.

 

r27y8u92
54 posts
 

The 1,000 LPs:

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

facten
2,947 posts
 

@r27y8u92  "The 1,000 LPs:

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

Didn't say they were, try reading before commenting

You stated you had 1000 LPs @$.50 each for $500.  You stated that you need to spend some reasonable money to get decent sound . $.50 cent per record is spending virtually nothing per record hence the contradiction in what you posted

BTW here's another contradiction - you stated "The 1,000 LPs give me really emotional music pleasure. I can say this is wise." And yet in another thread last year you stated " "I do have many, many LPs. I seldom play them. Why? Most important LPs were already converted to digitals (stored into my computer, so no need to worry about playing frequency)." 

 

 

 
firberger's avatar
firberger
118 posts
 

+1 @ozzy62 

&

as a cyclist I can not tell you how many times I have told someone to pay for a proper fitting before you start paying $$$  for gear that saves you minimal weight .  One friend told me that the local bike shop was telling him to lose the 15 pounds in his belly before he drops an extra $3K on the lightest bike frame. The honesty won him over!

Same can be said for this hobby.

owu497's avatar
owu497
11 posts
 

I've owned/currently own everything from a Rega RP1 to an Avid Acutus Reference turntable, an AT3600 to an Ortofon Diamond cartridge, a Jancane to a McIntosh MP1100 phono preamp, and the standard house garbage that comes with every budget turntable to a Kuzma 4Point 11 tonearm.
I definitely agree vinyl sounds better than ANY digital format (and I've tried 'em all), but you gotta spend at least $2000 (around $700 each for tt/cart/pre).
Looks like you should look at spending double what you have now. I'd REALLY think twice. Vinyl is a money pit.

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