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
2,961 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.

kennyc
1,910 posts
 

Vinyl is a money pit.

This hobby is a money pit. The word “done” can be elusive for many of us 

rbyington711's avatar
rbyington711
70 posts
 

Until you can hear a difference that makes you say that's better price does not always signify a better sound. I purchased a PS audio phono stage for about 3K

Then replaced it with a Pass Labs 27  for me it was not that much more revealing considering the huge difference in price.

More to discover