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My Analog Journey - Opinions Sought

When I first started out in this hobby 10 years ago, my first source was a Bluesound Node 2. Eventually I upgraded to a Lumin T2 which was a nice step up in sound quality and I’ve been happy with it ever since.

Around 2021 or so I decided I want to explore the analog side of things. With the guidance of this forum, I settled on a Technics SL1210GR, AudioTechnica VM760SLC cart, and a Herron VTPH1 phono stage.

Somewhere along the line I decided that I preferred the convenience of streaming and there my turntable sat. Collecting dust as they say.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. I decided that maybe it was time to start letting some of this gear go that I’m not using. The Herron was first up on the chopping block, but something told me I better turn this thing on and make sure it still works.

So, I hooked everything up. Dropped on Everybody Digs Bill Evans, a recording with which I’m well familiar. Well, I almost cried at how good it sounded. <Insert all the flowery audiophile language here>. The background was blacker. The tone richer, more air and separation around the instruments within the soundstage, and the imaging is more precise.

The difference between my digital and analog rig could not be more apparent. I heard someone say on this forum that you need to spend much more on digital to obtain the same results as analog; or maybe it was the other way around?

I am absolutely hooked on vinyl right now and don’t see myself turning back. Although I do see myself looking into MC carts in the not so distance future.

Thanks to everyone on this forum that shares their knowledge so freely. Comments welcome on future upgrades or anything else.....

Cheers,
Joe

audionoobie

Showing 1 response by mswale

mswale
247 posts
 

Why does it always come down to "what is better"?  Neither are better or worse just different.  

I go back and forth between vinyl and streaming.  No cd player, but have 2000 cd's in boxes in the garage, my collection is digitized on an HDD. Also have around 2k records. When I want to really listen to something, usually it's a record. When I want background music, or not sure what I'm in the mood for, it's streaming. 

Sound quality always comes down to the source recording. Some of my records sound better over streaming, some streaming sounds better over vinyl.  For me, vinyl listening is usually more emotional, more focused. 

Downside of records will always be the time investment, also that everything is a wear item. Everything needs to be clean/cleaned, storage of LP's, the entire analog, manual process.  Listening to vinyl is deliberate, streaming is always more convenient. 

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