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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 sns

sns
3,953 posts
 

I have a very nice vinyl setup, Technics SP10 MkII, complete rebuild, 100lb custom plinth on Steelpoints, sits on  100lb component stand, Jelco TK-850L (knife edge bearing, 12"L), Korf ceramic headshell, Audio Technica ART9XA cartridge, Zavfino Gold Rush tonearm cable, Thoress phono stage. Grew up with vinyl, have over 3k albums, historically vinyl was my gold standard for sound quality. Started streaming aprox. 10 years ago, went through a number of streamers, interface and network equipment over those years to the point where I've optimized streaming such that sound quality is competitive with ripped cd's (over 3.5k) and my vinyl setup. Not saying vinyl and digital have exact same sound qualities but my digital doesn't have the digital artifacts that set it apart from my vinyl. Not difficult to get the resolution/transparency with digital, hard part is getting presentation correct, clocking  is critical throughout the entire chain, timing errors are the cause of much of those digital artifacts.

 

Bottom line is both my digital and vinyl fully immersive, each completely satisfies both the music lover and audiophile in myself. Digital and streaming has improved a great deal in recent years, no need to put up with digital artifacts, optimizing every single link in digital and/or streaming chain required to get there.

 

In regard to keeping both vinyl and digital setups. If I didn't have a large number of albums I'd give up the vinyl. Having to provision funds for both vinyl and digital setups means I've had to forego some upgrades in the past. With only a single format one can use all their audiophile funds on the one format. At this point in digital and streaming development it can provide everything a music lover and audiophile seeks.

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