2. misc-audio
  3. 167753-163062

Returning to audiophilism after 20 years: a little guidance would be nice :-)

Hello all,
I’m Pieter, a dutch intrinsic music lover that has been sucked up by family life for the last 20 years, leaving little time to do what I liked most while I was still unattached. I sold off most of my equipment back then (2002) and haven’t done any serious music listening since.
Now that my kids are around 15 y/o I dug up my nostalgic Thorens TD126mkIII TT just to show them the concept. I never could have dreamed it would suck me right back into the good old days when I was enjoying music on audiophile equipment and being able to hear the soundstage depth, lively pianos and guitars, well, I suppose I don’t need to tell you guys how fulfilling such could be.

What am I looking for here? Well, in twenty years time technology must have progressed (especially digital) so I am looking for some guidance where and how to start over. I’d like to find the approach that suits my situation best.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask "what is the best amplifier for under $5000" kind of questions. But I am interested in the current vinyl vs digital discussion (has digital/streaming earned its place compared to vinyl, does it hold its own) so I can start exploring in a good direction.

Is this the kind of question that fits this community? If so, is this a good subforum?

All I kept when selling my stuff back then are my Thorens TD126mkIII (still in good shape) and Triangle Meridien speakers (French brand). So I’m in the market for a more than decent amplifier, phono preamp and a digital source such as a streamer or CD player. Might go the Tidal route, along with playing records. I still have around a 100 CD's. I just got a MoFi StudioPhono to connect the TT to my low tier receiver amp.

Can’t wait to hear what you might say.

Kind regards to all,
Pieter
pieterkadijk
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
you are on the way, enjoy !
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
Cool story!

   I remember pulling out some of my LPs’ a while back, and some young cousins were over, they said “Wow, Mr Arcticdeth, how big were your CD players?” Gave me a out loud laugh!
   I said they were records, I showed them my cassette collection, my 8-track box, and the 2 rare reel to reel music. 
They were shocked at the reel to reel ones,…..how do you play those, as my Father dumped the nice TEAC, reel to reel back in the mid 80s’ when he had their wedding transferred to vhs, he pitched the reel player.
  By the time I realized what he had, I was “NOOOOOOO”
still have them on reel to reel.
Janice Joplin and the holding company, and a Jimi Hendrix reel to reel 🎵. 
  I still miis the 8track switchover, from 1, 2, 3, and 4
PITB, yes, lots memories w 8 tracks and cassettes, LPs’

records the most pain in the butt, swapping sides, as none of my players ever had auto-return. Manual only. If you pass out, wake up to a runout repeat. 
 Looked at the add on auto return thingy as mentioned to me, price, and so on, easier to just manual the records, don’t pass out as much these days, so the manual think is fine.
    I like it better when the album is done, and I personally put the LP in the rice paper sleeve, then into the jacket with the sealed Mylar Japanese outer bag. 
  
pieterkadijk OP
4 posts
 
Thanks folks! @ Mr Arcticdeth: you didn't show them your Philips Video Laser Player (1980's I think): those were big CD's LOL.
When I told my kid the price of the MoFi StudioPhono (€329 here in NL) she gazed at me and questioned why I would even consider buying that as I already have Apple Music which has already been paid for, that Apple Music has 10s of 1000s of tracks whereas my record collection consists of just 50 pieces, and spending over 300 is outrageous. 
I decided to hold off telling her about the cost of the streamer and amp I am planning to add...
upshift
73 posts
 

@pieterkadijk 

Hopefully it will turn into a learning experience for your daughter when she hears what music can really sound like!

 

tonydennison's avatar
tonydennison
408 posts
 

I was a diehard vinyl guy for many years. After my young daughter and several of her friends destroyed three Benz cartridges in the span of 7 months I decided I had to make a change. After several months of study I decided on a PSAudio Direct Stream. It was a scary idea, but I couldn't enjoy my vinyl without the numbers as to actual cost per side running through my head whenever I dropped the tone arm.

I sold everything I had but a set of quicksilver mono blocks. This included a full function tube preamp,  step up transformer, VPI Classic TT and whatever.

First I purchased the DS Jr. and at first it sounded awful, but after 750 hours or more running 24 hrs a day it changed dramatically, but not perfect.

I purchased an AR pre (can't remember which one) but there was an issue with a ground loop that apparently was caused by the Jr.'s output. I returned both the pre and the DS Jr. and PSAudio gave me a super deal on a DS Sr. To this I added a Quicksilver 12AT7 pre and again it sounded awful for a very long time, but once again it bloomed into a sound I found almost indistinguishable from vinyl regardless of what anyone says. 128DSD output sounds like vinyl. PSAudio's  firmware release "sunlight" sealed the deal along with me removing the Bridge from the DS Sr. which allows you to stream straight to the DS Sr. and this improved the sound to its final step. It sounds like vinyl without any of the hassles.

I bought a 2012 mac-mini and turned it into a NAS. Now I research records with Qobuz and purchase DSD files online and I am very pleased. Not saying you have to leave vinyl, but you could if you wanted to, provided you are very patient.

The DS MKII was released a bit ago and the DS Sr. is going for $3,000 straight from PSAudio.

 

Just my 5 cents.

 

TD

More to discover