Streamer vs. Cart upgrade (here we go again…)

My take….
I had Hana EL and upgraded to ML. Incredible cartridge and it sounds great.
But records are indeed expensive. If you want to have a virtually limitless music library at your disposal and buy a record or two occasionally, spend the money to get a streaming setup. How good and how much to spend on it depends on what your primary source is for serious listening - is it vinyl or streaming.

I ended up selling my entire analog setup to focus on getting my streaming front end as good as I possibly could. I don’t miss playing records. 

Your streaming situation is in dire need of help so by all means do that and you’ll hear a huge improvement in performance.  This is not a close call IMHO. 

I have invested equally in my vinyl leg and digital streaming... ($45K each). They sound the same ( I carefully selected cartridge / phonostage and streamer / DAC to zero in on natural / musical sound with details exactly in perspective), although streaming can sound better when playing high definition content. I never play my vinyl any more although I have a collection of 2,000 pristine and audiophile recordings. If I was starting over now, I would skip the vinyl and put all my money into streaming. You can see my systems... in particular my main system, under my userid in my virtual systems. 

@ghdprentice that’s why my analog setup is gone. I doubt I’ll ever play a record again. Need to sell my vinyl collection. It’s a PIA from every angle you look at it. Streaming, when set up properly with good components, beats CD and vinyl. 

As stated, invest in your streaming, no question. 

Do what makes you happy. I am happy having invested in both and utilize both mediums. This is your journey not theirs. 

I have invested equally in my vinyl leg and digital streaming... ($45K each). They sound the same ( I carefully selected cartridge / phonostage and streamer / DAC to zero in on natural / musical sound with details exactly in perspective), although streaming can sound better when playing high definition content. I never play my vinyl any more although I have a collection of 2,000 pristine and audiophile recordings. If I was starting over now, I would skip the vinyl and put all my money into streaming. 

+1 @ghdprentice Well that is a pretty good testimonial. I have read this many times on other forums as well.

And streaming is still getting better. 

I appreciate everyone’s input. Vinyl is my main source, but that’s partially because my current streaming is Bluetooth. I’m going to go ahead and invest in the Wiim Ultra and Denafrips Pontus.  I know it’s my journey, but getting perspective on jumping off points help. Thanks! 

Streaming can be great (I have 3 streamers including WiiM Ultra), but not everyone likes or is comfortable with streaming...I’m not saying LP is better, but to me doesn’t sound the same as CD or Streaming...I happily use all 3...I would get the cartridge; for the price of the Ultra and Pontus you could get the cartridge and a much better streamer than you currently have...

I definitely encourage you to upgrade to an advanced stylus shape, except for price, the Hana ML is a good choice,

however, I’ve heard my friends Hana ML here, compared to my AT33PTG/II, which has a tapered boron cantilever rather than Hana’s aluminum, and costs only about half as much as the Hana ML. We all (4 of us) liked equally or preferred the AT.  

https://alleliteaudio.com/products/audio-technica-at33ptg?variant=44195417096245&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22904714804&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22904716037&gbraid=0AAAAA-Wp_sPxlk14sK4QsUlOgUwU7IiB9&gclid=CjwKCAjwiNXFBhBKEiwAPSaPCUGqbAeuAawzbw6tzDoA-SMKZv5_MOm-G_QPazrpkRULVjROjv1MkRoCLg4QAvD_BwE

Buying used cartridges is not for everybody, but sometimes used is the only source, in this case I want both lighter 1.25g tracking, and stiffest Beryllium Cantilever with an advanced stylus shape.

I have been lucky, including one NOS from Australia, two used AT160ML from this seller around this price

https://reverb.com/item/91712802-audio-technica-at-160ml-mm-cartridge?utm_source=aw&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hifishark.com&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=536903&awc=67144_1756744134_ed88401eb72eb443792c9393adb5deb2

I just received a used AT160ML I won two weeks ago via Aleado bidding on Yahoo Japan for me, buy 107 usd, add this, that, delivered total 168. usd.

I’m taking it to Ray at VAS this week to have him check it, like the others he checked/cleaned for me.

https://vasnyinc.com/

Also going to give them my friend’s broken Benz Micro

btw, Reverb took my (buyer) side and got me full refund twice over the years, their buyer protection is good!

Yep time to invest in streaming.  Vinyl has gotten ridiculously expensive.  I only have about $3.5K invested in TT and stage and double that in streaming and it sounds as good or better than my vinyl set up.  

I might have a talk with my local dealer about this 

https://innuos.com/stream1/

before I pulled the trigger on the WIIM and accessories. 

My recommendation is to improve your streaming. Bluetooth is not helping your sound at all. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. 

WiiM is only OK. I would look jnto something better. What’s your total budget for this?

$2K

@rivington66 sorry to say 2k won’t buy you a good streaming experience, long ago I bought a WIIM for streaming and a Denafrips Dac they are both not in use…maybe the guys on here can chime in, how much and what gear should he start out with?.

sorry to say 2k won’t buy you a good streaming experience, long ago I bought a WIIM for streaming and a Denafrips Dac they are both not on use
 

• I strongly disagree with this.  These along with a Wiim Ultra are in your budget and would be a huge step up over what you have now.  

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650237805-denafrips-pontus-ii-dac-black-includes-shipping/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326749614696

I just looked on that used gear site, sure are a lot of that brand for sale, why?

I just put the WIIM pro I have back in forgot what it sounds like, just the streaming part, it’s just ok..

@charles007100  You’re missing the point here.  The OP is streaming through Bluetooth so a Pontus II with the Iris and Wiim is a big upgrade. 

@soix I guess you are right, lot of us went through that and ended up wasting time and money with the Chinese stuff…you do make a good point..

I should be more supportive, sorry about that…