A couple of thoughts. Whenever I mention that vinyl doesn’t sound all that good I’m told, and rightfully so I’m sure, that its because my TT, cart and phono-pre are junk. And they are. But the thing is, so are the various CD players I’ve had plugged into my system and there is no doubt that through a reasonably high end system the CDs sound way better than vinyl.
So in order to hear the superiority of vinyl I have to spend a LOT of money. Do a lot of futzing and fiddling and secure the TT in some sort of meaningful way. To hear 90% (made that up) of what a CD has to offer costs next to nothing. Certainly a transport with a good DAC (which can have other duties) could exploit that remaining percentage and still cost a lot less that a high end TT, cart, tone arm, and phono pre.
I would never debate that vinyl may indeed sound superior to CDs to many many discriminating ears, I’m just not sure it would ever be worth it to me to try and find out.
I even understand the collecting and enjoying the active involvement in playing vinyl.
Agree that there are CDs and then there are CDs. I spend a fair amount of time researching which $6 CD to get. It pays off. Just like it does with vinyl but at $6 I’m way below what you pay for even average vinyl and around 1/3 the cost of HD Tracks stuff.
CDs might be dying, but I’m enjoying a bonanza while they’re doing it.
So in order to hear the superiority of vinyl I have to spend a LOT of money. Do a lot of futzing and fiddling and secure the TT in some sort of meaningful way. To hear 90% (made that up) of what a CD has to offer costs next to nothing. Certainly a transport with a good DAC (which can have other duties) could exploit that remaining percentage and still cost a lot less that a high end TT, cart, tone arm, and phono pre.
I would never debate that vinyl may indeed sound superior to CDs to many many discriminating ears, I’m just not sure it would ever be worth it to me to try and find out.
I even understand the collecting and enjoying the active involvement in playing vinyl.
Agree that there are CDs and then there are CDs. I spend a fair amount of time researching which $6 CD to get. It pays off. Just like it does with vinyl but at $6 I’m way below what you pay for even average vinyl and around 1/3 the cost of HD Tracks stuff.
CDs might be dying, but I’m enjoying a bonanza while they’re doing it.