Vinyl***What If***

michaelgreenaudio

... having one input is better sounding than multi inputs ... systems are designed to favor one input over the others. Meaning if you tweak your system to work it’s best with your vinyl it will not sound as good with your tapes, cds or streaming.

I’d agree that this was once the case, back when LP was the dominant music format and every preamplifier included a phono section by definition. But these days it’s not necessary - or desirable - to tweak a system to offset a deficiency in the source. Instead, problems with a specific source should be resolved at the source, and its connection to the preamp.

My system includes many sources: CD, LP, tape (reel and cassette) FM and streaming. And their best, each source sounds remarkably similar to the others. I know that sounds like heresy to some, especially the analog crowd, but once you reach a certain level of performance, differences between the best of the various technologies become smaller and smaller.

In my system, the variation in the quality of recordings means that not every source always sounds its best. But the problems lay with the source recording. I’m not going to tweak my system to accommodate bad recordings.

Yeah, @michaelgreenaudio and @cleeds- I haven't found that to be the case either. My system, which is 'mature' in that I have been using roughly the same basic components in the primary audio system for about 12 years, was set up for vinyl only until quite recently, when I added digital and I didn't have to tweak the system to make it sound better- it was just fine on digital and I didn't go all spendy either, compared to the vinyl front end. I think digital is way more cost effective based on my limited experience with it as a serious medium (as opposed to using it as background, in cars, etc.). I didn't expect it to be as good as it is, but it is still very source material dependent in terms of sound quality; true of both media.  

Howdy freediver.

Here is a viable answer to your question.  A Bang & Olufsen (B&O) BG 8002 with an MMC1 or 2 Cartridge will put you right there.  One great iconic piece of gear for under $2,000.00.

No "fiddling", & "easy setup".  Plug it in, slide the Tracking weight adjustment to 1.0 gr, push play and kick back.  It will make you smile.

Very nice installment of “The Vinyl Press”, Bill.  Thank you.  Not meaning to go off topic too much, but re your impressions of the Monster AG1000: The Monster Sigma Genesis 2000 retains all that you like about the 1000 and more; plus the midrange fullness and refinement that you are missing.  Fantastic cartridge that seems to like linear trackers in particular.  They come up for sale occasionally.  My favorite cartridge on the ET2 when my system configuration could handle .2 mv output.  

cool, thanks @Frogman. I've got a few options and i'll add that one to the list!