2. analog
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When does analog compete with digital?

With vinyl becoming all the rage, many believe (perhaps mistakenly) that a budget of $1K will allow them to bring their analog front end up to par with their digital. I would like a reasoned assessment of this issue.

How much time, money, and expertise do you think is necessary before one can seriously claim that their analog front end can compete with their digital? What characteristics, if any, are simply incommensurable between these two mediums? Let's use my system as an example.

Personally, I tried to build an analog front-end that focused on texture/warmth (as opposed to dynamics), but I still feel as though something is missing. Trouble is, I can't quite put my finger on it. I'd be grateful for comments/suggestions (system in sig)
jferreir

Showing 1 response by inna

inna
7,923 posts
 
Well, when some time ago I compared two systems, one consisting of a junk Pioneer turntable with no-name cartridge plugged in Yamaha receiver and another consisting of a very good CEC belt drive player and Audiolab integrated, the conclusion was obvious right away - analog was much better in the most important aspect - realism.
So, now I only buy CDs if I cannot get it on vinyl provided that the recording and mastering was analog. I have a few LPs where the recording was analog but mastering digital. They still sound a little better than CD but are actually quite close to CD.
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