2. analog
  3. 1279551421

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 6 responses by phaelon

phaelon
1,053 posts
 
"I think one of the things that was missed here is why so many (non-audiophiles, mostly) people believe CD's sound better than vinyl"

Perhaps because so many turntable systems are less than optimally set up; and frequently much less than, IMO.
phaelon
1,053 posts
 
The best front end I've heard is a $35,000 turntable (with arm and cartridge) that was installed and tweaked over several visits by the TT distributor. So, I guess analog wins, for now. That said, until I heard this particular TT, while I could hear what people liked about analog, I considered the whole thing personal choice, similar to the SS/Tube debate, with digital coming out on top most of the time, IMO.
phaelon
1,053 posts
 
"Digital better than all but a $35k vinyl rig?"

I didn't say that Tex. Draw!
phaelon
1,053 posts
 
LOL... OK, I'm dead(for now); but learn how to read anyway.
phaelon
1,053 posts
 
The tremendous influence of the seemingly microsignificant on turntable performance continues to astound and repel me. Jferreir, no factor of analog is trivial IMO.
phaelon
1,053 posts
 
I have to split em up?!
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