Just a personal point. I recently upgraded my CDP to the ARC Ref CD-8, which is very very good. I think my vinyl set up is pretty decent too: VPI classic, ARC PH-7 phono pre and Sound Smith VPI Zephyr carty.
Here are the challenges I face. First, source material, be it CD or vinyl, can be a a challenge unto itself. Some of my CDs really shine on my rig, but many simply do not. I attribute this more to the CD than my system. The same is also true for my LPs, although by and large, my old collection from the 70s and 80s are a pleasure. So I bounce back and forth.
The second point is practical. I rediscovered vinyl about a year and a half ago. I liked it a lot and played it a lot. Just recently, as a couple of my threads will explain, I sent my Zephyr back to Sound Smith for a check and a retip. The cost wasn't too bad - about $250. But removing and resetting my cartrige was inconvenient. Also, Peter Ledermann of Sound Smith said that I will probably need to retip every 1000 hours, which is easy to rack up over a year or so.
So the bottom line is that I really enjoy both source inputs, subject to the quality of the CD and vinyl. But in light of the somewhat limited "shelf life" of my carty's stylus and the simple convenience of sitting down and listening to about an hour of music on CD versus 15-20 mins for each side of an LP, I'm kinda biased in favor of my CDP for now. Who knows -- if I pick up a stack of new LPs from my local vintage record store, I may shift back.
Here are the challenges I face. First, source material, be it CD or vinyl, can be a a challenge unto itself. Some of my CDs really shine on my rig, but many simply do not. I attribute this more to the CD than my system. The same is also true for my LPs, although by and large, my old collection from the 70s and 80s are a pleasure. So I bounce back and forth.
The second point is practical. I rediscovered vinyl about a year and a half ago. I liked it a lot and played it a lot. Just recently, as a couple of my threads will explain, I sent my Zephyr back to Sound Smith for a check and a retip. The cost wasn't too bad - about $250. But removing and resetting my cartrige was inconvenient. Also, Peter Ledermann of Sound Smith said that I will probably need to retip every 1000 hours, which is easy to rack up over a year or so.
So the bottom line is that I really enjoy both source inputs, subject to the quality of the CD and vinyl. But in light of the somewhat limited "shelf life" of my carty's stylus and the simple convenience of sitting down and listening to about an hour of music on CD versus 15-20 mins for each side of an LP, I'm kinda biased in favor of my CDP for now. Who knows -- if I pick up a stack of new LPs from my local vintage record store, I may shift back.