Why didn't I sell my vinyl rig?


I've recently moved heavily into streaming and digital playback.  That system's core is the Denafrips Terminator Plus DAC with an Innuos Zenith Mk 3 / Phoenix USB.  Just added a LHY Audio SW-8 ethernet switch. Great cables all the way around. By most standards this is a reasonable mix of gear.  I run the Innuos Sense App as it sounds better than Roon. Love the convenience of digital and infinite supply of tunes from Qobuz.  My problem is this.  My vinyl rig generally sounds better.  Sometimes by a wide margin. Do others with both rigs have the same problem?

128x128skinzy

I find my vinyl rig sounds better but not by a large margin. I also have more money in my vinyl rig. I wonder if I spent equally on the digital side if it would even out . I use digital merely for the convenience and accessibility. I enjoy vinyl much more. 

You're right about cost difference.  I recently upgraded my entire vinyl setup along with the digital.  Spent 3 times as much on vinyl.  Found the greatest improvement with the DAC. It might be that a DCS based digital system, for example, could take it to a more competitive position. On the other hand many great recordings on vinyl just "feel" better with more energy and emotion.  On the other hand my ears were "weaned" on vinyl over 60 years ago.  Perhaps that's the difference?

Go 10g with your transceivers for your FMC and you will be there. 

I use digital streaming about 95% of the time out of convenience. IMHO the best vinyl rigs still sound better than the best digital ones. However, digital has improved significantly in comparison to the early days of compact discs. In the past, I sold a few turntables only to eventually buy another one. I’ve had my Systemdek IIX (paid about $350 including a Grado Reference Platinum MM phono cartridge worth $350 on its own) for the past 15 years and enjoy having it around for the occasional times that I want to listen to vinyl. If you own a decent size record collection it probably makes sense to at least have a good quality affordable table, such as a Rega P2.

I'll say it....

My digital setup sounds better than my analog setup!

As far as SQ they are equal but  on the digital I never get the occasional needle sound, or pop due to static or whatever other temperamental nonsense I have to deal with...  Then just as I am about to zone that side is over have to get out of the chair and flip it.  Also had to listen to all the songs on that side even the ones that suck.  Or I guess I could have gotten up and did a lift and drop and hope for the best.   

On digital I go on journeys.  One song leads me to the next and that one reminded me of something else in my life as the playlist builds and eventually I have 20 songs deep and I am zoning away.  No clicks, hisses, pops or gymnastics.

I will think...they won't have this album but they do and I can enjoy it instantly.  Looking around for it, cleaning it, finding and playin one song on it is an enormous hassle that has been eliminated by technology.  

Great thing about it....if you love it keep doing it. It is your system...you command.  I still have a turntable sort of mid grade as a backup to a possible internet outage but it is rarely used.  I actually listened to an album the other day....forced myself to do it and really honestly tried to find and advantage worth all the hassle.  For me the answer is no....