Vinyl vs. digital: what am I doing wrong?

Get rid of your Shelter and buy a Benz... That's what it took to get my vinyl rig competitive with my digital.

The Shelter was always too bright in my system no matter what I did -- and my Benz cartridges seem to have a more proportionate and natural midrange. The cartridge was the last think I changed out... and the thing that made all the difference.

Your front end should clearly show the advantage of vinyl.

I use the same preamp (different tt,cartridge,tonearm) and a sony scd777es and sony 222 for digital. Our speakers are close, as I use ML ReQuests. Our amps are cut from the same cloth, I use CJ monoblocks.

In almost every case the vinyl is clearly superior. (Some SACDs are superb) Air, separation of instruments, tonal color are more distinct in vinyl. It doesn't take 180 or 200g reissues to show a difference (Although many of them are superb). If you listen to rock, try any Beatles, csny, doors, or Jethro Tull cds to the vinyl. If YOU don't think there is a BIG difference, hell, sell your basis.

This is not only my take but most of the folks that listen to my system. I don't prod or induce a reaction but often get "thats a record" from many.

I am surprised by your findings, that Metronome must be one hell of a redbook player!

Have Fun!

The Shelter/Rega are far from an ideal combination.

That turntable deserves much better.

Just my two cents, I had two records of Norah Jones (Come Away with Me)one in 200gram Classic Records and 180gram Blue Note Record. Both records sounded inferior to the CD version. So if you're judging your vinyl setup against your cd setup using Norah Jones as the source, you're not fully hearing what your vinyl rig can really do. The Norah record versions on my system sounded somewhat flat, distant, too laid back and not as precise in soundstaging, very withdrawn. The CD version is much better in all areas. I have a hunch the recording/masteering of this vinyl was not up to par.

Also, I never felt that one format is superior than the other, it really depends on the recording. Both formats can sound awesome if only each format was mastered/recorded well to begin with. So choose your recordings, not the format.