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Digital is far better than vinyl

I have invested a decent sum of money into my digital setup, including a decent streamer (Innuos Zenith MK3), a very good dac (Denafrips Terminator 2), Eno filter, and good cabling. But after being told by many here that vinyl is vastly superior to digital, I thought let’s build an analog system and see what all the fuss is about. So this is what I did ...

I picked up an Audio Technica TT from Amazon for around $299. I then used one of the older integrated amps with a built-in phono, which I believe I paid around $500 a few years ago. And, finally, just to even out the playing field I bought the cheapest possible cables from alibaba. Since I didn’t have extra rack space to put the TT on, I got a couple of bricks and built a DIY platform for it.

So after listening to the analog setup for a few days, I can proclaim without a shadow of doubt that digital is far, far superior than vinyl on any given day, and twice a day on Sunday.

What has been your experience? And please, don’t mention your gear or any special. cartridges, isolation, etc. Not interested in your system details. I just want to make sure you guys understand that digital is far, far superior than vinyl.

128x128arafiq
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cleeds
5,957 posts
 
arafiq

I wish we could stop seeing it as an either/or proposition and realize that both formats can perform at the same level in 2022.

Exactly and, in fact, it is not an either/or proposition. And it's the same with most of audio's other false-choice debates, such as tubes vs. ss or copper vs silver cabling.

emrofsemanon

... digital is as far superior to analog, as analog tape was to edison cylinders.

That's absurd - it's trivially easy to distinguish between tape and an Edison cylinder.  Edison's machine was entirely acoustic - it needed a horn for amplification.

sns
3,256 posts
 

Humans have the ability, or is it need to believe just about anything, many spend entire lifetimes defending those beliefs. Invention of social media seems to have greatly increased numbers of people living by zero sum game rules, apparently excites the amygdala.

recherche
9 posts
 

It's a funny thang that one of the audiophile industries oldest members was doing a demo recently, in the retail store he is managing here in Santa Rosa CA, of a $8K Gold Ring Cart on a LINN Audio Turntable and Phono Stage with a direct to lacquer recording of a Big Band, and he was asked which he liked better Analog or Digital, and he said that all of his friends would call his answer blasphemous but if he had the money for the turntable/phono cart/pre-amp etc. (not LINN but better) he would take vinyl to the island.  I'm goin with him brah...       ~:^0

sonic79
80 posts
 

Amazing how the opening post continues to pass right over the head of some people. Even a post that clearly mockingly challenges the "superiority" of vinyl is enough to ruffle their feathers. Vinyl is serious business, I see.

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
4,441 posts
 

@jonwolfpell ,

Ya just didn't bother to read any of this, huh?

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