2. analog
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How much $ to "match" digital in my system?

I know this is a difficult question, but let me explain how it arose. I'm currently using Apple's Airport Express and iTunes through my Musical Fidelity X-DAC v3, w/ the X-PSU power supply, as source. Sometimes I also listen to SACD, but nevermind that. For amplification, I have a Classe CAP-101, and my Paradigm 20's are soon to be replaced by revel m-22 monitors. I have no sub yet.

Visiting my parents for Thanksgiving, I happened upon a stash of old LP's. Wouldn't you know, there were all of these amazing recordings in beautiful condition: Ormandy, van Cliburn, Gould, Bernstein, and so on. Wow. My parents have a thirty-year-old crappy turntable, with a built-in amp. On that setup, the recordings didn't compare with cd quality, although there *was* something satisfying, despite all of the distortion. Anyway, they don't use or want the collection.

I started wondering what kind of investment it would take, in terms of turntable, tone arm, and cartridge, to enjoy their collection. Would I be better off selling their LP's and investing the money in digital software? Or could I, for a reasonable sum, get something out of that vinyl that cd's couldn't match? It's really all classical music, and especially orchestral. And I am not at all satisfied with my system's reproduction of strings. For whatever reason, it always sounds like strings are metallic. They just don't sound like live string performances. Piano and percussion are close enough for me, but strings, especially larger groups of strings, aren't. Hence, my question.

I know, I know... the sound will have different qualities. It will never reach parity with cd in some respects, regardless of what I spend, and it will better cd in some respects while spending very little. But I'm interested in hearing about your experiences. If you've added vinyl to an otherwise decent digital-based system, how much did you have to spend to feel vinyl was worth your time? And how did you spend it?

Thanks in advance.
qualia8
jdaniel18ee
88 posts
 
Yes, the Philadelphia is one of my favorites too, Angel or EMI got a few recordings of them with Ormandy and then Muti, from around '79 up to '85 and they are a little better than Columbia and/or RCA. You will find that digital albums are not bad at all either. The ultimate DAC! I was just speaking of "late-analog" Philips as an example. I just think you will find London, Philips, EMI, DG and even Angel, not to mention early-pressing Mercuries and Shaded Dog RCA's to be excellent. The dynamics on just about all of the above, combined with almost CD-quiet surfaces will be just what the doctor orders. I know it's a painful purchase, but a VPI record cleaner with the Vacuum really is indespensible, though close to $500.

I've been buying albums for a year now and it's kind of an education process: you learn what performances you like, what recording engineers you like, what pressings, etc. Have fun.
oregon
828 posts
 
I purchased a Music Hall 5se about a year ago ($650) and I now listen to vinyl 80% compared to CDs. Goodwill has become one of my favorite haunts! Many LPs, some requiring a spin on the Nitty Gritty ($4-$900, sometime less used.) The sound is much more pleasant to my ears, although I don't have many complaints about my Meridian CD and BAT 3i preamp (phono card). I am always surprised by how much I enjoy the texture of sound from an LP and changing the album after one side, looking at and reading the cover. I'd say keep the albums, buy a good turntable for less than $600, but only if you think you will buy more vinyl in the future. Of course, this could lead to another obsession.
gilbodavid
62 posts
 
If you dont have much free time and have money to blow there are a lot of good modern turntables out there. If not a Thorens TD150 or Td160 especially if with a TP16 arm, or slightly better a TD125 will do good work to get you started. To give you an idea, in England the TD125 was compared by Hi Fi World Magazine to an Origion Live Aura Gold at $2,500 new WITHOUT ARM, and was found to be sonically on a par, and almost certainly better built. I can assure you that the TD160 isnt far behind. The Lenco is up there with the Garrard 301 and 401 and the Thorens TD124, being equivalent to/better than the $4,000 plus league to buy new. Indeed Albert Porter said that his Lenco gave little away to his Walker Protheum (I always spell that P word wrong, but you know the one) at $30,000, and in a few respects may have even been better. I kid you not. Whatever you do, vinal is in my opinion far superior to digital, and a bit of an addiction. be forewarned
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