Today, I invested a couple of hours auditioning a new system to replace my 10 year old mid-fi home theater/2 channel music system that is 10 years old.
Current line-up:
Rotel RSP1068
Rotel RMB1095
Oppo BDP 83SE
Cambrige Stream Magic 6 v1
B&W 805S mains
B&W HTM7 center
B&W in-wall surrounds
The audition:
McIntosh 8900 Integrated
Aurender A10 network player
VPI Prime Scout with Soundsmith Carmen cartridge
B&W 804 D3 mains
Clearly the auditioned system is light years ahead of my current rig, but my comments here are about analog vs. digital. I haven’t had an analog source in probably 25 years. As I was considering my new system, curiosity struck and I added the VPI to my listening session. The VPI was feeding the Mac’s internal MM phono input. I had both a HiRes digital copy and a new 180 gram vinyl copy of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Dance” (obviously not the only music I brought). First I listened to the opening track, “The Chain”, from the HiRes file. As you would expect, it sparkled. All the parts were there and it moved me as that track should. Then I put on the vinyl copy... My jaw hit the floor. For me, all the pace and detail was there, but everything was so much more natural. Voices, guitar, drums and particularly the cymbals and hi hat from Fleetwood’s kit were so incredibly rendered that I felt much more connected to the music. So I put on several other records, both new and some from my teenage years that survived 4 moves and a couple of worn out styli. After listening to the VPI/Soundsmith combo for another 40 minutes I am completely smitten and will now start the process of buying all my favorite artists on vinyl AGAIN. I know that a really good digital front end can walk all over a so-so analog source, but in this one instance and to my 55 year old ears, I’m convinced that there is rooom for both and I will probably find myself spinning records a lot more than pushing buttons on my iPad.
Current line-up:
Rotel RSP1068
Rotel RMB1095
Oppo BDP 83SE
Cambrige Stream Magic 6 v1
B&W 805S mains
B&W HTM7 center
B&W in-wall surrounds
The audition:
McIntosh 8900 Integrated
Aurender A10 network player
VPI Prime Scout with Soundsmith Carmen cartridge
B&W 804 D3 mains
Clearly the auditioned system is light years ahead of my current rig, but my comments here are about analog vs. digital. I haven’t had an analog source in probably 25 years. As I was considering my new system, curiosity struck and I added the VPI to my listening session. The VPI was feeding the Mac’s internal MM phono input. I had both a HiRes digital copy and a new 180 gram vinyl copy of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Dance” (obviously not the only music I brought). First I listened to the opening track, “The Chain”, from the HiRes file. As you would expect, it sparkled. All the parts were there and it moved me as that track should. Then I put on the vinyl copy... My jaw hit the floor. For me, all the pace and detail was there, but everything was so much more natural. Voices, guitar, drums and particularly the cymbals and hi hat from Fleetwood’s kit were so incredibly rendered that I felt much more connected to the music. So I put on several other records, both new and some from my teenage years that survived 4 moves and a couple of worn out styli. After listening to the VPI/Soundsmith combo for another 40 minutes I am completely smitten and will now start the process of buying all my favorite artists on vinyl AGAIN. I know that a really good digital front end can walk all over a so-so analog source, but in this one instance and to my 55 year old ears, I’m convinced that there is rooom for both and I will probably find myself spinning records a lot more than pushing buttons on my iPad.