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Vinyl vs. top-notch digital

I have never had an analogy rig. My CD player is a Meridian 800, supposedly one of the very best digital players out there. From what I've read, it appears there is a consensus in our community that a high-quality analog rig playing a good pressing will beat a top notch digital system playing a well-recorded and mastered CD. So here are my questions:

1) How much would one have to invest in analog to easily top the sound quality of the Meridian 800 (or similar quality digital player)? (Include in this the cost of a phono-capable preamp; my "preamp" right now is a Meridian 861 digital surround processor.)

2) How variable is the quality of LPs? Are even "bad" LPs still better than CD counterparts?

Thank you for any comments and guidance you can provide.
jeff_arrington
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
I used to listen to CD and vinyl equally for many years. Although I always thought my turntable sounded better,  I really enjoyed my CD player too. Very similar to what Mikel stayed about his digital. I then sold my CD player about 6 years ago and only use the turntables. I now get little satisfaction from anything digital. I think if I got used to it again I might hear it in a pleasing way again. My point is I understand you can enjoy  digital as much as analog, and love it, if that is what your regularly listening to. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing inferior about loving digital if you are a digital listener as I once was. 
wlutke
725 posts
 
I find streaming and vinyl can be equally engaging. That’s the top consideration - does it make me happy. I appreciate detail, imaging and all the other buzzwords but if it’s musically dry, reality or not, all that crazy priced gear is a waste.
I prefer a record and a charcoal bar-b-que. I’ll stream and cook on gas though.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
The only sure distinction between high res digital and the best vinyl is vinyl is noisy and digital is not. As for the sonics, it depends more on the 
mastering than anything else including the format. High res digital 24/48 and above has the capability of sounding superior to vinyl. If you do not believe this get Chick Corea's Chinese Butterfly in 24/96. Steve Gadd on drums. God knows how many records I have but I do not have one that sounds better than this. Playing vinyl is almost an art firm, digital not. I still buy vinyl and like it very much but to dis digital is a big mistake. To do it right all you need is a Mac Mini, Channel D's Pure Music and a hard drive. 
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
Yes. For people that can’t hear past the ticks and pops, digital would be the better choice. As with many others, I’ve learned to be  able to tune out the noise and just focus on the music. If you’re  able to do this, vinyl I believe will always be preferred. I wonder why some people aren’t capable of this and some are. I found that it takes time. Maybe the digital only listeners just didn’t give it enough time. I’ve never heard this phenomenon discussed, it probably has been though, how we can train our brains to filter this noise from our records. 
inna
7,296 posts
 
Well, if we could always listen to master tape dubs we wouldn't listen to either vinyl or digital. Both are consumer grade not pro grade formats.
Digital cannot, at least at present, capture the emotional content of music. You have to 'imagine' it with digital, with analogue you don't have to. That said, compressed analogue recordings are no fun, but still better overall than digital. 
Sadly, I too listen to more digital on youtube through headphones than vinyl and Nak tape deck through speakers because there is so much new to me music over there.
Mint good pressing vinyl can be very quiet, no ticks and pops. Most of my favourite records do have some noise, though. Also depends on your table set-up and how well the records are cleaned.
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