2. analog
  3. 1213991810

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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
“Top-notch digital“ is a misnomer since even the most expensive digital players produce serious audible errors. The three most serious errors are external vibration, vibration and flutter of the disc itself whilst spinning and our old friend scattered background laser light. Now, I know a lot of you are probably thinking, “but I thought all modern CD players solved those problems a long time ago, doesn’t reclocking and buffering eliminate those problems?” Better think again, buddy boy. And yes, I know what you’re thinking, “but my system sounds fabulous!”
mikelavigne
2,194 posts
 
“Top-notch digital“ is a misnomer since even the most expensive digital players produce serious audible errors. The three most serious errors are external vibration, vibration and flutter of the disc itself whilst spinning and our old friend scattered background laser light. Now, I know a lot of you are probably thinking, “but I thought all modern CD players solved those problems a long time ago, doesn’t reclocking and buffering eliminate those problems?” Better think again, buddy boy. And yes, I know what you’re thinking, “but my system sounds fabulous!”

CD? what’s a CD?

spinning disc? what’s that have to do with digital audio?

that’s so "5 years ago". now it’s PCIe drives. agree on the effect of resonance on circuits though. that is major.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
While streaming might be top-notch, maybe yes, maybe no, like everything else it probably depends on many factors, I was directing my comments at CD players, which was the subject of the OP.
mikelavigne
2,194 posts
 
a 12 year old thread.

we live in the present.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
No, you live in the future.  Most people have CD players. 
More to discover