Analog vs digital?


Hi all! My first posting so please be gentle!
I've just had my old Linn LP12 turntable tuned up. It's been over 25 years since its had any attention. 
Nothing replaced just readjusted and I'm blown away by the result. 
It's so much more involving than the digital part of my system. 
Singxer SU-6, Denafrips Terminator. 
The Linn LP12 and  Ekos arm is over 30 years old.
I'm confused! 
Technology seems to be going backwards. Is it all for convenience? 
128x128nzastro
@nzastro
Hi Tony, methinks all you need to do to improve your digital to an "I’m enjoying music" level is save up for a reasonably priced "killer" dac (like a little Ideon, or a Benchmark: ¬2.5-3.0 k), add a reclocker (mine was 300) and you’re ready to go.
BTW, your Linn should have good (upper) bass (mine never had good lower bass) -- you might improve on the Pro ject: any used MF or similar should do the trick.
nzastro, if you want to improve your digital for less, get a mac mini and a 2tb or larger hard drive. Load an audio program on it like Pure Music or JRiver and start collecting Hi Res files online. HDTracks and Acoustic Sounds are two of the more popular online stores. 24/96 and 24/192 files are available for most older titles. New music is available in 16/44.1 and sometimes in 24/48. Some older records have gotten remastered for digital and sound fantastic like Led Zeppelin 1. 
No flipping records for me for at least two months. Had my right wrist fused this morning and it is in a long arm cast/splint affair. The block won't wear off until tomorrow afternoon so I am comfortable for now. After that it will be oxycodone, THC and NIN for me. I should be able to come up for air in 4 days. So, I do understand the health issue subject. The computer video runs to the projector so I can pull up the menu from the recliner and scroll through using a trackpad. I can even create playlists if I like.  
No Vinyl, but beggars can't be choosy.

Sorry to hear about your health issues. The secret to a successful life is, learning to have fun in spite of it. Sometimes it gets tough. Oxy, THC and NIN with some KC for good measure. Loud music kills pain!   



























Hi,

I love all the responses saying all formats can give you great sound.

I do want to disagree with Tom asking why are we bringing up this old argument again. It really is an ever changing discussion. I'm a vinyl guy but I am very impressed with how digital has improved, and in the last few months I've listened to more digital than I ever have thanks to more lossless streaming and easier ripping. How many people who now happily listen to digital, a decade ago thought it hurt their ears? In another ten years it will again be a different discussion. Of course, I agree with those who say digital for convenience, vinyl for quality. That is especially true for me. I live in a town of 18,000. My closest record store is the city over an hour away, so if somebody suggests some great music the first thing I do is see if I can find it digitally. And the truly great music that I've listened to over and over and over again may be on vinyl. I think for many of us, the answer to what is the better format is we are listening to a mix now. And that for me is a new answer to an old question. Thank god. It has never been a better time to love music. 
@nzastro,
" Bugger! Now I feel like I have to try n improve the digital streaming.
It's a bummer when you have a fussy personality!
Could a dedicated hard wired (cat6) streamer/storage unit improve the listening experiance?
As I said earlier I'm new at this digital thing and there's not much help or gear to trial here in NZ so I appeal to those of you that have the experiance.
Anyway any positive realistic ideas would be much appreciated"

Each responder will tell you to do it the way they did it.  You have a great start with your Singxer and Denafrips.*  My general recommendation is to get your music into files on a hard disk and not to send them through a phone, Tablet or computer where they are compromised by all the noise and commotion in such devices.  So you won't have to use any de-crapifier.  A network connected digital bridge worked wonders for me,  Music files come from a hard disk (or NAS) into the bridge and go out by USB to the (Singxer for your) DAC.  Control is by a computer program run on any network connected device you have.  I use JRiver on a laptop running the bridge as a DLNA device, plus an android phone.  Any Audioquest USB cable, even the least expensive, can work very well.

*It's evident that some who have written don't know how excellent these units are.


I’m a Digital Man versus being an Analog Kid. But I’ve never had a Vinyl setup as resolving as yours. My Digital rig consists of a PS Audio DirectStream DAC fed into a BAT VK50-SE Preamp. It’s as close to Vinyl as I’ll ever get. I sold all my Vinyl years ago but ripped them 96/24 WAV files for when I’m in the mood to listen to Vinyl.

I too borrowed the Denafrips Terminator and tried it in my system. It's a great DAC but with no 30 day money back or any North American support. I'm out on that. Many things it did equally well as the PS Audio DSSr. but there were things the the DSSr. did better than the Terminator DAC. Also, the PS Audio DAC is way more flexible WRT to inputs and has an LCD Display along with a remote control. The DTerminator has neither.