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Vinyl...should I stay, or should I go?

I've sort of hit a crossroads and have decided to part with my turntable, all accessories which go with the turntable, and my record collection. However, before parting ways with my analog gear I wanted to gather some feedback and make sure I've given vinyl a fair shake.

My setup is a VPI HW-19: a Zorin tonearm and a Dynavector 17dx cartridge, with a Manly Chinook phono-stage, It plays through Primaluna dialogue Pre amp and amps. The speakers are Goldenear Reference. 

Confession, despite this setup, I've mostly streamed Roon music through an ultraRendu into a ModWright oppo 205. It's just recently I decided to give listening to vinyl a try. I'm pretty much a novice to the finer points and nuances of getting the best out of vinyl.

Experience: I'm finding the streaming music seems to be more centered with a deeper and more textured soundstage. When I stream, no matter what era the music is from, the singer/music is front, center, deep and wide. On the other hand, the last couple of records I've tried. A very old and somewhat used Alan Parsons Project lp and Jim Croce, Don't Mess around with Jim 180 gram lp, have not presented the same quality soundstage. In fact, in both cases while much of the music is centered, the singer's voice is coming mostly from the left side (speaker). Also, I'm finding the bass to be lacking. Last night in a side by side comparison, I was taken aback by how much better sounding was the streaming music.

Question: Is this typical of vinyl or is there something in my setup (again I'm a novice) I'm overlooking? With all this said, any advice on what to check or look for would be much appreciated. I'm not trying to start a debate about the merits of vinyl vs. streaming. I'm really just trying to find out if what I'm experiencing is typical of the vinyl experience or if there's something I should be correcting before pulling the plug and selling off the analog gear. Thanks
liv2teach
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
@jrw1971

I love this forum dearly but don't get me started on its quirks. Compared to the other sites I inhabit (among others, a bicycle forum and a violin forum), Audiogon's software just doesn't seem to want to create a readable message. What you see when you compose the message and what ends up published are often different enough to make the published message look more like the Dead Sea Scrolls than anything else.

Then, there's the tendency of many contributors to just write, write, write until either the needle has worn a new groove in the lead-out groove, their fingers fall off, or the kitchen stove catches fire.

The cure dear fellow audio-foil?  As you read the forum, keep the stereo cranked and happily obsess over the amount of spit the vocalist on the recording is launching onto his/her mike.
lewm
12,984 posts
 
I don’t think there is any moral issue here. You should do what you like, and I won’t think any less of you as a human being, either way. Although you said you don’t want to start a debate, your “dilemma” as stated will inevitably lead to one. It’s already in progress. I am like Raul ; I am a vinylista because I own 2500 LPs and five turntables. Not to mention 8 tonearms and maybe 20 cartridges. I just don’t want to be bothered with assembling a digital system of similar quality. Whereas your toe is barely in vinyl waters. Vaya con dios.
dinov's avatar
dinov
831 posts
 
I’d look at the cartridge. The two dynavectors I have had were real lean in the bass especially my XX 2 where I would have the bass up several dB on my Mac pre.  I upgraded it to a Koetsu Rosewood Signature, and WOW! I had to turn things way down. What a difference. Try another cartridge or have it looked at and set up by someone who knows. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
@l, doing a top digital system is not that expensive. Having it play endlessly when you are busy doing whatever is very nice. I only play records when I am listening seriously. But, I do use an auto lifter so I do not have to run to lift the arm.

I use to keep a lot of cartridges but I stopped because like Skis I find I only listen to the one I like best. I just keep one other as a spare just in case I F-up. 

Which table and arm do you listen to the most?
kgbspy
60 posts
 
I ran from vinyl 30+ years ago and never looked back ! I have only one record (sentimental value )...and got nothing to play it on... thank god!
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