Returning to audiophilism after 20 years: a little guidance would be nice :-)

Thank you people, I'm checking out my topic just now and already seeing a wealth of info and dedication to help out. It would seem that I've come to the right place indeed.

I certainly need to check out vibration control (I still use cones) and the use of dedicated DAC's is new to me.

I emphasised the vinyl / digital because in my days it was vinyl first, CD second, then DAT. Apparently digital has seen a rise in quality which is exciting.

I'm also interested in amp development!
Based on talks I've had so far it seems that a decent amp is still key to a good setup. At this point I am asking myself why I ever had to sell the sweet Mark Levinson 331. I still see them used for 2.5 - 3k and picking one up is tempting because I am familiar with the magic it can bring. But something tells me that in 20 years time, I might get more bang for the buck trying new brands. Coda looks interesting when reading the reviews.

Also: I am not sure if I want to go the pre / power amp route again, I'm hoping I can get an integrated amp in 2021 that performs even better and offer some remote control convenience on the side.

Streamers, even the musical ones, seem to come at a great variety of price levels.

Bottom line is I seem to have forgotten (for a bit) how every audio store appears to have their own favourite brands and models so if you do broad research and visit multiple stores (and forums!) you get a wide range of recommendations. I'm 51 yearl old and whatever I'm getting now will probably serve me a life time. I'm not the kind of person to continuously keep pursuing the audionirvana year in year out, selling and buying new stuff.

Based on the Thorens TT and the Triangle speakers (that I both will never sell) audio gear can indeed serve a lifetime and beyond.

I am already reading many topic here on the forum. Can't wait to start my first listening session at the first audio store. I'll bring my speakers and this will surely fill some of the blanks I'm having at this point.

thanks to all! Glad to have joined.
Pieter 

"Since then I am happy to say digital has improved so much and is improving so fast that it is entirely possible it will approach entry level turntable level in as little as 5 to 10 more years. That is something I never thought would happen and shows the progress being made in digital"


Miller Carbon; you are quite the comedian! 

Integrated amp technology has come a long way in recent years.   I think you will be pleasantly surprised. 

Pieter, I think one thing you will find out real fast, the last 20 years have not been kind to Mark Levinson. The 331 will probably seem flat, dry and sterile compared to a much less expensive (and powerful) tube integrated. Here in the US I am buying Raven Audio but were I over there I would be seriously looking into audiohungary.com they seem to have a couple highly regarded tube integrated amps, with maybe even a good built-in phono stage. That would be the high value way to go. Remember the importance of vibration control means putting all your money into components is leaving performance on the table. The more components the more Pods, interconnects, and power cords. These things really add up and account for why it is almost always much better to go integrated than separates.

Hi Pieter. Welcome back. 

In short I think vinyl can still trounce digital sound wise, but cost wise an analogue front end is exponentially more costly than digital. 

A $500 streamer can produce surprisingly good sound from a source such as Tidal, and provide you with a music selection of tens of thousands of titles. I spent more than 20 times that on an analogue front end, and it wasn’t anything special. 

Your dollar goes much much further in the digital world.