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What is the reason for this? (Digital vs Vinyl Question)

I recently bought new speakers - GoldenEar Triton One.R towers - to pair with my Naim Uniti Star. My set-up for digital is the Naim with Ethernet, Qobuz & Tidal HiRes organized and played through Roon. With all of my other systems until now I preferred the sound of vinyl over digital. I have a Rega Planar 3 tt with Rega Fono preamp. I spin the highest quality records you can get - Mofi 1 Step, Analogue Productions, Classic Records, etc. etc. I've been listening for days trying to convince myself otherwise because of the $$ I've spent on records but the digital chain just sounds better to my ears. The question is: Is this because my new speakers are revealing the disparity between digital and analog better than lesser speakers I've used in the past (Monitor Silver, PSB Platinum, etc.) or is it because some speakers just match better with digital vs vinyl or is it because with the Naim streamer / DAC I've just put together a better digital front end and need to upgrade my tt and / or phono preamp?  
jdm11
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ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,223 posts
 
@big_greg nails it.


fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,635 posts
 
Right.
<$2K in vinyl playback equip. is mere entry level. My point.
Meh.
CD’s are usually better than streaming. So are rips. "If your system is up to it."
Except for convenience.
You are better off pointing the expenditures towards digital playback. That is where the majority of the music recordings are in the 21st century. Vinyl worshippers don't even know from Wondermints or Jenna Mammina.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
That Naim is a surprisingly good digital rig.  Your TT and phono aren't "entry level" but only one rung up.  A step up in phono stage and at least cartridge will pay dividends.  

Rega tables in general are known for PRaT which usually means punchy mid-bass with rolled off highs and somewhat flabby low bass but mids that shine like the sun.  Your old speakers may not have illustrated this as cleanly.  

The real question is now that you are hearing shortcomings of your vinyl rig, you want to decide if the issue is Rega's sound profile or if it is just a lack of resolution / refinement.  

You probably have an Elys II on that Rega. An Exact II or Ania and a Chord Huei or other nice phono stage would step things up incrementally and get you closer to the same level while retaining the character that people love about Rega.  

If Rega is the issue, then it is a matter of exploring other tables like VPI, ProJect, Clearaudio, etc... and associated cartridges.  

I find that my vinyl rig and digital setups sound different but both are about equally enjoyable.  
 
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