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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
cat_doorman
237 posts
 
It sounds like you're a little disappointed that your digital has surpassed your vinyl. Since you already have a collection of records, and that had been a major draw for you, it is understandable. As I see it, for some, the fiddling about with setup and record cleaning, and the other rituals are part of the attraction. I think there is a perception that "serious" audiophiles have meticulously selected the TT, tonearm, cartridge, phone pre, line stage, amp, and speakers to highlight their highly curated collection of vinyl that reflects their own unique tastes. (The really cool ones have it organized autobiographically.) There is a higher price of entry both in money and time. Even if you can't afford to, or decide not to upgrade your vinyl rig to again surpass your digital side, there are still plenty of reasons to enjoy it as is.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
With vinyl you pretty much need to go big (relatively) or go home in order to surpass even a $1000 digital front end. The mass loaded TT designs will get you there much more quickly than the fly-weight Rega designs.
sns
3,289 posts
 
Not in the least surprising, I doubt very few audiophiles have both state of art analog and digital setups, and even then, is that particular setup the objective arbiter. IME, analog better than digital, digital comes back and takes the lead, nope, analog retakes lead, digital comeback, etc. This over many years and many setups. Simply enjoy both and upgrade as needed, I don't get the angst over which format is best. Both are capable of artist in room amazement.
speakermaster
738 posts
 
Your new speakers are a more dynamic and full range speaker than you have had before so you will hear that the two formats will both sound very good at that point the better recording will win out and it will not matter what format it is on. The only thing i can say is that if you got a better phono pre amp your vinyl would sound a whole lot better and you did not mention the cartridge but if it is a rega you can switch to a dynavector 10x or 20 x and move to a whole new realm of sound on your table to.
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
Digital can have more noise in it than analog. I'm not talking about ticks & pops while listening to a vinyl album, but general grunge. Note that this "grunge" (probably to strong of a word) may not even be noticeable to you... until it's gone. That stated, some equipment upgrades (amps, preamps, cables, conditioners, speakers) will help take that out of the system & as such, you'll notice more improvement with digital than analog.  
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