2. analog
  3. 176979-9627

The past meets the future

I have become a huge advocate of streaming over the last few years as streaming has at long last reached audiophile sound quality. So, for someone that is new to audio or does not have a lot of money invested… it is hard to recommend this route.

However, as an old fart. One that suffered through low end turntables, unbelievable surface noise, scratched records, and debatable fidelity for much of his life. Owning a tremendous analog end is such a pleasure. I recently upgraded my contemporary Linn LP12 to nearly the maximum. I have a Audio Research Reference 3 phono stage so the sound quality is simply stunning.

Taking a Covid break and going to my local record store… buying a half dozen great old blues albums… cleaning up to pristine condition. It is such a pleasure to hear such fidelity and musicality from a ritual I have performed since a teenager… record store, spinning. That has been mainstream for me for over fifty years. I guess it is like the old Shortwave radio guys when I was growing up. They had the 25’ antenna sticking up above their suburban houses in the 1960’s.

Just a nod to the era and tradition that will soon pass into history. It has been a blast.

ghdprentice
sns
3,278 posts
 

I really enjoy both mediums, the problem with that is expenditure goes up in great measure, I don't doubt a commensurate amount to equalize sound quality. Unlike Ghdprentice, my analog has a way to go to catch up to digital.

 

Greatest liability to going in dual direction for those of us with limits on pocketbook is both systems suffer in directing expenditures on one or the other.

 

I'm also curious about the future of vinyl. If vinyl at or near end of innovation, and streaming in relatively early days, just a matter of time before absolute sound quality of digital surpasses vinyl. I'm sure it will maintain it's place as niche product, but over the long run become obsolete.  Boomer audiophiles have lifetime of experiencing or hearing others advocate superiority of vinyl, this has been great motivator for preference of vinyl over digital. What happens when that ends?  I don't see a lot of younger audiophiles entering vinyl arena without superior sound quality as motivation. Some will be attracted to the more hands on experience, nostalgia motivations such as art work, but when superior sound quality allied to more convenience and relatively lower cost of digital is considered, I'm afraid vinyl days numbered.

infection's avatar
infection
808 posts
 

Just a nod to the era and tradition that will soon pass into history. 

 

Yeah vinyl has only been around for 74 years...

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 

Vinyl just plain sounds better when done right. My 2 cents, and only my darn opinion....😁

zazouswing
149 posts
 

I do not stream music. I have yet to find a platform that suites my (eccentric) taste. But I do convert a lot of my collection to DSD and playback on random. I prefer the sound of the vinyl, but admittedly I haven’t invested as much in my DAC. To me the benefit of digital is that after I rate all my songs (about 14 weeks of playback in the 4/5 star range) and hit random, I can go from Ella to Rites of Spring to The Microphones to The Freeborne to Little Willie John without changing a single setting. That’s an 80 year tour and, in my option, they all sound great back to back. 

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

Very romantic @ghdprentice. It is sort of silly but I suppose that is the way I look at it. When comparing digital to analog versions of the same material I prefer the digital file over the analog record about 75% of the time. But, I still buy records. 

You can teach an old dog new tricks but it is very hard to get rid of the old ones., like driving a manual transmission. 

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