Parity

jerryg123,

Totally agree!!!

Unfortunately, the sad reality has set in after the first blush of new-equipment-itis.  
‘Demonstrably, the SQ of my analog side is still not really up to par with the digital side.  After so much money and effort spent, I expected better.  
Now I’m faced with the dilemma of which side to choose when I listen to music. I’d love to play with my new toy, but the same tracks sound better on my streamer! So what’s the point.

rvpiano, I feel your pain, as I am going through the same process.  I am getting the Sota motor/Eclipse package and a better cartridge for my tt.  That might surpass the digital side for a while; if not I'll think about a different tonearm.

If these changes top the digital sound, then how about a new streamer or dac?  Where does it end?

From my point of view I think it's a little harder/more expensive to get the analog side up to par with streaming, but I feel some magic with a good vinyl pressing.

abnerjack,

Yes, there is some “magic” in a good vinyl pressing.
I’m listening to one right now. Nothing like it!

It isn’t that records generally sound bad, it’s that digital sounds usually so damn good.

@rvpiano: No offense intended, but this is what happens when you make sound quality your first priority. I've been there myself, but now make my next musical selection based on what I'm hungering for musically. If it is also in good sound, wonderful, that's a bonus.

Being an audiophile has its benefits and pleasures, but is also in a way a curse. Remember when you loved music you heard, long before you became obsessed with sound quality? If it truly is---as we all claim---about the music, then we have to act like it is ;-) .