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On the Fence with Analog Vs. Digital. Need Help

Out of the blue I've been considering switching to vinyl. Most likely the reason for this is that my digital source is only an NAD T532 DVD player (ran into 2 NAD C 272 amps, NAD C162 Preamp or Adcom GFP-750 Preamp, Paradigm Studio 60 v3). The sound to me has been relatively harsh and just does not sound natural. My friend also let me borrow his Cambridge Audio Acur D540 player; it has its strengths against the T532, but can still sound bright and edgy. Granted neither of these players are ones to base a good overall analysis of digital sound reproduction on, the prospect of smooth fully analog sound is interesting to me. I've heard LPs before, but only on sub-par playback systems where the albums sounded grainy. So now the question is: do I spend $500 on a new Music Hall MMF-5 turntable and start investing in an entirely new music collection (I own about 3 LPs) to get this smooth sound that I am seeking, or is there a modestly priced CD player or external DAC out there that can achieve a smooth, lifelike sound with my current set up?

I've considered going with an external DAC and a computer-based album storage solution, but from what I've been reading and from what I've noticed listening to more expensive CD players ($3000+), it seems as though you really need to get up around that price range before digital begins to sound smoother and more analog. Right now I don't have $3000 to drop on a DAC/CD Player; it's a little easier to come up with the $500 for the Music Hall and gradually build the LP collection. So that's my dilema. I'm so close to saying "screw digital" and just taking the plunge. I might like, I might hate. Who knows.
jwglista
kthomas
911 posts
 
I think a computer-based digital setup serves a different purpose than a vinyl setup. I also think you don't have to spend $3K to get really good sound from a computer-based digital system, assuming you already have a computer.

There are many DACs you can get for <$1K used - Benchmark, Bel Canto, Musical Fidelity, etc. Hook it up to a computer-driven server and you have great flexibility and pretty excellent sound. Or buy one of the many well-reviewed CD players for $1500 or less - Cambridge, Arcam, Rotel, etc etc.

I think vinyl is a more "involved" experience, and probably well worth pursuing as well. I would't scrap digital to go for vinyl, however. I'd wait until I could evolve into a dual-source system.
plato
1,543 posts
 
Okay, I have a little different take on all of this. My intuition tells me that you need to find out why your system sounds harsh and unnatural. I don't think that it's necessarily a question of digital vs. analog; there are many other factors to consider. Even some interconnects tend to sound harsher than others.

Perhaps it's a problem of room reflections and poor room acoustics. If so, placing absorptive or diffractive room treatments behind the speakers and on the side walls at the point of the first reflection could help considerably.

Aside from room problems, a typical way to get a smoother, more musical sound would be to try a good tube preamp in your system. I tend to like the sound of the 6SN7 tubes in my system. You could even try a tube line buffer like the one Audio Horizons sells. It may be that your problem is more of a solid-state vs. tubes issue. That Adcom preamp can sound thin and dry in some systems.

Anyway, that's my assessment. Good luck to you in your search for great sound.
restock
831 posts
 
In your case, I would try to get into tube gear before getting into vinyl - getting into vinyl at this stage without any collection is difficult. I took the jump 15 years ago when everyone was getting out and records were easily available on my student salary at the time. Unless you are willing to invest into record cleaners, used records are off-limits. New records can run from $10 to $50/piece which will get you excellent quality but are you willing to spent that much?

For me the natural sound came mostly with the move to tubes rather than the move to vinyl. Vinyl takes it a step further, but I could be happy listening to music on either system now.
elf73
104 posts
 
It's fun to buy records. That is if you like collecting things, going to garage/estate sales, used book-record stores etc. It's an involving experience. And it can be really cheap. As well, you can be the "different" kid on the block. Also like the guy above said, records are more tactile.

As far as sound, I think it sounds better. But most of the time (entertaining/background tunes while you wash the dishes) digital is good enough.

I just bought a Monarchy M24 for about $750. It's a tube Dac/tube linestage (pre-amp). One optical, one coaxial RCA and one linestage for you phono. So you can connect an Apple Airport Express to your optical for internet radio/MP3's/Wav (whatever), I personally don't think it sounds too bad (I have a cheap DAC attached), the coaxial to your CD player (so you don't have to ditch your collection) and the a phono stage to the linestage.

The DAC has gotten good reviews. The tubes might smooth out the sound for you.

I'm new to all this, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I agree with Plato and the combo of the Adcom and the Paradigms with a mid-fi CDP could be a big part of your problem. That said, you have to spend pretty good $ to get a CDP that beats a modest cost TT, but you do need to budget for a phono stage and i/c unless the adcom has a phono stage.
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