Vinyl - One Word - WOW!!

$35,000?!!! Really, Mijo?

There are certain things that vinyl will never do that digital does, both good and bad, and whether one prefers one or the other depends on how the individual listens and what the individual listens for, so I find such cost generalizations to be worthless when offered as advice. For me, $10K (phono stage, TT, tonearm, cartridge) in vinyl can get me up to the very best digital, but we listen differently. Neither of us is wrong.

It's a classic debate, nature vs nurture, vinyl vs cd? I own a decent cd player (Naim 5XS) and digital is essential for accessing contemporary recordings. All my favorite music was originally released on vinyl.

I mostly listen to jazz music recorded in the 1950s - music that is simply not on cd or not easy to find anywhere. Often, owning the record is the only way to hear the music. Also, I prefer to listen to the format in which the music was recorded. Exile on Main Street or Revolver has to be on vinyl for my maximum enjoyment - I don't care how good the digital source is. State of the art vinyl playback - turntable, arm, cartridge & phonostage starts at 30K but truly good performance can be had for under 2K.

Vinyl lovers, audioman, mijostyn and the other vinyl bashers couldn't be further from the truth! Need to spend thousands for cables? Even more for a good digital set-up? 10K for a good analog set-up? 35K? Rubbish! I've been doing this since Christ was a corporal (i.e.  early 1970s)! Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, comparing apples to apples, vinyl has a definite edge over digital and, notwithstanding personal audiological factors, you need not spend exorbitantly to hear this advantage. This is, of course, in the humble opinion of my ears. For those ears that disagree, that's perfectly fine! Of course! Enjoy your digital systems! By all means, listen to the music via the medium(s) you prefer! It is true, however, that vinyl requires more care and dedication to achieve wonderful fidelity (i.e.  clean records; good pressings; etc.). Digital is easier, more convenient.

Just enjoy them both and you are going to get tons of opinions here. Only a few worth listening to. 

Bunch of armchair engineers, using old, outdated software and science like stuffing subs in corners.   

@alvinnir2 

@lewm 

+1