Exactly the same experience. Listening for the sound of records rather than the music. That becomes the operative mode. And yes, orchestral which is my main listening is extremely uneven and frustrating..
Records and CDs
I’ve just spent a couple of weeks exclusively going through my extensive record collection playing hardly any digital media and have come to some conclusions.
Records are fun and enjoyable to work with, but ultimately for a music lover they’re a dead end. Since very few new titles are being released on records these days I find myself going through mainly old familiar performances. Then there’s the age old problem of comparing the SQ of both media which is maddening. I just today went back to streaming (and CDs.). I clearly see, for me this is the way to continue my listening habits. Records can be used as a diversion but not the main event.
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@rvpiano - I've had a Clearaudio Charisma cartridge, the one just above the Maestro, and I can tell you that is one awesome MM cartridge; never felt the need to move up to an MC cart in the 3+ years I've had this. I hope you enjoy your Maestro.... Sound-wise, I enjoy both vinyl and CD and have good systems for both. Sound quality matters aside, I'll always prefer looking at album artwork on a nice 12"x12" sleeve than a little CD-sized casing. |
Remember we are in a rapidly changing audio time in the analog vs digital arena. Fifteen years ago analog sound simply exceeded digital at all price points. At that time vinyl was considered to have “an intrinsic” sound. Which is now clear that it does not. “The sound”, is the result of the playback equipment. At some point the increasing resolution levels possible with digital will surpass analog and a gap will begin to develop. The relative sound quality has been changing as first, the mid tier audiophile became sound quality competitive (say around $20K - $50K for analog ((tt and phonostage)) and the same for digital ((streamer and DAC)) ), but at the low end and high end vinyl still was better than digital… IF you did a good job of choosing your components and matching their sound qualities to your taste in your system. Even when this was the case. You could end up by poor or good choices with the reverse situation.
Over the last five years the sound quality of DACs and now streamers have gotten notably more competitive at lower price points allowing digital to equal or surpass analog at relatively low investment levels. As evidence, this thread! You would not find this number of digital advocates five years ago. I am sure in the next five years the conversation will continually shift to the majority scratching their head as to why anyone thought vinyl was good in the first place. |
I totally concur with your point. I remember making those A-B comparisons in previous years with analog coming out on top every time. Things have radically changed. Having invested heavily (for me) in a new analog system recently, I fully expected to hear records surpassing CDs or streaming again. That is not the case. Digital has come a long way. And I guess that expectation is part of my dilemma. |
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