What is your front end ?


What is your front end  is it T/T , CD, R to R, Cassette deck, Streaming , Internet Radio , or portable devices such as mp3 players iPod etc, if you have all of those which you enjoy most ?

128x128sabih

Thanks Sabih !    The Aurender with my DAC is a strong argument in favor of an all digital system, but I think if that turntable had a better cartridge I'm sure it would better digital on really great recordings.  I have a number of records that sound really good even with a modestly priced cartridge.   I prefer quite a few over their digital counterpart.    But for most listening sessions,  nothing beats a good streamer and DAC for me.  

I want to go up a few notches with my next cartridge.  It's hard with cartridge choice because it's not something that is easily A/B'd.   I have heard good things about ZYX , Hana , and Dynavector in the $1200 or so range.   It's not that the Bronze doesn't sound great, it does but I think that table deserves a little better.

My daughter is getting married next Sept so I am in a holding pattern for a little while.   At some point I will bump it up a few notches with respect to cartridge 

 

 

I enjoy the sound of LPs on my turntable the most, but it's not what I listen to most frequently.

Aurender W20SE streamer, Audio Research Ref CD9SE CD player, and near Klimax LP12 / Koetsu Rosewood Signature, Audio Research Ref 3 Phono stage. They all sound virtually identical given the same input recording (vinyl shows more variability in sound quality than there digital counterparts). I listen to Quboz streaming 99% of the time.

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I can't even remember the last time I played a vinyl record album.  I waved goodbye to spinning CD's years ago, too.  For the past several years now, I only stream my music via an Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty streaming DAC and an Roon Nucleus Plus music server.  Happy listening.