Is analog & vinyl anoying? Is it worht it.

THe only experience I have with vinyl was though my parents collection when I was a kid. I was fascinated with the turntable and I think that is what really hooked me into Audio toys in general. As i grew older I never got into the, but just focused on digtal sources. Therefore I have no experience in finding good vinyl, but one question i have to you all with big collections: are they all purely analog or are there some that have been digitized at some mastering step, before conversion back to analog for the final pressing. If there are some DDA, or ADA LP's out there I wonder if any of you have compared them to DDD CD's and if so how did that sound? To me it would be a blow to the whole analog vinyl paradigm to have any "D" step in the chain at all; from a purely objective viewpoint it seems like you might end up with the downsides of digital (quantization error and others) encoded into the analog LP, as well as the usual vinyl playback issues. Anyway this is just a mild curiosity I have. I see all these LP's in place like music direct and I wonder how many of those are really digital with an analog wrapper?
I still love the idea of the turntable and myabe some day I will own one just to bring back the very fond memories of playing with my dad's system in awe.

"Yeah it may be better than digital. But come on. 3K+ for a cartridge. Cleaning machines. Preamps. VTA adjustments. noisy records. expensive software. By the time you get it all set up you are ready to just turn on the tv and watch Sportscenter. Is there any alternative?"
Gregadd

LOL, you do get up to make your own sammich, or wait for delivery? ;)

Apparently you have spent too much time reading the audio mags and threads by the analog BIG BOYS. Great analog can be done very well on a very modest budget. As far as the tweaking, cleaning etc. You can be just as anal about that as you want to be, but usually your efforts are rewarded.

The world is full of great vinyl that can be had for $1 or so. Sure, you can't sit at home in your recliner and find them, but the hunt is alot of the fun for those of us who enjoy such things. There is alot more pride of ownership when you have to search for and find some truly amazing vinyl for next to nothing. Much more so than left clicking on your mouse and waiting for the mailman to bring it to you.

There are also some very nice cartridges in the $150 or less range (Denon 103, 110, 160, AT440MLa to name a few). Very good DIY phono transformer stepup devices can be built for $150 or less.

You mention cleaning machines. I built a DIY RCM for $50. It may not look like a $700 machine, but it does the exact same thing. It sucks the suspended crud off the vinyl. Add $50 for fluids, $40 for brushes and viola, clean records. (The misnomer of vinyl being full of pops and tics is BS)

I think you would be surprised at how musical some of the vintage turntables can be. $500 or less spent wisely will be very satisfying for most. Again, it all depends on how deep in your pocket you want to go. My $200 Thorens would probably surprise you.

I would imagine that most of what I mentioned above probably does not appeal to you. Nothing wrong with that. But some of us still have the instinct to hunt, explore and build. Others prefer to stay home waiting for dinner.

I won't get involved with which sounds best, (you already said it with your first sentence) as that is for each to decide for themselves. But the premise that vinyl is too expensive, noisy and troublesome to persue just isn't the case. It can be done very well with very little investment.

When I am in a wheelchair and eat my meals thru a straw, I will then reluctantly convert all of my listening to digital. ;)

Sorry for this one I forgot to include this in my last post, but do you think the "wow" factor folks have when they hear analog is partly from surprise--that "old technology" can sound as good as it does?
Either way there is something intangible about vinyl.

I have to say yes, it is worth it. I have decided to continue to tweak and improve my analog system. For me it is the whole experience of finding stashes of RCA Shaded dogs and original issues of artists that I enjoy. I don't feel that every album I listen to is better than some digital offerings, but when it is, I find it so engaging. There is something about playing a 45 year old album for my children. My 11 year old boy came up to me the other day and stated that I "may have something here with this turntable." This is a hobby to be enjoyed.

Geggadd +++ I frequently do see sports live. +++

Greg, you frequently go see sports live ... however if you actually liked music you'd go see opera, recitals and concerts frequently instead. Hence, vinyl is too much trouble for you.

Now you start this thread on the analogue board to take a little side swipe at folks who do enjoy music to the level where the additional activities and cost associated with vinyl is of no consequence. Far from making any vinyl-phile think differently, all you are achieving is demonstrating ignorance.

As I said before. If you do not really care much for music, CDs are fine. Vinyl is for people that really like and enjoy music to a high degree. You obviously don't.

Regards
Paul