question about the "analog sound"

Cartridge needs to be compatible w/the tonearm. The loading of the cartridge and the gain need to be compatible and/or set correctly w/the phono stage. Everything VTA, VTF, azimuth, overhang need to be set correctly. Any one of these or more could be an issue. If you have an experienced friend who can check w/you that would be best. If not, post specifics about each issue, so you can get confirmation that you've got setup right.
I'd say, no it's not vinyl per se. It's well worth the trouble to learn. Read the turntable basics on AA, and the tips on walkeraudio.com, both quite helpful. Cheers,
Spencer

How many vinyls have you tried. Not all vinyls are created equal. Some badly recored/mastered ones can sound thin, flat, and un-listenable.

I had the same "bland" issue with the Grado Platinum. Changed the cartridge to a Shelter 501, ba-da-bing, problem solved. Non of my equipment is the same as yours though, except for the (old) cartridge. Good luck, John

I think Vinyl is a bit laid back compared to the "dryness' of digital, which is why many people like it. I am not surprised to see you comment that it lacks the "ooomph" you are used to hearing on digital, which some would call "harsh".

My experience with Vinyl was that you could get "oomph" on 12" 45 RPM singles made for clubs....just as good as digital. However, LP's were just a tad bit polite...I used to buy only Japanese pressings because of these issues. Although Vinyl quality variablility was not as bad as modern pop CD's ...

Obviously you'll get lots of different opinions on what the problem is. However, the FIRST thing I always look at when I read these analog posts is how much output the cartridge has and how much gain the phono preamp provides.

As mentioned above by another poster, the Bellari gain is low: with the stock tube around 30 db. Your cartridge at 5 mV is looking for an ideal match with a phono pre around 36 db of gain. Sometimes you can get away with being 3-4 db short of gain. My experience when you get to being 5-7 or more db short is this: you can crank the volume up all you want and it will get louder but the music will still sound anemic, bland and totally lacking in dynamics. Kind of like listening through about 3 wet blankets.

My advice is this: check at vinyl asylum on another tube for the Bellari that might increase the gain a bit-I believe I've read somewhere that this is possible and probably won't cost an arm or a leg. Alternatively, try to borrow a phono stage suitable for MM/MI cartridges with 36 db. of gain. My guess is that you will be pleasantly surprised with what the correct amount of gain matched properly to your phono cartridge will do. Will it be perfect? Of course not, but at least you'll begin to hear what your equipment is capable of.