When does analog compete with digital?


With vinyl becoming all the rage, many believe (perhaps mistakenly) that a budget of $1K will allow them to bring their analog front end up to par with their digital. I would like a reasoned assessment of this issue.

How much time, money, and expertise do you think is necessary before one can seriously claim that their analog front end can compete with their digital? What characteristics, if any, are simply incommensurable between these two mediums? Let's use my system as an example.

Personally, I tried to build an analog front-end that focused on texture/warmth (as opposed to dynamics), but I still feel as though something is missing. Trouble is, I can't quite put my finger on it. I'd be grateful for comments/suggestions (system in sig)
jferreir
The tremendous influence of the seemingly microsignificant on turntable performance continues to astound and repel me. Jferreir, no factor of analog is trivial IMO.
Drink when you listen to digital!!!
Smoke when you listen to analog!!!!

That should balance out the two for ya!!!!
I started out in audio selling Quad, Kef and Levinson in the 1970's, and have been in and out of it as a hobby since. I own several hundred cds and about the same number of lps. IMHO, if you want an analog front end that sounds as good or better than cds, do the following:

1. Spend $400 or so on a well maintained, used AR XA turntable and mid range Grado cartridge.
2. Plug it in.
3. Sit back and enjoy.