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Pros and Cons of "Staying with" Analog and Vinyl

After having various turntables over the last 40 years, I am seriously considering getting out of analog. The "vinylists" argue that analog playback sounds more natural, musical, and provides more of an emotional response. I have experienced this feeling several times while listening to my modest vinyl collection, and tend to agree....until I begin hearing pops, clicks, surface noise. I keep my vinyl generally clean and protected

However, after listening to the 40th anniversay edition of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" I am more convinced that analog is just not worth the time, money and, maintenance. The dynamics on new Aqualung are superb and there seems to be much more detail to what I remember of the Mobile Fidelity remastered recording

I have a modest analog set-up Rega P3-24 with their upgraded PS and the Dynavector 10X5 MC. I was on the verge of upgrading to the new Rega RP-6 which includes a newly design PS, and a choice of color plinths. Even with a generous trade-in value offered by the dealer, I would still be putting in about $1300 + which would get me into the Dynavector DV 20MKII ( above their 10X5.)

I personally don't see the value regardless of the sonic qualitative edge of analog. Maybe, the money could be spent elsewhere or not at all. BTW, I am not getting into computer audio, and am STILL not convinced that a BASIC DAC will bring me closer to analog sound quality. Members have recommended Peachtree's DACIT, and even the supposedly new and improved Musical Fidelity V-DAC II. I have a Rega Apollo player. A great sounding player, but it has its flaws.

Therefore, I would like to hear the pros and cons of staying with analog....or just dumping it. Thanks
sunnyjim
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
I wasn't going to post in this thread as it's all been said sooo many times before. But, as Tmsorosk said it for me without going into specifics, here ya go:
Sunnyjim , your at the same point I was a few years back. Finding a suitable CD player and DAC was the key, and after much toiling I did find just the right combination, do they sound like analog? of coarse not, but digital has many virtues .
Tmsorosk
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Why would anyone care if Sunnyjim decides to listen to only to one medium? Seriously. Was he really asking or just wanting to start another stick poking episode?
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
Well, perhaps not if just one individual decides to listen to only one medium, it being something other than vinyl. However, I care if many of us start abandoning vinyl. We have all benefitted from the recent vinyl resurgence of the past few years. That is due in large part because people have not abandoned analog. And many new and even young enthusiasts are joining in the fun. There have been many good reissues released as well as advances in equipment. Surely if more people like Sunnyjim switch to only digital, it will have an impact on analog.
decibell
69 posts
 
Why not keep both - digital and analog? Having an analog and a digital source can work pretty well together. Like so many others I jumped on the CD-train 25 years ago but kept my records. Over the years I upgraded my system to "lesser and lesser power" - currently using 300B amps and discovered that, even though much more hassle, vinyl simply sounds better. If you have that "fiddle around gene" like I, you might enjoy tweaking your analog source to get to better and better sound quality. That's not so easy with digital. I started to record CDs from my own TT using a high quality pro CD recorder and am amazed how close the sound of these CDs comes to the original vinyl playback. Today I'm enjoying both - vinyl, if I have time and want best performance - and digital, if I'm not listening seriously and are too lazy to deal withy vinyl.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
I don't know Peter. A few decades ago the whole world shifted to the digital side and from what I've seen it has only made analog reproduction stronger. I don't think a few hundred one way or the other will make any difference.

Besides, if the OP really does enjoy music more with another source isn't the issue already settled for him? I don't have a problem with that, but also don't see the need for yet another d vs a thread. Kind of slow around new year's I guess.
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