At what level does analog beat digital?


It is often said that analog, i.e., vinyl beat digital, but at what price point? Will any descent turntable beat out any descent redbook or SACD player? Will a 500 dollar turntable beat out a 500 CDP? Is it system dependent? Will the phono preamp or the line stage play a big role?
matchstikman
Post removed 
I will compare Audio aero capitole mkII with the Nottingham Hyperspace table /anna arm/benz ruby II. I listen to cd's a lot more because its easy and there is more new material than vinyl. That said the resolution and detail is still better with well recorded vinyl. It did cost a lot more for the analog side because you also need a exceptional phono stage. I use the Manley steelhead.
Ozfly, will the Teres be good enough? Just asking. I just purchased a used Dennensean air suspension and granite slab for my creature on steroids and is amazing how vibration can rob the system of clarity, musicality and imaging. Once the creature was placed on Goldmund cones and cork underneath the soundstage expaned outside the speakers in a full manner. I can see that an analog rig would have to be pretty stable and clean in order to bring that out...
Psychicanimal, I would love to get a Teres someday. I honestly believe a superb analog rig would be great in my system. But, $4,000 - 6,000 for the turntable, $3,000 for the tonearm, add the cartridge, add a great phono preamp and you are in the range I discussed above. My company did very well this year. If all goes well, I might just do some shopping in March. I will certainly check the threads here and ask for advice. Someday, I will have both an excellent analog and digital front end. Then, let the tweaks continue ;-)
Oz, you seem like a candidate for the creature on steroids!

When Dan Wright sends back my modded belt drive transport and Lak brings his Ridge Street digital IC I'll have a chance to compare two outstanding rigs next to each other. I think that with the air suspension plus rewiring by Ridge Street Audio the creature will have *nothing* to envy the Teres. Oh, Robert will also mod the 1200's power supply--he took a look at it this past weekend when I went to pick two more sets of MSE Gen II's. High speed/soft recovery rectifiers and adding a smaller capacitor in parallel to the 4700 uF(under the circuit board) to enhance speed--simple yet very effective.