I'm still working to love digital, are you?

Although I find myself sharing Eric's views in the digital/analog comparison debate, I'm not trying to learn to "love digital." I'm hoping that I can improve my digital playback equipment so that someday it will bring me as much pleasure as my analog playback equipment because there is so much wonderful music available on digital media that is not (or no longer) available on vinyl. Thus, for me, whether or not digital is more "musically accurate" than analog (with the greatest respect for Will's opinion, I think not), or whether or not analog provides more "comfortable sex" than digital, are regretfully irrelevant questions. Unless you have no interest in listening to anything but stuff you already have, one really has little choice but to jump on the digital bandwagon and rejoice at every practical improvement.

Still, being from the analog camp - I must end by saying that if you've never heard a good analog set-up and have a chance to do so, do yourself a favor . . .

Ron

Ron. In the same sort of thread a good while back, I asked a vinylist (is that a word, I like it...) who posed this sort of challenge (again is that the right word?) what was his suggestion insofar as a tt/arm/cartridge combo that is a must hear and insofar as decent recordings to feed that thing with for such a test, but the gentlemen never got back to me. Therefore, I ask you the same question: what should I track down and listen to in order that I convince myself of the musical superiority of the analog tt over digital cd ?

Very few local shops have any anlog rigs set up for audition. Will I hit upon a correctly set up rig, or will the out be, as is so often cited, that the package did not gel in some way and my audition should be disregarded? Can I go with any kind of vinyl recording or should I limit my audition to mint special pressings of music with a steady musical content?

An answer to my first question is all I actually need. The rest probably tips my hand a bit.

And, for the record, I have kept a tt in my system, for what I can, pompously, call archival reasons. I just wonder how good vinyl can actually be without my having to spend a bundle and feel that I have to bail out or else justify my purchase by smiling sweetly.

Whatever tool you use, may the art of the music itself shine through.

I anticipation of your answer, I remain ...

Further to sexual metaphors, perhaps digital is more like paying for a "date" from a mercenary escort service.

Aggressively marketed, at a glance looks "perfect", supposedly technically superior, but in the end, a mechanical, soulless, overpriced and deeply unsatisfying experience.

(Not that I would know -- but that's what I read on the internet and what my bachelor buddies tell me....)

Before you suggest that analogue is the overpriced option, remember that we could make the same argument about a loving wife. So I suppose it's about long term value and happiness.

I am still working to love digital and it hasn't happened yet.

But I did finally buy that Sony SCD-1 yesterday and I will keep you posted.....