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Rediscovering the Joy of Digital?

Guys,

I've been into analog for a long time, and it's always been a royal pain in the neck to perform all the necessary adjustments to keep my tt at its best; not to mention the record cleaning rituals and the inflated prices they're charging for high-end analog gear these days.

I bought an early generation CD player back in the mid 80's, a modified Magnavox CDB-650, which was considered good at the time, but is not so good by today's standards. I also invested in some of Audio Alchemy's early DDE's, but they had some problems as well. So I went back to analog and bought a VPI Aries/JMW 10 and more recently, I have moved to a Michell Orbe SE with a Wilson Benesch arm and a Shelter 501 II cartridge.

It took a lot of work to get the Orbe/WB combo to sound its best and in reality, it's not a whole lot better than my much less expensive digital gear, but it sure is a lot more work. It's been my experience that you have to spend a lot more money on analog to get it to sound as good as today's respectable digital gear. I own a Parasound transport, a Bolder Cable modified ART DIO, and a Perpetual Technologies P-1A and it kills most of the Linns, Regas, and all but the highest priced VPI's that I've heard.

With my digital, there's no futzing with VTA, no worries about an expensive and delicate stylus assembly, and I have instant track access. Plus, it sounds virtually as transparent and liquid as analog and eschews those annoying ticks and pops.

My records and gear are sure taking up a lot of space. Perhaps I should dump my whole lot of LPs at the local Salvation Army and be done with it. Then I could sell that expensive analog front end that is a constant source of angst and buy something really cool with the money like a lot more CDs. Whadaya tink?
plato
kthomas
911 posts
 
I suppose next you'll be dissatisfied with just instant track access on a single CD and want your whole library at your fingertips, automatically inventoried and viewable in any manner you find convenient at the moment, playable in flexible ways. You'll probably start expecting to have your full music collection available to you any time and anywhere you have access to the network.

Convenience! In a pasttime no less! What has this country come to, when people allow paradigms to change so indiscriminantly?
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
I hear and know what you are saying. I own an expensive turntable setup (SOTA) and rarely use it except to play recordings not available on CD.
The problem with a turntable (like tube equipment) is that you never know when it can sound its best. There are to many variables to account for (VTA, cartridge condition, arm friction, record thickness and type of vinyl, speed, belt stretching, level and balance, anti-skating, weather) and any of these things can make the sound tedious to listen to from one record to another or on a daily basis.
However, when all conditions are about right, the LPs (like tubes) is unsurpassed.
However its just easier to pop in the CD!
Steven
twl
3,251 posts
 
Frank, I note a little sarcasm in your thread. Having a little fun, are we? :^)
I'm sure your Michell is doing just fine.

Nothing wrong with enjoying both media.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
It's a darned nuisance to feed the horse, clean up the stall and hitch up the buggy every time I want to go somewhere, but it sure is enjoyable to trot down a country lane in my rig. Why do I need one of those new-fangled automobiles?
rcprince
3,070 posts
 
Frank, the altitude in Tucson clearly has gotten to you. You need some good old Jersey smog to bring you back to your senses!! Send me the records, I'll hold them till you get over this urge. :)
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