Quicke, I think you have used your three years well and have reached some valid conclusions regarding equipment and room synergy. Many on this forum are not nearly so advanced .....yet they do not let that deter them from offering their opinions, nor should they. Thats how they will learn.
One thing you might want to consider before you reach any conclusions about the value of the source, Lp or CD, is that in a well balanced (synergistic) set up, which is at all revealing, the sources become critical.
The difference in sources may be more subtle, but not less critical to those who care. (Think about how some music lovers love one performers version over another's by some margin and you can't tell the difference because you are not familar with the music, or you don't like the music and couldn't care less. Because you haven't developed a sophisticated knowledge yet and can't hear the differences doesn't mean that they don't exist and/or are not important).
While you may have loved the Wilsons and the Ipod, wouldn't it have been fun if they also had a TT system and a CD system connected, all balanced to match the rest of the system, so you could compare the differences and added value of each over the other?
I would agree that it might be easier to find a synergistic source than, say a room/speaker/amp interface. But just 'cause its easier, doesn't make it less important.
FWIW
One thing you might want to consider before you reach any conclusions about the value of the source, Lp or CD, is that in a well balanced (synergistic) set up, which is at all revealing, the sources become critical.
The difference in sources may be more subtle, but not less critical to those who care. (Think about how some music lovers love one performers version over another's by some margin and you can't tell the difference because you are not familar with the music, or you don't like the music and couldn't care less. Because you haven't developed a sophisticated knowledge yet and can't hear the differences doesn't mean that they don't exist and/or are not important).
While you may have loved the Wilsons and the Ipod, wouldn't it have been fun if they also had a TT system and a CD system connected, all balanced to match the rest of the system, so you could compare the differences and added value of each over the other?
I would agree that it might be easier to find a synergistic source than, say a room/speaker/amp interface. But just 'cause its easier, doesn't make it less important.
FWIW