2. analog
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My digital front end outdoes my analog.....

For the first time ever my analog setup is being outdone by my digital front end. The equipment: digital-MF Trivista SACD
analog-Thorens TD-125 w/Rabco SL8E linear tracking arm/Grado Master reference (4.0mv) YS Audio Concerto plus with Telefunken smooth plate 12AX7's. The sound: Overall fairly similar with that usual superior analog HF response. The image and seperation are way better on the CDP, this is my biggest issue. Better, but less so, are bass response and dynamics on the CDP as well. I love vinyl and always have and will. The tonearm is set up great and the thing tracks perfect. VTA perfect. I have it only two feet from the left speaker and it doesn't even think of feeding back. I can jump on the floor and the woofers don't move so it is so well isolated. The table/arm seem fine. Here are problems I see:
1)Lower end phono pre (so what do I need to spend)
2)Rewire TT from cart to interconnect as the tonearm is 30 years old
3)As a passive line stage user I need a very low Z ballsier phono stage. The current unit is 54db gain with an output impedence of 1000 ohms. The Trivista CDP's output impedence is 50 ohms (this could be the bass issue since I use a passive linestage)

Vinyl will never have the place for me it once did since so few new releases are on LP. I have most of the vinyl and out of print vinyl not on or never released on CD that I desire to own (based on what I like)
I do love playing with vinyl and shopping and finding it as well. Thoughts welcome-thanks in advance

ET
electroid
hagtech
163 posts
 
Hmmm, lack of image and space sound like the table to me. Then again, sometimes it is hard to pinpoint these things.

jh
muzcal
66 posts
 
Your analogue phono is way outdated. A used Sota or VPI with an SME4 or 5 or Graham 1.5 and decent phono cable such as Kimber would be a huge improvement. An active preamp would get you better frequency response. If you continue to use a tube phono try switching to Mullard box plates which are way more extended top to bottom than the Telefunkens which have a narrower bandwidth.
imin2u
392 posts
 
I am not a proponent of either. Now, saying that, I do have an analogue set-up and a digital set-up. Usually, for ease, I listen to CD's. Some sound great. For fun I spin an album every now and then. And, guess what? Some albums sound MUCH better then their CD versions. (And visa versa). BUT last nights listening to the 1st side of Tracy Chapmans 1st album proved that the low end can be tremendous with just a Rega P25/RB600 Super Elys set-up. My Vandy 2W was humming (not 60Hz) perfectly. I have never heard such perfect low end from vinyl.
opalchip
355 posts
 
Definitely agree with Nsgarch's post.

But also for me, it's not a question of comparing "image and separation" or "dynamics". I don't think there's really a valid argument that even the highest end TT can equal digital's measurements in those respects - because you just can't cut into vinyl without using compression and radical equalization, nor can you play vinyl back without encountering crosstalk or some amount of mistracking in complex passages.

Obversely - the most expensive digital rig can't possibly add back in the resolution that was lost in digital encoding.

To some people, the "magic" of ultra-holographic imaging or blow-your-hats-off dynamics are the cat's meows - which is fine, and Digital is great for them.

But for me, the bottom line is sitting there listening to the music, and I just physically can't stand listening to the vast majority of CD's anymore - don't know why and don't really care. If they upgrade the resolution of digital media significantly, perhaps it may start working for me.

But of course, let's not forget that lp's will always be more fun.
electroid OP
283 posts
 
To Nsgarch -thanks for the reply. You wrote: The cartridge is a hi-output, moving iron device hardly in the same league as your MF player, and God-knows what kind of ancient tonearm cable is coming out of your Thorens, which is no doubt badly in need of a new idler wheel to keep wow and flutter within bounds.

The tonearm has RCA outs of its own which are not part of the Thorens which is belt drive with a new belt. As you can see in my post my issue is mostly image and soudstage and less so the bass. The passive linestage is probably the reason on the bass issue. I have a VPI cleaner and about 800 records. I guess there is no majic pre for $2K and a cable upgrade from cart to pre that will make me happy. The wood body Grado is $800 retail but from a former MC rig I know thats where I want to be. I just couldn't find a pre with enough gain and output to support my passive linestage which is the best thing with my Trivista. Maybe I should try the Trivista phono pre.... anybody have one?

ET
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