2. analog
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Vinyl vs. top-notch digital

I have never had an analogy rig. My CD player is a Meridian 800, supposedly one of the very best digital players out there. From what I've read, it appears there is a consensus in our community that a high-quality analog rig playing a good pressing will beat a top notch digital system playing a well-recorded and mastered CD. So here are my questions:

1) How much would one have to invest in analog to easily top the sound quality of the Meridian 800 (or similar quality digital player)? (Include in this the cost of a phono-capable preamp; my "preamp" right now is a Meridian 861 digital surround processor.)

2) How variable is the quality of LPs? Are even "bad" LPs still better than CD counterparts?

Thank you for any comments and guidance you can provide.
jeff_arrington
jdaniel13
129 posts
 
Just a general response to your responses; I wasn't comparing Vinyl with Digital, (hi-rez or otherwise), just vinyl in the first 1/3 with vinyl in the last 1/3. FWIW my "best" set up was the Scoutmaster with 9" arm and Dyna XX2 cart.

Dan, your mention of cannons leads me to believe you possibly interpreted my post as a lament about mis-tracking? Needles jumping out of grooves? If so, that wasn't my point. I never had a problem with mis-tracking, it was just depressing to hear sound "thin" as the arm proceeded through the last 1/3 of record. I'm just not interested in spending beyond the Dyna. If your systems do better, fair enough, no argument or suspicion from me. If you've obviated the problem then I'm happy for you. Indeed, I've never heard digital come close to the immediacy of the best vinyl. At least in the best 1/3. : )
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>06-17-11: Jdaniel13
FWIW my "best" set up was the Scoutmaster with 9" arm<<

Now it all makes sense.

There are few arms that track as poorly as the JMW-9.

And it rings like a bell.

IMO

dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Jdaniel13, I understood what you meant. This does come up from time to time. I would agree with Audiofeil that the arm was probably the source of the issue. FWIW, I've been using a 20x2H for the last few weeks and before that a 10x5. It is definitely not the cartridges. I hope you didn't get so discouraged that you gave up. And, no, you don't have to spend
mega bucks to get there.

Be nice, Bill. OH, you were nice. :-)
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
I think, some analog Set Ups can create ear cancer. Analog reproduction has a lot to do with precision and the knowledge what-is-responsible-for-what....
Digital can be ok, when the Mastering of this silver thing was made from someone who was not totally deaf. but I think, after 30 years of sonic revolution we are no in the Hi-Rez era and all fans from that deserve it. Let's wait a few years and some will say, they heard a felt drum in a dark cave and that was the most natural sound they ever heard...
jdaniel13
129 posts
 
Dan, that's very interesting. I started with the Dyna 20xH and within 30 seconds (of listening to the opening of Rodrigo's Concerto) I was hooked. I must say that upgrading to the XX2 cart better fleshed-out the sound at the end of records but obviously not enough. I bought the Mint Lp protractor as a last resort but never thought about the arm.
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