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What to make of my system?

I last week got my analog up and running, and am havin a blast with it, so I went and did some A-B testing and I am scratchin my head, the Analog has an edge but it is small so now I wonder if my digital is pretty good or could my analog use some tweaking.
I am using an AMC as a transport into a Theta Pro BasicII DAC with Cardass Hexlink. My analog is a SOTA star/shaphire with a Grado Signature arm wich has had the wiring upgraded and an old but new Ortofon cartridge FF10 XE, all running into a Sonic Frontiers SFL1 tube pre.
So my point is....when looking at this gear, should the Vinyl blow away the digital? Or am I lucky that although the SOTA is smoother....that its not a huge disapointment to listen to CD's?
Not a really big deal post here, just curious on opinions thanks as always............. Chad
chadnliz
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Chad- how old is the cart? Could be some suspension aging issues with NOS carts.
chadnliz OP
3,736 posts
 
Yes I think that replacement might help, a Clear Audio wooden Virtuoso (sp) is going on this weekend so I am looking forward to what it offers, but to be honest it does sound pretty pleasing right now, so if it gets better then thats pretty cool.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,735 posts
 
Your Theta Pro Basic-II should not be underestimated.
This unit was part of a system which provided sound to make time stop (in dweller's world).
I've had only a handful of these moments in my 16 year audio career.
My point is, a great piece of audio equipment stands the test of time.
Don't assume because equipment is a few years old that it's inferior to current offerings.
herman
2,215 posts
 
Digital gear, just like your home computer, has advanced by leaps and bounds. A DAC that is 15 years old is as obsolete as a computer running Windows 3.1. A current mid priced CD player will easily outperform mid priced digital gear like your Theta from that era.

That said, I find it curious that you find your digital gear to be close to the performance of your analog. The logical conclusion is that the analog gear it is not properly aligned or it is worn out as suggested above.
chadnliz OP
3,736 posts
 
I do think it can be better, and the new cart should be exciting to try, but the thing is........it really sounds very good! And I am usually the first to say it couold be better, if you look at some of my postings it will be clear that I find alot of things I would like to improove.
I am getting tons of detail with great bass and no tracking problems with the high frequencies, so I am just a bit puzzled that the digital sounds as good as it does, ofcourse this is recording dependant.
In close all I know is that as good as it sounds now, it will be very cool if it can only get better. The only thing I can add is that I heard a VPI Aries with I believe an SME arm and I cant remember the cart, but that must not have been exactly ideal because mine tracks much better and is alot more pleasing...more info to come but thanks for replies.
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