Another should I add vinyl thread

JM1911

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Mar 17, 2021
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Yes, I know, not another one of these threads, but I am really stuck. I currently have an all digital setup, streaming and stored digital files and ripped CD’s on my Innuos Zen mkIII via Chord Qutest to a PrimaLuna EVO 400i. I have been contemplating adding analog to my system, like a Clearaudio concept table and Hana cartridge. I am NOT hear to debate which one is better. Is it because of sonic qualities or just the nostalgic reasons of spinning vinyl. I just don’t know if I want a turntable because it would be new gear to play with or if I think it has sonic qualities that I am missing with digital. I would have to buy new vinyl as I really only have a few of my albums from when I was teenager in the 80’s, and that was my last experience with vinyl. Maybe I should just put the money towards upgrading digital components. Am I missing something truly special in the audio world if I’m all digital? Thanks for your thoughts
 

ddk

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May 18, 2013
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Yes, I know, not another one of these threads, but I am really stuck. I currently have an all digital setup, streaming and stored digital files and ripped CD’s on my Innuos Zen mkIII via Chord Qutest to a PrimaLuna EVO 400i. I have been contemplating adding analog to my system, like a Clearaudio concept table and Hana cartridge. I am NOT hear to debate which one is better. Is it because of sonic qualities or just the nostalgic reasons of spinning vinyl. I just don’t know if I want a turntable because it would be new gear to play with or if I think it has sonic qualities that I am missing with digital. I would have to buy new vinyl as I really only have a few of my albums from when I was teenager in the 80’s, and that was my last experience with vinyl. Maybe I should just put the money towards upgrading digital components. Am I missing something truly special in the audio world if I’m all digital? Thanks for your thoughts
It’s not a given that vinyl will always sound better than your digital but the potential is definitely there if done right and with proper setup. There’s both good and bad new vinyl same as old vinyl, digital is the same way. For best results you have to be selective with both the hardware and software, turntables have the additional important step of proper setup.

david
 

microstrip

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Yes, I know, not another one of these threads, but I am really stuck. I currently have an all digital setup, streaming and stored digital files and ripped CD’s on my Innuos Zen mkIII via Chord Qutest to a PrimaLuna EVO 400i. I have been contemplating adding analog to my system, like a Clearaudio concept table and Hana cartridge. I am NOT hear to debate which one is better. Is it because of sonic qualities or just the nostalgic reasons of spinning vinyl. I just don’t know if I want a turntable because it would be new gear to play with or if I think it has sonic qualities that I am missing with digital. I would have to buy new vinyl as I really only have a few of my albums from when I was teenager in the 80’s, and that was my last experience with vinyl. Maybe I should just put the money towards upgrading digital components. Am I missing something truly special in the audio world if I’m all digital? Thanks for your thoughts

Too many unknowns to be of any help, except asking a few questions. What type of music and recordings do you listen? Do you already have a good LP collection? Or do expect to enjoy chasing, caring and collecting used LPs? Or, even more simple, are you needing a new hobby? :)

Most people returning to vinyl do it for nostalgia and social reasons, and feel very happy listening to current LPs, that are digitally processed. They listen to them with friends, play them in parties and the easily available LPs are excellent birthday gifts.
 

JM1911

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Too many unknowns to be of any help, except asking a few questions. What type of music and recordings do you listen? Do you already have a good LP collection? Or do expect to enjoy chasing, caring and collecting used LPs? Or, even more simple, are you needing a new hobby? :)

Thanks microstrip, great questions. I don’t have a vinyl collection, only maybe 20 albums left from teen 80’s day. I think looking at used record stores could be fun, but unfortunately none of my good friends appreciate music like I do. I listen to a lot of female vocal like Sarah Jarosz, Alison Krauss, Norah Jones, modern bluegrass, classic jazz.
 

TooCool4

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Feb 7, 2013
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Firstly you need to work out exactly why you want a turntable, if it’s just nostalgia then I say forget it as the novelty will soon wear-off.
Playing LP’s is a bit more involved, if you think you can just sit down and just play music by pressing a few buttons like a digital source then I say give it a miss.

The only thing you are missing is a different experience.
 

BlueFox

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Personally, I will never go back to vinyl. It had its time, but that time is long gone.
 
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Lagonda

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How dedicated are you to really good sound ? If you want vinyl to go all the way, you have to have some setup skills and the hearing to hear the difference when adjusting. A lot of people just never get it right, partly because it is not plug and play :oops: Sticking to digital is definitely the safe bet, and you can alway convince yourself it is just as good, a lot of people do !;)
 

Ron Resnick

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. . .Am I missing something truly special in the audio world if I’m all digital? . . .

If you acquire a basic vinyl set-up and have someone set up the turntable and cartridge properly,* then my answer to you is YES!

I believe that the best way to enjoy a digital-only stereo is to never allow yourself to hear well-sorted analog. I think some digital-only audiophiles choose as a life-style matter to avoid the undeniable hassle of vinyl, and convince themselves that digital is just as emotionally-involving as analog to avoid cognitive dissonance.**

The organic-ness and tweaky-ness and the handling of physical media and the flipping of records are, to me, all annoying, all downsides. They definitely are not why I choose to deal with vinyl. There is nothing nostalgic about playing records that prompts me to cling to vinyl playback. But, for me, the emotional connection to the music which vinyl affords me outweighs those downsides and hassles.

There is no disputing that digital is easier and more convenient. But convenience is an answer to a different question.

*Unfortunately, I think that even many well-intentioned dealers are not expert at aligning cartridges.

**Top digital playback has gotten so good (for example, Lampizator, MSB) that a state-of-the-art digital system can easily beat a modest analog system and a state -of-the-art analog system which is not properly set up. Also, very generally, I prefer to listen to digital recordings on digital playback systems.
 
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bonzo75

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Yes, I know, not another one of these threads, but I am really stuck. I currently have an all digital setup, streaming and stored digital files and ripped CD’s on my Innuos Zen mkIII via Chord Qutest to a PrimaLuna EVO 400i. I have been contemplating adding analog to my system, like a Clearaudio concept table and Hana cartridge. I am NOT hear to debate which one is better. Is it because of sonic qualities or just the nostalgic reasons of spinning vinyl. I just don’t know if I want a turntable because it would be new gear to play with or if I think it has sonic qualities that I am missing with digital. I would have to buy new vinyl as I really only have a few of my albums from when I was teenager in the 80’s, and that was my last experience with vinyl. Maybe I should just put the money towards upgrading digital components. Am I missing something truly special in the audio world if I’m all digital? Thanks for your thoughts

Looking at the budget of your system, analog discovery cost will be too high before you settle down on analog gear. While people might tell you even a TD 124 with SPU done right can sound good, that will be relatively expensive by the time you finish with all the ancillaries. And you are not going to stop at that. And then records can be more expensive than the gear since you don't have any. So, the budget expense will be extremely high, so best to stop now and just stream. Don't get into sonic superiority discussions, that is just a sport
 

Ron Resnick

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. . . And you are not going to stop at that. . . .

Not everyone makes a lifelong project of auditioning and research without ever settling on a stereo one is happy with.:)

I had the same exact set of stereo components for 18 years.
 

bonzo75

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Not everyone makes a lifelong project of auditioning and research without ever settling on a stereo one is happy with.:)

I had the same exact set of stereo components for 18 years.

So people who settle with don't resettle? They have only one, and don't keep changing carts, phonos, arms, etc? And his first one will sound right?
 

Ron Resnick

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His first one may very well sound right to him -- which is all that matters -- even if it does not meet your exalted standards.

Before that 18 year stretch without a component change I was happy with my VPI HW-19, SME 309, Sumiko Bluepoint and conrad-johnson phono stage + line-stage preamplifier.
 

Ron Resnick

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. . . They have only one, and don't keep changing carts, phonos, arms, etc? . . .

As you have correctly and insightfully pointed out there are several sub-hobbies to this hobby. One of those sub-hobbies is swapping boxes and tonearms and cartridges endlessly for fun and sport. That sub-hobby is totally optional.
 

bonzo75

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As you have correctly and insightfully pointed out there are several sub-hobbies to this hobby. One of those sub-hobbies is swapping boxes and tonearms and cartridges endlessly for fun and sport. That sub-hobby is totally optional.

Yes but even to get it right first time is a cost and he has no records
 

Ron Resnick

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Sure, so he can figure out a total budget and allocate those dollars thoughtfully to buy a turntable, tonearm, cartridge and phono stage.

A Clearaudio Concept turntable and a Hana cartridge seems like a very reasonable way to go.
 

dwhistance

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I really think it depends on the type of music you like and which fomat(s) good recordings are mostly available in. Optimising several formats rapidly gets expensive.

David Whistance
 

JM1911

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His first one may very well sound right to him -- which is all that matters -- even if it does not meet your exalted standards.

Before that 18 year stretch without a component change I was happy with my VPI HW-19, SME 309, Sumiko Bluepoint and conrad-johnson phono stage + line-stage preamplifier.
Thanks. I went about 20 years without a component change, however I was just casually listening during a lot of that timeframe. B&W CDM9NT, Classe audio separate, Sony 9000ES SACD player. Then we moved and built a new home. Shortly after our home was built, but before the basement was finished and the alarm was installed we had a break in. Among personal items, jewelry, they took a box full of my CD’s. It happened to have all my SACD collection.
finished the basement, COVID hit and I have been working at home for a year and really realized how much I enjoy music. upgraded every item. Of all of them, getting into tubes with the PrimaLuna was the most amazing upgrade I have made.
I like to tinker and tweak stuff, but I am just not sure if vinyl is for me. It might be different if I had a vinyl collection to begin with. I’m just not sure, this decision is really twisting me in different directions.
 

Solypsa

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Take a step back ( from the gear question ), and ask yourself:

Do you enjoy record collecting? The hunt, the social aspect, the cataloging, the sharing? Yes this can be done digitally however its a notch up when dealing with physical media.

Can you accept the physical presence of 200 to 300 lps in your life? ( a real minimum imho )

Do you listen to large-to-whole parts of albums without getting distracted when listening to digital?


Might just answer your own question next :)
 

TooCool4

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If you have doubts already even before you’ve started, then it’s not for you. I know if I have doubts and I have to overly think anything, it’s best not to go there.

Re previous post, I know some people use the word collecting. Me I collect nothing, I love music and I just happen to buy them on vinyl. My music is not a collection, it's just music I love that I happen to have bought on vinyl. I mean do people collect music on streams? As it's just the same thing on a different format, is it not?
 
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