I don't want this to get too emotional, but I'm quite curious about others' opinions on this issue.
A recent thread at Audio Circle got me to thinking again about the price disparity between LP playback and digital disc playback (not even considering computer > DAC playback). Quite a few vinylistas (and I really can't think of a better term) were suggesting to a gentleman with a very nice system (Pass Labs XA-160.5 monoblocks,First Sound Paramount Plus mkIII tube preamp (single ended only),AMR DP-777 DAC modified by Avatar Acoustics,Bolder modified Squeezebox Touch with Bolder deluxe power supply,Daedalus Ulysses AP speakers,Dynamic Design cables) and apparently no LP experience that very very inexpensive LP playback equipment would be adequate to give him an idea how LP's sound. I think they are crazy, and argued instead for at least a good mid-level LP system (like Class B).
Looking at Stereophile's most recent Recommended Components, the rough median price for table/arm/cartridge/preamp in Class B is about $8000. For digital, comparable values for Class B is $1500, Class A is $4200, and Class A+ is only $9000!!
So do audiophiles who prefer LP's really think the best digital is only equivalent to mid-level LP playback, and entry level LP (arbitrarily defined by me as under $1000 for the whole shebang) sonically comparable to good mid-level digital (like the gentleman's system described above)?
A recent thread at Audio Circle got me to thinking again about the price disparity between LP playback and digital disc playback (not even considering computer > DAC playback). Quite a few vinylistas (and I really can't think of a better term) were suggesting to a gentleman with a very nice system (Pass Labs XA-160.5 monoblocks,First Sound Paramount Plus mkIII tube preamp (single ended only),AMR DP-777 DAC modified by Avatar Acoustics,Bolder modified Squeezebox Touch with Bolder deluxe power supply,Daedalus Ulysses AP speakers,Dynamic Design cables) and apparently no LP experience that very very inexpensive LP playback equipment would be adequate to give him an idea how LP's sound. I think they are crazy, and argued instead for at least a good mid-level LP system (like Class B).
Looking at Stereophile's most recent Recommended Components, the rough median price for table/arm/cartridge/preamp in Class B is about $8000. For digital, comparable values for Class B is $1500, Class A is $4200, and Class A+ is only $9000!!
So do audiophiles who prefer LP's really think the best digital is only equivalent to mid-level LP playback, and entry level LP (arbitrarily defined by me as under $1000 for the whole shebang) sonically comparable to good mid-level digital (like the gentleman's system described above)?