Vinyl and Digital: How does the sound or listening experience differ?

[213Cobra]

Thanks for the reply. It is not so common to find audiophiles who do this - I use an amp that has a single digital input… I have an M2Tech Joplin, but unfortunately the DSP became glitchy, and I decided to try it as a pure ADC with an analog phono stage (Phasemation, entry model) and have not bothered getting it fixed since then (I rarely play non RIAA records…). I was curious about the Puffin as well.

For one of my tonearm/cartridge chains I used a Joplin Mk II phono ADC into Young Mk III DAC. It was sonically quite persuasive and easy to listen to, but the Joplin was relatively noisy as its one downside. This was 2017-2020. The m2tech chief engineer was forthcoming that more noise needed to be wrung out of the Joplin, which I believe was addressed in the 2023 Joplin Mk III. I may find one just to find out. The Parks Puffin and Blackwing are much quieter, and the EQ customizations as well as the phono setup tools included are quite useful. But you have to cloak it from analog police.

Phil

 

[hopkins]

For one of my tonearm/cartridge chains I used a Joplin Mk II phono ADC into Young Mk III DAC. It was sonically quite persuasive and easy to listen to, but the Joplin was relatively noisy as its one downside. This was 2017-2020. The m2tech chief engineer was forthcoming that more noise needed to be wrung out of the Joplin, which I believe was addressed in the 2023 Joplin Mk III. I may find one just to find out. The Parks Puffin and Blackwing are much quieter, and the EQ customizations as well as the phono setup tools included are quite useful. But you have to cloak it from analog police.

Phil

I have the 2023 version, with the external power supply. I could only compare the ADC with some cheap models, so I have no real benchmark. I suspect the DSP implementation may be the weaker point. I would be curious to try the Puffin. We could swap - just kidding

 

[Daro]

Yes, optimizing for one source, often analog, seems to be a factor. I have digital as my only source, and my system is optimized around it (system details in my signature below, visible on phone if turned sIdeways), including speaker set-up.

I am very pleased with the result, and my personal perception is that it compares favorably to the vinyl playback that I have heard countless times in other systems, also in terms of the "natural freshness" that you mention.

Congratulations on a very interesting system and your satisfaction. The Mola Mola Tambaqui is a very good DAC!
I have Mola Mola monoblocks.

I'm constantly experimenting.

I was recently positively impressed by the Grimm MU2 at a show; the sound surprised me.