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Changing from Vinyl to Digital in Brave New World

This is bound to provoke some reactions, and I purposely posted in the analog forum since the digital forum is probably preaching to the converted.
(Maybe I don't want to make the change but enough self-analysis). I've owned and played vinyl since the mid-60's and have had numerous good to great rigs over the years, currently running something that is state of the art, big Kuzma table/Lamms/Avantgarde horns. I still have an old pair of Quad 57's which need restoration and a pair of Crosby Quads that haven't seen a charge since I bought the Avantgardes. And, anywhere from 6-8 thousand records.
Here's the question. I retired recently, and am planning to move (to Austin) where I will continue to work at what I love (ahem, it's music business, but that doesn't have anything to do with quality reproduction, I'm sorry to say).
Chances are, I will go from a big dedicated room to having virtually no space, and while I could store all this equipment and records, I'm just not sure it makes sense. (No this is not a subliminal ad for my record collection, not yet, anyway).
So, I'm struggling here with what to do, systemwise. Let's assume that I want small, in the sense of not taking up physical space, and I don't have room for all the vinyl, so I have to go 'digital.' And, to make it really challenging, I'm not going to do a complex system- maybe a very good pair of stereo speakers that don't take up much room, a good integrated (I've been using tubes since the early 70's but if I'm willing to go this far, wouldn't rule out something solid state) and a digital source- everything I've read seems to suggest that good digital sources are in a state of flux, and the standards for hi rez digital files are not fully settled. So I guess the main import of the question has to do with sources other than vinyl- i never really liked CDs for the home but could cope with computer audio if I don't have to spend my time reformatting files. Lastly, I could (and still plan) to refurbish the old Quads at some point, just because they are so iconic and could run them with the ML 2 Lamms, some OTLs or something less esoteric (Atmasphere 60's). But would be interested in views, from the analog crowd. (Let's not use this as a dump on digital thing since that won't help me sort out my thoughts).
TIA.

Bill hart
128x128whart

Showing 3 responses by johnnyb53

johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
If you are this accustomed to a life of vinyl and tubes, if you *must* downsize and digitaize, I recommend you do so at the highest resolution available. I attend a high end open house annually at my local high end store, and to these ears, I find red book standard--even played over the best of the best--just doesn't connect with me the way analog does. *However,* when they play 24/96 and 24/192 sources from a laptop-based server, the music comes much closer to the richness and continuity of analog--I'd say it gets you 80-90% of the way there, and definitely crosses some kind of threshold in refinement compared to CD standard.

There are increasing numbers of 14/96 and 24/192 files available from HDTracks and other high-res download services, and the prices per album are getting more affordable.

Portable hard drives have gotten so inexpensive that even at very high resolution you could store quite a few albums in a small space.

Here's another thought: Maybe you could keep your analog front end, downsize the electronics and speakers (there are lots of excellent integrated amps and monitors and compact subs available now) and store most of your LPs in climate-controlled mini-storage. Then swap in a bundle of LPs as your listening tastes dictate.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
Another thing on the downsizing: high quality small monitors sonically have a lot in common with panel speakers--lack of box colorations, excellent imaging, fast transparent midrange, not much bass below 50 Hz, etc.

Actually, if you want a small room-filling speaker with excellent bass extension and articulate mids and treble, look into the Neat Motive 2 or Motive SE2. The standard 2 uses a titanium inverted dome tweeter. The SE2 uses a circular ribbon tweeter similar to the one in the Genesis. I've heard the Motive 2's. They're only about 30" tall, no stands required, and have real bass down into the 30's.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 

02-29-12: Jfrech
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My only point of contention on the posters above is a killer good sacd transport still beats hi rez computer, at least in my system. SACD's are plentiful if you listen to classical or a bit less plentiful on jazz. Some of my Jazz SACD's that originated from master tape are my best sounding sources.
Thanks for weighing in on this. I eagerly anticipated the arrival of SACDs, but I haven't been all that impressed by them. I'm probably not listening to the right SACD player. My home machines are very entry-level--a Sony changer and an Oppo DV980H. Still, I auditioned SACDs on a $5500 Linn CD/SACD player and it still sounded threadbare compared to the matching LP (played on a Linn TT through the same signal chain and speakers).

What are some good SACD players these days? Thanks in advance.
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