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Back to analog ..was it a mistake???

Like alot in the 1980s I went totally digital.Took my 300+ album collection and boxed them up never thinking I would venture back.My current digital system is about everything I always wanted.Black background,nice sound stage,fast,clean,detailed yet very musical.The speakers disappear and instument seperation is there and in the correct locations.Vocals are superb on all types of music IMO..
From strong suggestions from my bro I decided to try the analog approach again even though the analog systems Ive heard recently never came close to my setup.I bought a mid 1980s Linn lp12 and did some upgrades to it..Mose/Hercules2,new Akito2 arm,belt,oil,Denon DL160,cables..had it setup correctly.Bought a new Musical Surroundings Phono.Spent days cleaning records.What I have in sound is nothing short of a big dissapointment for the time and money spent.Forgetting the snap,crackle, pop which is very hard to get around the sound stage is nowhere to be found.The speakers no longer disappear,its like taking 10 steps backwards..Yea, I know the Linn isnt the beat all table as well as the phono but something is amiss here.Ive tried a few adjustments and things seem to become a little better but when I do the digital it becomes clear my analog attempt sucks.Am I expecting too much from my new investment back to analog???Is all this analog talk just talk from guys who never had a great digital system??Any positive imput or suggestions is appreciated..Thanks in advance
missioncoonery
bluebottle
17 posts
 
i was just giving an opinion , personal experience, and what worked for me. why the correspondence must become personal is beyond me.

i hope you dont give up on trying to improve the sound. it really is worth it. your comments echo exactly what i was feeling at one time. i am so glad i didnt. it just takes a little time.

yes, it can sure get expensive, but, it is a hobby, and as hobbies go, with the help of the "gon", it is much less so.

have fun with this. i wish everyone success in their endeavors.
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 
I suspect the thread got long because those who know how really good vinyl can sound may tend to fall for lost causes...

If you are out of funds try borrowing a better phono stage to be sure that is not your bottleneck. As stated before, there are several NOS MM/MI <$200 that should get you there.
br3098
660 posts
 
I've been reading this post for a while, and I find it a bit amusing. Folks, maybe the OP just doesn't like analog,for whatever his reasons. Get over it and move on.

Maybe the OP's listening preference is for a dead quiet background. Maybe he doesn't know how to or want to spend the time to properly setup an analog rig. Maybe his ear is used to the speed and impact of compressed range music (my wife also prefers digital). For whatever reason this guy is saying that analog just isn't doing it for him.

I say good for Missioncoonery - give the guy a some credit for standing his ground and clearly articulating what his listening preferences are.

I don't understand the missionary zeal of some of you to try and get the OP to repent and see the light as per your own preferences. I found it an interesteing post and it underscores the old adage that "it takes all types".
bluebottle
17 posts
 
i think in 10+ years on the "gon" ,this is my second, maybe third response.
i interpret the start of this string as a question "was it a mistake". in order to properly answer, it is my opinion, that it required more than a yes or no answer.
it was a sincere effort to help. as i re-read his story, it looks like my response was appropriate. if he wants to get out of vinyl, then ok , but that's not what he was asking.

way too much estrogen and time for this boy..

i think i will wait another 10 years..

good luck.
astralography
51 posts
 
I look at it this way...

As a professional musician, and recording artist, I deal with this all the time in the recording and mastering studios.

Instruments are meant to create a blending of sound. If done correctly, one might not be able to always tell what is what because certainly in the recording and mixing of music, you can "BLEND" or what I call "Stew" the mix, into a sonic sort of soup. This is what I like. The analog albums of the past were often mixed this way.. for the listening experience, and the blending of sound.

Having complete separation of every frequency is more like dissecting something that was once living.

The modern digital approach to both sound recording and playback is more about the science of understanding how to dissect, or how to separate things that in reality need to be together to really be ALIVE!

Sure everyone is different, but having a bit of mystery in the music adds interest and intrigue, and it pulls your ear into the music.

You can take your basic kitchen stew, with all the raw ingredients put out on the counter, and eat them individually.... or you can put them all in the pot, with the right ratios, cook them up with some nice hot tubes, and come out with something much more delicious.
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