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
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.
Boy, I have to totally disgree with that musical concept.IMO a home system at its finest will reproduce the "live performance"feeling.When I go live I know exactly where the sax is,the bass,piano,etc etc etc.If it sounds like a soup mix Im guessing the sound guys at the bar.If we all had that opion on how a recording should sound then a boom box would do just fine
Bluebottle, I don't think that anyone's post or response was meant for you personally. At least mine wasn't.

I agree that the OP's original post asked a question. But it seems that some of the respondants cannot understand, and for some reason are taking very personally, that Missioncoonery just doesn't want, or is happy with, a vinyl playback system. He has received several good suggestions and, apparently, it's just not meeting his needs. Hence my post.
Missioncoonery: In your original post you say you "had it (turntable) set up correctly". Poor cartridge alignment can contribute to the concerns you describe. If I knew the cartridge was settled in, I'd recheck overhang, alignment, and try small tracking force adjustments.
For a different impression:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ranlg&1031089600&openfrom&26&4#26
Timeltel
Yes, Ive tried playing with the tracking force more than a few times.The cartridge has now about 60-70 hours on it and was told it would be broken in at around 25-40 hours.The Linn dealer who BTW did not sell me the cartridge but only suggested it told me that the DL160 is by no means cheap and under performing the table even though it was $180.00. Yes it isnt up to snuff with some of the above mentioned cartridges but given my funds it excells.The alignment and overhang have been checked several times as well.It does sound better than when I first started no doubt thanks to help from this site.My mistake I think is comparing it to the digital side.I also think when funds are available ill step up to a better cartridge and see what happens..