Dear @fsmithjack : """ because I just know so little and would like a turntable that would sound better than my digital and has that great sound everyone speaks of. """
Years ago was more easy to define which analog rig beats the digital alternative but today the top digital alternative is unbeatable not only by the analog/LP but even by the R2R one.
Digital alternative growing up to today very high status and does not stops there, almost every day digital is improving where analog/LP just " stays " as 10 years o more status: no true/real improvements and with almost no hope to improves.
I’m a music lover and analog lover too but I can’t close the sun with one finger to tell that analog beats digital alternative when in true reality is the other way around: like it or not to we analog lovers.
I speak in that way because my main target is to be/stay nearer/truer to the recording and the endless imperfection characteristics in the recording and playback of the analog/LP alternative preclude to be nearer to te recording ( on what the microphones pick up. ) as the digital one. This is a fact, no discussion about: it’s useless and in this same forum we analized more than one time that true.
Why audiophiles are in love with analog/LP? because almost all of us are accustomed to the analog/LP high distortions levels. We are not accustomed to the real true that’s what digital shows to us.
In the next link you can read this by the OP of the thread ( a truly " modest " system vs yours but.....says a lot. ):
""" But recently I got a PS Audio Directstream Jr Dac and it’s blowing my mind - for the first time in my life I am listening to way more digital than analog. """
the link: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/vac-sigma-160i-se-or-arc-ls26-primaluna-dialogue-premium
If I was you what I make is to invest in continue fine tunning the room/system including that digital alternative at software/hardware levels. These money and consuming time will gives you more enjoyment/rewards than the best analog/LP experience in that system.
Now, looking your very nice audio system I see that you have two subwoofers that I don’t know how are connected .
Your speakers cross over to the mid range at around 300 hz that’s to high frequency that develops intermodulation distortion level that are higher than what is desired ( even with the Magico " pedigree ". )
So, the subwoofers for stereo listening is a must to have and not as bass reinforcement but to lower in significative levels that intermodulation distortion and harmonic distortion level too .
To achieve that those two subwoofers must have be connected in true stereo fashion crossing at around 80hz-85hz to the Magico’s. This means that the Magico will handle the frequency range from 80hz-85hz to 50khz that is the S5 hig limit frequency and the subs will play from 80hz-85hz and down all the bass range.
Doing this will gives you non-imaginable rewards in the whole quality level performance of your Stereo system. Till you do it you can’t know what I’m talking about. You can be sure that your system will shines as never before.
As always the best judge is you because the " ball " is in your court side.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
Years ago was more easy to define which analog rig beats the digital alternative but today the top digital alternative is unbeatable not only by the analog/LP but even by the R2R one.
Digital alternative growing up to today very high status and does not stops there, almost every day digital is improving where analog/LP just " stays " as 10 years o more status: no true/real improvements and with almost no hope to improves.
I’m a music lover and analog lover too but I can’t close the sun with one finger to tell that analog beats digital alternative when in true reality is the other way around: like it or not to we analog lovers.
I speak in that way because my main target is to be/stay nearer/truer to the recording and the endless imperfection characteristics in the recording and playback of the analog/LP alternative preclude to be nearer to te recording ( on what the microphones pick up. ) as the digital one. This is a fact, no discussion about: it’s useless and in this same forum we analized more than one time that true.
Why audiophiles are in love with analog/LP? because almost all of us are accustomed to the analog/LP high distortions levels. We are not accustomed to the real true that’s what digital shows to us.
In the next link you can read this by the OP of the thread ( a truly " modest " system vs yours but.....says a lot. ):
""" But recently I got a PS Audio Directstream Jr Dac and it’s blowing my mind - for the first time in my life I am listening to way more digital than analog. """
the link: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/vac-sigma-160i-se-or-arc-ls26-primaluna-dialogue-premium
If I was you what I make is to invest in continue fine tunning the room/system including that digital alternative at software/hardware levels. These money and consuming time will gives you more enjoyment/rewards than the best analog/LP experience in that system.
Now, looking your very nice audio system I see that you have two subwoofers that I don’t know how are connected .
Your speakers cross over to the mid range at around 300 hz that’s to high frequency that develops intermodulation distortion level that are higher than what is desired ( even with the Magico " pedigree ". )
So, the subwoofers for stereo listening is a must to have and not as bass reinforcement but to lower in significative levels that intermodulation distortion and harmonic distortion level too .
To achieve that those two subwoofers must have be connected in true stereo fashion crossing at around 80hz-85hz to the Magico’s. This means that the Magico will handle the frequency range from 80hz-85hz to 50khz that is the S5 hig limit frequency and the subs will play from 80hz-85hz and down all the bass range.
Doing this will gives you non-imaginable rewards in the whole quality level performance of your Stereo system. Till you do it you can’t know what I’m talking about. You can be sure that your system will shines as never before.
As always the best judge is you because the " ball " is in your court side.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.