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

I've always had a turntable in my system, just inexpensive ones until now. I don't own a record cleaning machine. I just use a brush to take the dust off. Many of my records are over 35 years old and have been neither pampered or abused. I have very few ticks and pops, and for the most part they don't interfere with my enjoyment of the music.

The soundstage and dimensionality on decent recordings exceed even my best digital ones. Sounds float free from the confines of the speakers. I now have incredible bass. I didn't think it was possible via LP to achieve that level of impact. I purchased a quality setup here on A-Gon for a price I was pleased with. The cartidge was purchased from my local dealer. I bought the Fremer dvd, the alignment tools, digital vtf scale, and learned as much as I could. It still takes some fiddling, trial and error adjustments to get the right sound. I use the Musical Surroundings Phonomena which works just fine for me.

I've heard Linn tables before and I never did hear a system fronted by one sound bad. I think you need to revisit your setup. I've read about some of the Linn specific tuning, like the springs, dressing of the leads, and all the updates that are available which makes the setup more complicated. Keep trying if you like those records.

First of all, if you are expecting LPs to be as dead quiet as digital, it is not going to happen. Digital is what I call "look ma, no hands" technology. Anyone can buy a CD player and plug it up and get whatever goodness you enjoy out of CDs. LP systems take far more work than CD based systems in order to extract their maximum potential. If you are not willing to put the time and energy into it, give up. If your records sound like a rice krispy symphony, than they were not taken care of properly either in past use or storage. CDs don't have more depth, width, or height soundstage-wise than LPs. Something is amiss in your setup. Whether you care to get to the bottom of it is something you need to decide.

Dear Missioncoonery: +++++ " even though the analog systems Ive heard recently never came close to my setup. " ++++++

well seems to me that you and your ears are already " equalized " to digital: nothing wrong with that.

Your statement could means to me that you own a good audio system ( do you buy/own the Avalon speakers you talk in past posts?. ) that was build around digital source.

If all that is true and especially that you own a good audio system and that you want to enjoy again LP's seems to me that you need to give a better opportunity to LP's, IMHO you decide to spend almost the less to comeback so the result was/is according what you decided about. Of course that I can be wrong, you are the boss here.

In the other side and even with that analog rig things can't be so bad, obviously in your system are.

+++++ " new Akito2 arm,belt,oil,Denon DL160,cables..had it setup correctly. " +++++

in the last 30 years somethings already change or improve and one of them is the critical importance match between cartridge and tonearm where any one aspire to find the right synergy. Akito is not one of my favorities ( maybe the Grace that coming with the LP12 is a lot better if in good operation condition. ) as either the 160 cartridge that is not a good LOMC cartridge and that is not a good MM/MI cartridge either.
IMHO if you want a good analog source then go for better choice: a LOMC or a MM/MI, not a " hybrid ".

There are at least four set up factors that like you say must be correctly: overhang and cartridge offset angle, VTA/SRA, VTF and Azymuth. Could be important that you make a check up again.

In the other hand is convenient that you can hear during the cartridge set up and during the cartridge fine tunning time ( after cartridge settle down. ) to LP's that you know very well with out digital source comparisons, you will have time latter to made comparisons.
Better if you have an audio friend that could help about in case that you don't have any " reference quality sound " with LP's.

All my comments are in good shape and trying/figuring how to help you.

If I was you and after what I posted if things goes the same then my first move will be the Dgarretson advise: try a new cartridge with the MM/MI Ortofon vintage NOS analog source alternative for " cents ", this cartridge is really good and I can't see a critical problem with your Akito/LP-12:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=400085013949&Category=64620&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D1

Certainly is very difficult to know ( at distance and with out hearing it. ) what is happen in your analog rig performance so take my advise with a" grain of salt ".

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

All things considered, I prefer digital to analog.

A couple of things: There is great digital and there is great analog. I recently heard the new PS Audio Perfectwave and I was amazed. Incredible musical presentation. I have to admit, there is something that analog does that has me hooked. To me, it just sounds like music. What you are saying about analog not having a great soundstage, well if this is the case, something is amiss in your system. If you like digital, which it sounds like you do, give the perfectwave a listen. It will sound better than almost every CD player you have ever heard, I kid you not. It may be the direction for the future of audio and it is very encouraging to say the least.