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

Lewm,

I would not suggest that your speakers specifically are "deficient". All I'm saying that it is not always the case that vinyl always does imaging and sound staging better. In your case, apparently this is true, in mine it is not. Both formats produce similar results that are both competitive with the best I have heard in my case, at least that is my assessment.

I believe based on my observations that when one format sounds categorically better in this regard, something unique is going on in that sources signal path that accounts for it. It may be a combination of multiple factors that add up to less rather than any one thing. The configuration of the speakers in the room could be the culprit. My big OHM 5s cannot work their magic as well without room around them to breath, for example. Same true of many large speaker designs: mbls Maggies and many floorstanders, based on my experience. Sometimes, the system may be capable excelling in this area, but the room is the constraint. In some cases, inferior recordings in this regard might sound better because they do not requrie as much room to breathe properly. Smaller speakers like monitors generally do imaging and soundstage better in smaller or cramped rooms I have found. Bigger is not always better (except in bass levels perhaps but too much of that is not necessarily a good thing either).

Also, having run many speakers on various quality sounding systems over the years, I also know that some speakers do imaging and soundstaging better than others because they do so even with lesser electronics up front and set up in the same room. I've heard this with the OHMs and Triangles in my system representing the best and most other speakers I have tried trailing behind those to various degrees.

Not if you like snap, crackle and pop.

It is always interesting to hear how superior vinyl is to digital. The vinyl comeback certainly has invigorated the industry, and really helped Stereophile have something to talk about, and create a "buzz". But again that buzz has helped the Industry, so that is good, but it does not make it totally true. In my system, where I have bought several lp/cd/sacd/dvd-a duplicates, I would be willing to say the vinyl / digital comparisons sound different , not always one or the other necessarily better. I think once you get personal agendas out of the mix, and the bias one way or the other, both systems can sound fine.

As a kid, watching a record spin and play fascinated me. I think it may have been the first thing to get me interested in a tech/engineering career of some sort. If only CDs came in nice packages like albums used to. CDs are certainly not very interesting visually (sexy?) while playing, another shortcoming. Now that I have things pretty well tuned in, the sound quality is no longer an issue for me.

Dear friends: I'm a little surprise why so much emphasis on " soundstage " ( Mapman, Newbee, etc, etc. ) and what overall means.
Is it does not suppose that the music is the important subject? : tonal balance, pitch, dynamics, instrument real tone, frequency extremes, etc, etc.

the soundstage is important but can't tell us the whole " true " about analog and digital.

I like both formats and understand its " natural "/technology differences as its each one source trade-offs, there is nothing perfect ( yet ) both formats has its ong advantages and limitations learn to know this will help to live in high pleasure with both " formats ".

Which better?, IMHO we can't say if an " orange " is better than an " apple ".
The best IMHO that can do is enjoy both! not compare each to other.

regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.