2. analog
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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
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear Bluebottle: +++++ " if you can, go tube phono. it will expand the stage, speakers will disappear. this can be an issue if you use a low output cart cuz good QUIET tube phono's are quite expensive, but in my opinon it's the only way. " +++++

I respect your opinion but IMHO " it is not the only way ", very far from there even overall IMHO tubes are not the right technology for a phono stage especially on LOMC cartridges.

It seems to me that like you say: " it is the only way " FOR YOU and nothing more.

There are excellent SS phono stages out there that not only compete with but that surpass the tube performance.

If you are interested about you need to learn on the subject and then you could find that what you think today is only a " myth " a false myth.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
missioncoonery OP
732 posts
 
To the response above..Im sure If I wanted to spend $1000s more the system would come around(maybe)..BUT and thats a big but I dont want to do that..Ive invested 3 grand as it sits,that aint chump change to me.The Linn is still considered a very good table from what Ive read.The phono isnt the best but its not junk as well as all the other components etc.Im in the mindset after continous tweeks it is what it is..Ive tried a couple 180g(at $30 a pop) records with a little improvement but not worth the investment ,again this is all compared to my digital side..Im not dumping the analog but it appears to me its not the go to by no means.Thanks to all that have given advise on and off this site
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
the linn is wonderful, but records are records.
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear friends: IMHO this is a learning thread coming by the three Missioncoonery posts.

He begin asking for ( almost crying for. ): """ Any positive imput or suggestions is appreciated. """"""

After that everyone of us give him our best advise according our each one knowledge trying to help and trying that his " comeback to analogue could be change and be successful ".

Then he answer that everything in his analog rig set up is fine ( that obviously is not. ) and he decide not to make any single change or follow any of the advise posted here.

Finally, he say: thank you all.

I wonder why any one begin a thread looking for help and when he has that " help " he says: NO?????I'm just fine.

Of course that he has the right, and I respect that, to do whatever he wants to feel satisfied.

Anyway, only a thoughts.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
daverz
477 posts
 
Franky, the cart is just way overmatched by the rest of the system. You're dealer either gave you bad advice or misjudged your finickyness if they suggested a less than $200 budget for a cart on an over $3000 system.

Audiophiles like to exaggerate the differences between digital components, but the differences are subtle compared to analog components. Differences between analog components are rarely subtle. You have not heard enough to judge the medium.

You do not have to spend thousands or even $500 for a better cart, but you can't expect a "starter" cart to make you happy. I went through about 4 carts, all highly regarded, before I found one that I was really happy with (an under $400 cart).

I would try to get the dealer to loan you a different cart (I would suggest a Dynavector or Benz low output MC). It's not common for dealers to loan carts, but if you make clear how unhappy you are, they might extend you the courtesy, or at least give you some trade-in value on the Denon. There's no point in spending this kind of money and then stopping a few hundred bucks short of acceptable sound.
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