I'm still working to love digital, are you?

Okay, I know that I'm likely to suffer some slings and arrows posting this, but fire away (don't get too personal, please) because I believe this is important. I admit that I don't have the most whiz bang audio system by a long shot (It's trailing edge) but the totality of the enjoyment is huge. I recently purchased here on Audiogon a used active system and must say that everything is more musical. It's hard to describe but I'll try. First, all but the worst recordings are enjoyable in the ways we are all looking for; three dimensional sound stage....wide, tall and deep. Second, harshness (digital and poor vinyl) and background noise (vinyl) is reduced by a huge degree. Third, music simply washes over you. Fourth, the feeling is that it is effortless. Fifth, as a result of the other benefits you will play and enjoy music that you love but can't stand to listen to. Put another way, most, if not all, of the annoying characteristics of a not-so-stellar recording are dimenished more than I can describe.

Assuming that most of the fine folks here are somewhat open minded I suggest the following: Grab three examples of each vinyl and CD. You should have you best, so-so and worst case of each format. Find an active system to audition your software. Then report back in the forums what you experienced.

My guess is that many of you will be listening to waaaay lesser systems than you own and I ask that you only compare the active vs. standard crossover in the same system used in auditioning. Somehow, reference mentally the differences if applied to your own equipment.

I have become quite satisfied with digital sources even on what most would consider a rather mediocre playback device. This concept has become quite an equalizer in my own system, and this is coming from a vinyl guy.

I may as well confess to owning an all Linn system. I know that there are "better" turntables, "superior" solid state and "finer" speakers than what I own. I only know that now when I try to be a critical listener I can't focus on that for long but find myself listening to the music instead.

Sorry if I sound like I've gotten religion here. It's that big an improvement, though.

Happy listening,
Patrick

You don't sound at all like you've gotten religion, lugnut. You sound just as you should sound: Someone happy with his equipment and enjoying his music. Long may you wave.

Sixteen bit CDs were certainly the 8-tracks of the 90's. They had very little to offer other than, as pointed out before, they were the only source for new music, hardly a ringing endorsement of sound quality. Appologists for the CD always rattle off the great strengths of the medium, strengths that rarely gell into a complete and unified whole.

Although I find myself sharing Eric's views in the digital/analog comparison debate, I'm not trying to learn to "love digital." I'm hoping that I can improve my digital playback equipment so that someday it will bring me as much pleasure as my analog playback equipment because there is so much wonderful music available on digital media that is not (or no longer) available on vinyl. Thus, for me, whether or not digital is more "musically accurate" than analog (with the greatest respect for Will's opinion, I think not), or whether or not analog provides more "comfortable sex" than digital, are regretfully irrelevant questions. Unless you have no interest in listening to anything but stuff you already have, one really has little choice but to jump on the digital bandwagon and rejoice at every practical improvement.

Still, being from the analog camp - I must end by saying that if you've never heard a good analog set-up and have a chance to do so, do yourself a favor . . .

Ron

Ron. In the same sort of thread a good while back, I asked a vinylist (is that a word, I like it...) who posed this sort of challenge (again is that the right word?) what was his suggestion insofar as a tt/arm/cartridge combo that is a must hear and insofar as decent recordings to feed that thing with for such a test, but the gentlemen never got back to me. Therefore, I ask you the same question: what should I track down and listen to in order that I convince myself of the musical superiority of the analog tt over digital cd ?

Very few local shops have any anlog rigs set up for audition. Will I hit upon a correctly set up rig, or will the out be, as is so often cited, that the package did not gel in some way and my audition should be disregarded? Can I go with any kind of vinyl recording or should I limit my audition to mint special pressings of music with a steady musical content?

An answer to my first question is all I actually need. The rest probably tips my hand a bit.

And, for the record, I have kept a tt in my system, for what I can, pompously, call archival reasons. I just wonder how good vinyl can actually be without my having to spend a bundle and feel that I have to bail out or else justify my purchase by smiling sweetly.

Whatever tool you use, may the art of the music itself shine through.

I anticipation of your answer, I remain ...