You are happy with both your high quality Digital front end and your Record Player. How much do you use the latter?

Last six months?

LP12 - 0%

CD555 - 0%

NDX>DAVE - 80%

NAT01 - 20%

Ish.

kevin J Carden posted:

I’m asking because I’m seriously considering adding a decent/middle quality LP12. I really like what I’ve heard in demos today and really impressed with how far it has moved on since I last used one decades ago, but still nagging doubts about how much I would actually use it versus listening to my NDS.

Straw poll time and I’d be really interested to hear from any forum goers who have 2 or more top quality sources who would be good enough to share with me how much of your precious listening time you spend spinning Vinyl..

Kevin

You will use your TT more than you realise Kevin, your NDS is one of the best streamers you can hear but as you have heard this afternoon, a decent TT out performs easily.  No matter how good a streamer is, it just won't sound as organic and as real as a good TT. 

When I want to do some serious listening, I use the TMS, when I want background music its the NAT 01 and when I want something in between its time for the CD 555.

PS, did you get a good listen to the 707's?

Polarbear posted:

kevin J Carden posted:

I’m asking because I’m seriously considering adding a decent/middle quality LP12. I really like what I’ve heard in demos today and really impressed with how far it has moved on since I last used one decades ago, but still nagging doubts about how much I would actually use it versus listening to my NDS.

Straw poll time and I’d be really interested to hear from any forum goers who have 2 or more top quality sources who would be good enough to share with me how much of your precious listening time you spend spinning Vinyl..

Kevin

You will use your TT more than you realise Kevin, your NDS is one of the best streamers you can hear but as you have heard this afternoon, a decent TT out performs easily.  No matter how good a streamer is, it just won't sound as organic and as real as a good TT. 

 

When I want to do some serious listening, I use the TMS, when I want background music its the NAT 01 and when I want something in between its time for the CD 555.

 

PS, did you get a good listen to the 707's?

Thanks PB. Not yet for 707. We did the LP12 dems on 606. I’m back there tomorrow morning for 606 vs 707 with both LP and streamer sources. Sadly no 808. I blame you 

I found I used my latter less and less and I subsequently sold it... but in took one particular DAC for that to happen

Nick Lees posted:

Last six months?

LP12 - 0%

CD555 - 0%

NDX>DAVE - 80%

NAT01 - 20%

Ish.

Wow!  Thanks Nick. Zero CD555 time is just as interesting as zero LP12! Can I ask what spec LP12 you have and what music genre you favour?

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I found I used my latter less and less and I subsequently sold it... but in took one particular DAC for that to happen

Hugo?

I use my LP12 (hi spec) about 30% of the time.  Rest is my NDS.  The only reason the NDS gets more use is that a lot of the new material I buy just isn't available on vinyl, alas.  No doubt in my mind that as good as the NDS/555PSDR is, the LP12 is still better.

kevin J Carden posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I found I used my latter less and less and I subsequently sold it... but in took one particular DAC for that to happen

Hugo?

Yes

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I found I used my latter less and less and I subsequently sold it... but in took one particular DAC for that to happen

Also Simon if you don’t mind: latter dwindled because it didn’t cut it musically vs DAC or because too much faff? Or both. 

It’s an old Valhalla/Ittok with a Denon MC cart. For many years I’ve preferred playing CDs because they’re handier and I preferred the sound. Plus, I became allergic to ticks, scratches, pops, general surface noise and I got fed up getting up every 15 minutes or so

Then Hugo came along and came damn close to the CD555 and was even more convenient. And the DAVE blew the lot into the weeds soundwise.

I’ve heard a (I believe) a very close to maxxed out Swained LP12 on many occasions and it’s extremely  good. But not as good as the digital (Linn) player it shares a system with.

I occasionally get the urge to play the LP12, so keep it, but I’m struggling to justify keeping the CD player.

Dungassin posted:

I use my LP12 (hi spec) about 30% of the time.  Rest is my NDS.  The only reason the NDS gets more use is that a lot of the new material I buy just isn't available on vinyl, alas.  No doubt in my mind that as good as the NDS/555PSDR is, the LP12 is still better.

Exactly the kind of answer I’m looking for DG...Really helpful. I’m not aiming as high spec as your LP12 and I’m thinking it’ll be mainly for pre digital recordings of non-classical genre. It sounded lovely for that today. 

How many Vinyl albums have you got Kevin ? Might be worth hanging fire until you've heard the ND555 ??

During the day, I listen to about 60% FM radio and the rest digital streaming from the Core to the UQ2 in my office, or else I slip on some headphones and play music off my MacBook Pro through a Dragonfly DAC/headphone amp.

 In the evening, it's usually either LP or Reel tape, but every now and then I spin a CD or play the Core through the Naim DAC.  During the past 6 months, it has been probably 90+% LP from the Rega RP10.

Weirdly, in spite of owning a Hugo, which sounds very good indeed, particularly with classical music, I realise that I haven't used it since the RP10 arrived.  Which is rather interesting... 

3 years ago:

CD - 50%

LP12 - 20%

Streaming from NAS - 20% (Ripped CDs)

FM/DAB - 10%

Today after upgrading my LP12, purchasing N272

CD - 5%

LP12 - 30%

Streaming from NAS - 50% (Ripped CDs)

FM/DAB/Internet Radio - 15% (Mostly Paradise Radio)

kevin J Carden posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I found I used my latter less and less and I subsequently sold it... but in took one particular DAC for that to happen

Also Simon if you don’t mind: latter dwindled because it didn’t cut it musically vs DAC or because too much faff? Or both. 

Good question.... the DAC in question got me closer to that analogue feel and natural immediacy that I enjoy  and so the yearning for that feeling  from my TT declined... there was more faff with the TT, but it wasn’t as big an issue that you might think, however given the previous two points I found the third one the most irritating... and that was the variable quality of vinyl pressings, and to my ears the increased groove modulation distortion on the inner grooves of many LPs was just to much for me to ignore.. it just got in the way of my  musical enjoyment.

james n posted:

How many Vinyl albums have you got Kevin ? Might be worth hanging fire until you've heard the ND555 ??

ND555, or even DAVE is exactly what’s in the back of my mind James. However, there is that genre of of music I described earlier that I’m not convinced will ever sound as good digitally as I heard it rendered today by LP12. I have about 700 albums, of which maybe 400 I’d like to hear ‘done properly’ again (my NDS sounds impressive, but isn’t authentic to my ears). 

But you are right; I don’t think LP12 will replace my streamer for Classical which is more than half of what I listen to (though I’m prepared to potentially change that view ) nor will it be format of choice for modern recordings of other kinds of music. Interestingly, Peter played me Adele’s ‘Hello’ today to illustrate how even modern recordings can sound great on Vinyl. Yes, it did sound good, but whilst smoother, it didn’t match the visceral experience of how I’ve heard that sound at home on the NDS. Impact and emotional charge was a notch or two down for sure. So this is definitely going to be an occasional indulgence. I’m just trying to determine how occasionally is occasional I think. 

95%. LP12

5%.  CDS3

Stu

60% cd rips via Core/272, 30% record collection via Rega RP10/Alpheta2, 10% internet radio (Swiss Classical - highly recommend!)

kevin J Carden posted:

james n posted:

How many Vinyl albums have you got Kevin ? Might be worth hanging fire until you've heard the ND555 ??

ND555, or even DAVE is exactly what’s in the back of my mind James. However, there is that genre of of music I described earlier that I’m not convinced will ever sound as good digitally as I heard it rendered today by LP12. I have about 700 albums, of which maybe 400 I’d like to hear ‘done properly’ again (my NDS sounds impressive, but isn’t authentic to my ears). 

But you are right; I don’t think LP12 will replace my streamer for Classical which is more than half of what I listen to (though I’m prepared to potentially change that view ) nor will it be format of choice for modern recordings of other kinds of music. Interestingly, Peter played me Adele’s ‘Hello’ today to illustrate how even modern recordings can sound great on Vinyl. Yes, it did sound good, but whilst smoother, it didn’t match the visceral experience of how I’ve heard that sound at home on the NDS. Impact and emotional charge was a notch or two down for sure. So this is definitely going to be an occasional indulgence. I’m just trying to determine how occasionally is occasional I think. 

Ah understood - that's quite a collection so i can understand the desire for a top flight deck to enjoy them again 

80% digital, roughly 3200 albums

20% analog, roughly 850 LPs

fernar posted:

3 years ago:

CD - 50%

LP12 - 20%

Streaming from NAS - 20% (Ripped CDs)

FM/DAB - 10%

 

Today after upgrading my LP12, purchasing N272

CD - 5%

LP12 - 30%

Streaming from NAS - 50% (Ripped CDs)

FM/DAB/Internet Radio - 15% (Mostly Paradise Radio)

 

Thanks Fernar. Interesting that a better LP12 swung it back a bit. I see you have Lingo, Kore, Ekos (cartridge?),now, but what did you change from? 

For everyone’s reference I should maybe clarify that what I heard today and was impressed by was LP12,  Roksan Nima, Dynavector 10x5, Kore, Lingo4. 

LP12 (cirkus, lingo 4, Ittok, Transfiguration Axia) 30 to 40%

Melco N1a 50%

Radio, tv 10%

I have not used CD since buying the Melco - except, the last week I bought some lucky dip bags of CDs by unknown artists and just put them on.

Thed balance is distorted by the fact that I use the Melco when using the PC, doing the ironing. If my time was all my own, the LP12 would take precedence.

james n posted:

How many Vinyl albums have you got Kevin ? Might be worth hanging fire until you've heard the ND555 ??

Or, if you liked what you heard with the LP12, you might have a listen to a KDS. Hmmm, that might be interesting.

Dave J posted:

james n posted:

How many Vinyl albums have you got Kevin ? Might be worth hanging fire until you've heard the ND555 ??

Or, if you liked what you heard with the LP12, you might have a listen to a KDS. Hmmm, that might be interesting.

I could/might do that tomorrow morning Dave. The dealer near Melton Mowbray doesn’t have an NDS....

Nick Lees posted:

It’s an old Valhalla/Ittok with a Denon MC cart. For many years I’ve preferred playing CDs because they’re handier and I preferred the sound. Plus, I became allergic to ticks, scratches, pops, general surface noise and I got fed up getting up every 15 minutes or so

Then Hugo came along and came damn close to the CD555 and was even more convenient. And the DAVE blew the lot into the weeds soundwise.

I’ve heard a (I believe) a very close to maxxed out Swained LP12 on many occasions and it’s extremely  good. But not as good as the digital (Linn) player it shares a system with.

I occasionally get the urge to play the LP12, so keep it, but I’m struggling to justify keeping the CD player.

Possibly a system not far from here?