Analogue conundrum
Posted by: chris2000 on 30 September 2016
Hi all
Having been a long time digital stalwart I was intrigued to hear a friend's turntable v his uniti and was hugely impressed with the richness of the sound v the streaming comparative. This got me thinking whether a return to vinyl was actually the way to go; not just for the sound quality but also the listening experience.
I've subsequently had the chance to listen to an RP10 with Aphelion cartridge with largely the same system as my own and found the sound to be pretty fantastic. However I also took the chance to listen to an NDS and the use of a super lumina cable. That really reset the playing field a lot such that whilst I still felt there was more coming from the RP10 the difference in step up v the NDX was a lot less pronounced.
I'm therefore struggling with whether or not to take the plunge into vinyl as although I think there is an edge in sound there I'm not certain that I'm going to be able to source all of the music I want to be hearing on vinyl and don't want my primary source component to end up being less well used.
Anyone else been through a similar thought process and if so what did you land on an why?
Not wishing to open your thread up into which is best, vinyl or digital, I did buy a mid range turntable ages ago, to resurrect my 600 or so albums, comparing it with the CDX2 player I had at that time.
There wasn't much in it, but I did eventually sell both the turntable and the albums, largely on the basis of convenience.
Nowadays, I'm streaming largely CD rips to an NDS, and, for me at least, there's no contest, the SQ is way up there.
Looking at your setup, an NDS would slot in seamlessly, and, I would imagine, for a lesser outlay than a top of the range turntable, with the attendant endless tweaks which folks do, so I'd agree with Clay's advice here.
Just my twopence worth, It probably doesn't help much, but have a look at my profile, my setup is otherwise not unlike yours, and I couldn't be happier with the sound here. 
The Strat (Fender) posted:Let me put it this way. Whilst working at home today in an adjacent room to the hi Fi I played several CDs and Radio 3 on FM. Tonight for a serious Friday evening listening session it's Graceland on vinyl and other stuff later - Coltrane I expect.
Graceland - it is a well recorded vinyl, isn't it?
Coltrane - hmmm - depending on a mood, but perhaps 'My Favourite Things'?
Vinyl has that effect Lindsay
The Strat (Fender) posted:Love supreme - apologies for diverting the thread somewhat!
Classic
A difficult one and I think it depends on your whole approach to listening to music and using HiFi.
If you don't have many vinyl albums
... and are considering the NDS level of digital playback
... and are primarily concerned with listenting to music (rather than HiFi)
then I would suggest sticking to digital.
I am blown away with my UnitiServ/DAC V1/through 202/250DR into B&W803D3's and think it now (with the 250DR as the latest upgrade) compares very favourably with my LP12 Majik/Krystal/Linto.
It certainly is a lot easier to select and play music and from what other contributors say the Nds would take this to another level.
... however, playing the vinyl is a ceremony and the whole process of taking it out the sleeve, cleaning, setting up etc just adds to the "importance" of the music - daft I know.
If I hadn't still had a very modest (100) collection from my first buys back in the 70's I probably would not now go down the vinyl route but then I wouldn't have all the memories that come back when I pull out the first ELP album that I bought!
If however, you have HiFi as a hobby (in addition to the listening), then that changes the game - you'll get great fun tinkering with a turntable and following vinyl pressings, etc ... but then again you can also have a whole hobby in tinkering with cables, or room treatment, or digital networks, or ... whatever
Allan