AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Bipolar System Disorders => Topic started by: ejk on December 19, 2015, 02:53:49 AM
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After reading forums and everyone's search for the ultimate sound I was wondering what format have you spent more time on in your quest. Meaning equipment, tweaks etc. No dollar amounts need to be listed just what format. I myself have not spent much money on a particular format, mostly amps and speakers. If I have to chose I will say CD
Computer Audio
CD
Vinyl
Cassette
8 Track
Reel to Reel
Drugs :shock:
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Easy it's vinyl :shock:
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$$ wise, it's likely vinyl. Still spend $$ there although not nearly at the rate I once did years ago. Although the cost to hear live music (good seats, great venues, favorite music) may actually be higher these days.
But time-investment-wise - particularly over the last 5+ years, it's been computer audio - downloads or getting clean rips, proper tagging, cover art, descriptive information, etc... I sometimes think of it as a work of passion to build a clean and comprehensive library.
But I suspect history will show this to be a foolish endeavor with little long-term value. Who knows what form "music" will take in 2025.
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Easy it's vinyl :shock:
No, really ? you look more like an 8 track type of guy :rofl:
or is that :shock: the last choice from my list
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Easy it's vinyl :shock:
No, really ? you look more like an 8 track type of guy :rofl:
You laugh but till a few years ago I still had a few. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
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Vinyl using a Kuzma Stobi S with Stogi 12VTA arm, Crystal cable tonearm,outboard power supply and a Goldenote HOMC cart. at $7450 list. Plus phono stage.
CDP at $3300 plus mods to power supply add $1000, no computer on board.
charles
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The vinyl rig (TT, cartridge, phono stage) is several times more expensive than my CD player. But I think if I add up the cost of the medium (CD's vs my records) the CD's take it.
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You know what due to varying costs in every system how about we change that and make it
In which format did you invest the most time to get to Nirvana
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OK it would be vinyl then. Having a large record collection made the choice for me. Buying CDs to match what I have would have been costly.
New music however is bought on CD when not available in vinyl. If I was computer literate maybe a dive into ripping and burning and playback would be. I'm sure pure Hi rez DSD rips are quite good.
I say bring back DVD Audio, have some and they are quite good.
charles
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If you are talking about playback hardware it would have to be my vinyl rig hands down. As a matter of fact I think I have spent more on accessories for my vinyl rig (The VPI RCM plus various alignment tools, scales, stylus cleaners , strobes, fluxbusters etc.) than I have spent on my entire CD setup.
However a big reason for that discrepancy is that since I have never heard a CD digital setup that sounded better than playing equivalent vinyl (sorry Paul, but that includes your hi res digital rips) I chose not to pursue the higher end digital (and higher priced products. In my mind, since I would be looking to pay vinyl when looking for the best sound, it was just not worth the money that it would have cost to get a more state of the art digital system.
Not that my digital system sounds bad by any stretch, I built is around a solid well respected DAC, the Eastern Electric, and am very happy with it. But if I look at where my vinyl and digital systems sit on the quality spectrum, the TT is much higher along the curve (compared to what else it out there in the market), so it is not surprising that it cost me much more than the digital equipment.
Now keep in mind that these decisions and the commitment to the vinyl format were made many years ago when digital was limited to the 44.1K Redbook standard. As the hi res digital markets matures I may have to revisit some of these choices. It is quite possible that native hi Res files (as in those made directly from master tapes) very well could sound better than vinyl. I will have to wait and see. Of course at that point It will not only be a matter of whether they sound better, but also of what is available in those formats. Of course just like vinyl, not every hi res files will have better sound, only those made with care from original sources. I'm sorry, high res digital rips of LPs by definition cannot sound better than the original LP, at best they can only sound the same. And with a huge amount of the music recorded over the past 20 years or so being done direct to 44.1 digital for CD release, I am not sure if there is any benefit to releasing them in a higher res format. Of course analog tapes will benefit greatly from high res mastering, but just like with audiophile LPs, not all albums have good quality masters available to start with.
When and if enough hi res releases become available that sound better than LPs at that point I might rethink getting into higher quality digital. (of course they would have to be high res files of albums I want and do not already have good sounding vinyl copies of already.... Hmmm, that could be a problem :lol:).
I guess the bottom line is when I get to the point where I can and would use the digital system more for audiophile type listening, then I will consider investing more in it. But until them it's still LPs for me. (perhaps when Tidal starts streaming high res files next spring I might start to get swayed. :-k
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I'm on my 3rd iteration of audio PC. I'm on my 7th or 8th DAC.
I've had 2 or 3 tables and preamps, all high value (cheap) stuff.
I don't think I've played a record this year. Maybe I did. I've played about 100 hours worth of music where I was in the room listening. I'm pretty sure it would only be digital.
So, digital front end for me. Because it's the part that has all my good music on it. I don't have many records, they don't make much vinyl of the music I enjoy listening to.
I still have a TT and nice phono pre. But I need a new cart. It's not high on my list to replace. But I might spend $100 on one if I go 'all out'. Ha
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So, digital front end for me. Because it's the part that has all my good music on it. I don't have many records, they don't make much vinyl of the music I enjoy listening to.
Gotta follow the music. :thumb:
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Since you specifically said "time" I would have to say digital. A modest analog system will make great music. A capable TT, cartridge and pre can be had easily at at reasonable cost.
In the context of time, I have spent years getting a digital system together that is as good as or better than most analog systems in SQ. I find digital needs more care and feeding in accompanying gear selection. System synergy is paramount, especially in the context of clean power. With analog there is more forgiveness in the power aspect.
D
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Vinyl in both $ and time. I've got a pretty fair computer rig, but just don't spend time with it.
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It would definitely be CD. I haven't played vinyl in over 7 years, but the last record I played was Smokey Robinson and it sounded sooo good. My current Antelope dac/preamp is a keeper for sure. It does make me realize how bad some of the CD recordings were of 20+ years ago. My knock on vinyl has always been that I have to listen to some songs that I really don't care for. I never did mind getting up and flipping a record over and cueing it again. I'll definitely get my vinyl going again this year.
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I'd have to say going back to analog. Building OTL amps, upgrading to MC cartridge, etc. Sound is amazing and enjoyable. Ditto the comment about listening to songs on LP's that don't really care for but still sounds great!
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File based playback.
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Digital. Had to spend crazy money to come close to my TT setup. Closer but no cigar to my Lps.
charles
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Digital. Had to spend crazy money to come close to my TT setup. Closer but no cigar to my Lps.
charles
I'd put my Digital up against your TT No problem.
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Vinyl with zero sand...
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This pursuit for me originally started out with an incredible love of music and how it could make me feel. And this was with a cassette playing out of a circa 1980s boombox. So I have kind of gotten back to that. Exploring the music with less of an eye on what may or may be the best playback ever. ;)
So its the investment in myself I guess, or maybe opening up and just listening. I am not one for tradition though... right now I do most of my listening through Apple Music... alternatively the rest of my music is on hard drive as ALAC..
Two great finds are Courtney Barnett:
https://itun.es/us/lOAp5?i=960343115
I love this album.. its basically pop but interesting,
twenty one pilots:
https://itun.es/us/wFxf6?i=974485474
Also the new Baroness and listening to the new David Bowie released today!!
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Digital. Had to spend crazy money to come close to my TT setup. Closer but no cigar to my Lps.
charles
I'd put my Digital up against your TT No problem.
Dem is fighting words Werd. :rofl: :rofl: Bring it on. My TT has a black belt in digital combat. The cartridge is on the terror watch list as it kills digital enemies. :lol:
charles
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Digital. Had to spend crazy money to come close to my TT setup. Closer but no cigar to my Lps.
charles
I'd put my Digital up against your TT No problem.
Dem is fighting words Werd. :rofl: :rofl: Bring it on. My TT has a black belt in digital combat. The cartridge is on the terror watch list as it kills digital enemies. :lol:
charles
Oh yah :lol:
I've massaged out all the digits-titus, to the point my dac analogue puts out layered music with speed and finesse that throws vinyl back into the 20th century
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I should design a dac and call it Werd's Super Analogue Kung-Fu Dac :thumb:
:lol:
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It is not meant to rebut or argue with you, just a a report of my experience with this issue. I have gone through this challenge on several occasions. Sometimes with disc based systems and lately with a computer based system playing high res rips of vinyl albums made on a VPI HRX with a multi kilobuck cartridge. In each case the owner swore that they had a digital system that would finally outperform my vinyl rig. Each time the results have been the same. It took less than 30 seconds into the first song to realize that the digital was just no challenge for my TT with a good clean LP.
Now that said, over the years the digital had gotten better and better and IMO is now at the point where it SQ has advanced such that I would not be unhappy living with a good digital setup at this point. Is it better than the vinyl, not at all, but it is close enough that if I did not have a vinyl copy to compare it to I would not be unhappy with it at all.
Just because digital is not the best does not mean that it does not have its merits and has not earned the right to a place in any good high end system. At the end of the day well done vinyl does sound better, but it is a royal PITA. And digital is easier to find good condition software for. And the SQ is getting much closer between the two, so I can certainly understand why people without a big investment in LPs might opt to go in the digital direction.
Hey, a Maserati is a great car and it is not any less of a car just because a Ferrari is better.
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You are probably right, but still doesn't trump my Allahu Akbar Dac. Hooked up in a system with vinyl the dac immediately goes into Allahu Akbar mode when vinyl starts outperforming. It's starts scrolling ALLAHU AKBAR then detonates destroying everything and all vinyl,
:rofl: :thumb: