Quote:
Originally Posted by Soundmig
While I agree that the Gumby (and probably even more so the Yiggy) produce very analog like sound, I don't completely agree that a good analog stage is not their equal (or maybe superior). My analog rig is a bit less pedigreed than those most of you guys listen to, but it is very good and meticulously set-up. I find that, in some cases, the analog rig is capable of a slightly deeper soundstage and a slightly more realistic presentation of detail and timbre. Then again, some high rez digital files (and some redbook files even) cross over into "analog like" reproduction using the Gumby. Granted the analog world is fraught with variabilities of set-up, eq, cartridge loading, arm/cartridge match, etc., but I think it can be (in some cases) superior (or at least as good as) what Gumby is able to reproduce.
I guess at the end of the day it almost always comes down to the quality of the recording and how well the mastering was done - regardless of the media. The salient point in what everyone is saying is that one can play a high quality analog set-up and then switch to a Gumby (or Yiggy) and not be "disappointed" which really can't be said of most digital products. Dang, I'm really wanting to hear a Yiggy in my system now!!!
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Once again, it can only be directly compared if you have the same material to listen to on two forms of media. A digital file vs vinyl. A general observation that "sometimes" my vinyl rig or "sometimes" my digital rig sounds better is mostly due to the various recordings and their quality. We all know that many great LPs out there can and do sound better simply due to mastering and the care that usually goes into vinyl. I never had a great variety to compare and some of my vinyl that I simply did not have on CD back in the day did sound better. Some of the better CDs, especially the XRCD which are carefully mastered from analog tapes blew the doors off my vinyl rig, that was when I was using a McIntosh MDA1000/MCD1000 combo to compare to my SME table. So it does depend heavily on the recording quality. A great recording on a great vinyl rig that is properly setup is what sets the benchmark against which digital should be judged in terms of analog smoothness and naturalness of sound. My Gumby exceeds what my SME table offered on those recordings that I am familiar with and have heard on both.