Vinyl appeal?

[JGM411]

Ever since, I reignited the audio (phile) hobby I continue to trend towards vinyl.

As noted in my signature. I have a modest (relative to the company I keep here at AA) audio system. My CD player is something I got back in the late 1980's but everything else is new.

I normally listen to vinyl when playing music and this past fall I purchased a Bryston DAC. I really want to adopt the newer format of music, but for some reason I keep going back to vinyl. I really like Bryston and is there something I can do to make that listening better... (I listen from a Macbook air)

Over the past several nights, I listened to a few CD's, i.e. Sting, Paul Simon, and maybe one or two others. While the CD's are so crisp and clean, I lose interest in the music and I don't know why. The same goes for a few computer/DAC recordings....

However when I listen to vinyl I can sit back and listen.

Why? I don't think I have a bias based on the equipment but there is something I hear in vinyl that makes me feel comfortable.

Is it just me or is there something in vinyl that makes it sound more desirable.

I realize that others' ears may feel more comfortable listening to a DAC or or CD and if so I would like to read your observations.

This is not meant as a competition from one source over another. I am just interested in reading and learning your observations...

thanks... joe

[chessman]

Joe, this is one of the great schisms in the faith. If you know you prefer vinyl, then go with it. I grew up with vinyl, but the higher end digital sounds better to me than the level of analog gear that I own. Plus, snap, crackle, and pop just drives me crazy. The great part about this hobby is that you are the only one who knows what is best for you.

[Mikado463]

as Randy said, you do what and listen to what feeds 'your' soul. My LP and CD collection is modest in size (1800-2000) I truly enjoy both formats. But Joe, I do know what you mean with regards to analog, when I'm in the mood, the listening session can extend for hours ……..

[Maks]

To each their own. When I upgraded my CD player I found the field was more level in vinyl vs CD. I have very few LPs that are in poor enough condition to have ticks and pops, other than some of my 50s/60s era records. That said, I mainly prefer vinyl over CD. And as always, it's all in the mastering. Some LPs sound better than CDs. Some CDs sound better than vinyl. Some vinyl pressings sound better than others.

[Formerly YB-2]

With the recent upgrade in CDP, digital is the best it has ever been in my system. However, when I wish to "listen", it is to vinyl. For me, the magic resides in the grooves rather than in the 0's & 1's.

[JGM411]

As I read your comments, I remember back a year or so where I was at my audio store where I enjoyed - really really enjoyed -- a CD.

I know its all personal...

Thinking back on that, I am reminded of Randy's system. .... While at the audio dealer, the owner let me listen to a CD with BAT amp, BAT preamp and Wilson Alexia...

that was a game changer. I attribute a lot of that to the Alexias...

[4Play]

IMHO, digital will never sound better than analog. Both are produced and mastered differently. It's really hard for me to explain. Some things about the music is lost when going digital.

Analog will always produce better music.

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by JGM411

hile at the audio dealer, the owner let me listen to a CD with BAT amp, BAT preamp and Wilson Alexia... that was a game changer. I attribute a lot of that to the Alexias...

Am sure the Wilsons were a big part of the sound, but don't discount the BAT gear. One of the two best sounding systems I've heard is Viktor's office system at BAT, which was a VK-52SE and a pair of VK-55SEs driving the small Focal Utopias (Diva ?) at that time (am guessing it is all Rex these days). Stunning sound.

[JGM411]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Am sure the Wilsons were a big part of the sound, but don't discount the BAT gear. One of the two best sounding systems I've heard is Viktor's office system at BAT, which was a VK-52SE and a pair of VK-55SEs driving the small Focal Utopias (Diva ?) at that time (am guessing it is all Rex these days). Stunning sound.

I whole-heartily agree. Sorry if my previous post slighted BAT, that was not my intent.

[Bill Stevenson]

I am coming back to vinyl after letting a large collection languish for years. While the two formats sound different from each other, the differences narrow as the cost of the playback equipment goes up. Ripping CDs using Flac and then loading them onto a Sony HAP-Z1ES sounds fantastic. Playing an audiophile LP using an Ortofon Cadenza Black and a c-j TEA2MAX sounds fantastic too. Different, but fantastic either way. Comparing the two formats, and in some cases using HiRez files too, there are still times where the vinyl sounds better, richer, fuller, something. Not in all cases, but sometimes. In any event, it is all good.