If I Were To Get Started In This Hobby Today...

N

nicoff

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Nov 3, 2014
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I have been interested in audio for a long time. I started at a time when there was no digital; only vinyl and tapes. Since then, there have been so many changes! And of course that includes the arrival of digital technology.

The digital technology of yesteryear left a lot to be desired. But boy, how the times have changed. Today, it is possible to get great sound for a lot less money than in the past. Digital has improved so much that unless one has accumulated a decent collection of analog records, I would not bother starting with analog now. My experience has been that for a given price point: a subscription to a music service, a streaming device, and a good DAC can get you better sound than a similarly priced analog rig. Moreover, there is so much information available on the internet that myths that audio reviewers once raved about have been totally debunked (green markers or rubber rings for CDs anyone?).

Last night, I was listening to a vinyl jazz collection from the late 70's. For starters, the LPs were not in the greatest of shape. There was groove noise, pops here and there, and many tracks lacked dynamics. The music failed to engage me the same way that I remember from long ago. Then I listened to a few the same tracks via streaming and quite frankly, the digital versions sounded so much better! I thought to myself, why bother with analog unless it is an LP has was truly well-recorded, well mastered, and well maintained? It actually crossed my mind getting rid of the large majority of my LPs and keeping a minimalist number of cherished LP gems.
 
Since your system gear isn’t listed, I don’t know where to start. Ditto for the condition of your LPs vice the 1970s jazz collection that you played some LPs from last night.
 
mep said:
Since your system gear isn’t listed, I don’t know where to start. Ditto for the condition of your LPs vice the 1970s jazz collection that you played some LPs from last night.
Click to expand...

My digital and analog sources are both about $6k.
 
nicoff said:
I have been interested in audio for a long time. I started at a time when there was no digital; only vinyl and tapes. Since then, there have been so many changes! And of course that includes the arrival of digital technology.

The digital technology of yesteryear left a lot to be desired. But boy, how the times have changed. Today, it is possible to get great sound for a lot less money than in the past. Digital has improved so much that unless one has accumulated a decent collection of analog records, I would not bother starting with analog now. My experience has been that for a given price point: a subscription to a music service, a streaming device, and a good DAC can get you better sound than a similarly priced analog rig. Moreover, there is so much information available on the internet that myths that audio reviewers once raved about have been totally debunked (green markers or rubber rings for CDs anyone?).

Last night, I was listening to a vinyl jazz collection from the late 70's. For starters, the LPs were not in the greatest of shape. There was groove noise, pops here and there, and many tracks lacked dynamics. The music failed to engage me the same way that I remember from long ago. Then I listened to a few the same tracks via streaming and quite frankly, the digital versions sounded so much better! I thought to myself, why bother with analog unless it is an LP has was truly well-recorded, well mastered, and well maintained? It actually crossed my mind getting rid of the large majority of my LPs and keeping a minimalist number of cherished LP gems.
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Just wondering are you the same nicoff over at AVS, if so you still have your Magnepan speakers and the OPPO 205 ? What amp you using these days, TT and cartridge, phono amp etc.. If you like streaming, I recommend Lumin
 
CPP said:
Just wondering are you the same nicoff over at AVS, if so you still have your Magnepan speakers and the OPPO 205 ? What amp you using these days, TT and cartridge, phono amp etc.. If you like streaming, I recommend Lumin
Click to expand...

Yep, that's me! I still have Magnepans. I think that they are amazing speakers. And the Oppo 205 is a truly amazing bargain. I am now using the Oppo as a preamp of sorts replacing my SP3 which has become nothing more than a passthrough switch box.

I have Classe mono amps everywhere. VPI Classic with Benz Red and JC3 Jr phono pre.
 
nicoff said:
Yep, that's me! I still have Magnepans. I think that they are amazing speakers. And the Oppo 205 is a truly amazing bargain. I am now using the Oppo as a preamp of sorts replacing my SP3 which has become nothing more than a passthrough switch box.

I have Classe mono amps everywhere. VPI Classic with Benz Red and JC3 Jr phono pre.
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If you're willing to drop vinyls and move to digital, the amount of options available is quite staggering. What functionality are you after exactly?
 
iFi audio said:
If you're willing to drop vinyls and move to digital, the amount of options available is quite staggering. What functionality are you after exactly?
Click to expand...

I have no plans to leave vinyl. Sorry if I gave that impression. I have a good size vinyl collection and sometimes I just feel like listening to vinyl like I did last night and doing so tonight again. My attraction to vinyl is not because it gives better sound but just because I sometimes feel like not messing around with phone/tablet or other electronics.

And I am very happy with my digital too. I am using Roon and HQPlayer and upsampling everything to 512DSD. Sound is fantastic.
 
nicoff said:
I have no plans to leave vinyl. Sorry if I gave that impression. I have a good size vinyl collection and sometimes I just feel like listening to vinyl like I did last night and doing so tonight again. My attraction to vinyl is not because it gives better sound but just because I sometimes feel like not messing around with phone/tablet or other electronics.

And I am very happy with my digital too. I am using Roon and HQPlayer and upsampling everything to 512DSD. Sound is fantastic.
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That's great to hear. I wouldn't ditch vinyl as well. Not a chance. It can exist alongside digital without any fight ;)
 
iFi audio said:
That's great to hear. I wouldn't ditch vinyl as well. Not a chance. It can exist alongside digital without any fight ;)
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Likewise, nicoff, your comments made me chuckle for I have thought the same. Being 65 there was nothing but analog when I got started 50 plus years ago. I still remain attracted to physical media, both LP's and CD/SACD. Even if I never buy another record/disc my modest collection (1500-2000) will suffice me for the rest of my years.
 
For me different media are not just about the sound, it’s also the experience.

I like optimizing analog and digital, and understanding the different properties of good sound for either one. The last couple of weeks I have been optimizing the Ethernet connection for digital. Last year I spent six months finding the phono cable I like.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I love my smallish vinyl collection (about 500 if I were to guess). However if I were forced to start all over I'm not sure if I would get into vinyl again.

I'd buy something like a Lumin U1 mini and many an Aavik U300 and you have a good system. No need for lots of components
 
nicoff said:
I have no plans to leave vinyl. Sorry if I gave that impression. I have a good size vinyl collection and sometimes I just feel like listening to vinyl like I did last night and doing so tonight again. My attraction to vinyl is not because it gives better sound but just because I sometimes feel like not messing around with phone/tablet or other electronics.

And I am very happy with my digital too. I am using Roon and HQPlayer and upsampling everything to 512DSD. Sound is fantastic.
Click to expand...

How good is your phono stage? I can tell you that the iFi iPhono 2 with a Hynes 15v LPSU is VERY good and very quiet and (the combo) will cost less that $1K at full retail. Also has amazing permutations of phono EQ and boasts up to 72db of gain!
 
wisnon said:
How good is your phono stage? I can tell you that the iFi iPhono 2 with a Hynes 15v LPSU is VERY good and very quiet and (the combo) will cost less that $1K at full retail. Also has amazing permutations of phono EQ and boasts up to 72db of gain!
Click to expand...

I have the Parasound JC3jr ($1.5k).
 
You know we are in a different place today. Sometimes I feel like you but I remember the fun of looking for and buying albums, thumbing through cutout bins etc. I've had my collection since a kid, obviously it's grown over the years, I moved a lot, always took my albums and good care of them. I'm hoping my grandson develops into an audio enthusiast. He is coming to Axpona and when my daughter get their house I'm going to set him up. I'm going to give him an entry table but along with that he will stream.

I'm just saying we've have aged and have history with our stuff. However, just starting out and not understanding that connection with a collection or building it, I'd probably just stream. Hard to know for sure but that's what I suspect. I still believe a young person who pays attention will hear the benefit of an LP over mp3, which could be driving the renaissance. Then there's those who say mp3 is just as good that even reinforces LP, simple because anyone if normal hearing can tell mp3 is not as good as an LP or 1,400 mpbs CD.

For me, my situation is unique. I always had bad vision but it's getting worse. If I could see to browse my CD's and LP's I wouldn't have been that into streaming. However, my iPhone reads what's on the screen and streaming has been great. I also have an app that will read CD labels with a bit of work, by the time I get it to read and search my collection I could have listened to half an album, LOL I am going to get a streamer with a hard drive though in order to put my Classical and favorites on there.

I've contemplated selling off my LP's and analog but taking into account I probably wouldn't get what I think it's worth, having a connection, some of my LP's I bought back in high school and still have, then I think if anyone in the family grows an interest, passing my stuff along is what I'd prefer.

I can still play the LP, no physical issue there, it's just being able to read the cover and finding what I want. Streaming, it's literally at my fingertip.

When I used to buy used LP's at various places, if it ended up being in worse shape, hidden scratches, noise that cleaning wouldn't cure, I wouldn't keep it, so I can understand thinning out the rough albums.

nicoff said:
I have been interested in audio for a long time. I started at a time when there was no digital; only vinyl and tapes. Since then, there have been so many changes! And of course that includes the arrival of digital technology.

The digital technology of yesteryear left a lot to be desired. But boy, how the times have changed. Today, it is possible to get great sound for a lot less money than in the past. Digital has improved so much that unless one has accumulated a decent collection of analog records, I would not bother starting with analog now. My experience has been that for a given price point: a subscription to a music service, a streaming device, and a good DAC can get you better sound than a similarly priced analog rig. Moreover, there is so much information available on the internet that myths that audio reviewers once raved about have been totally debunked (green markers or rubber rings for CDs anyone?).

Last night, I was listening to a vinyl jazz collection from the late 70's. For starters, the LPs were not in the greatest of shape. There was groove noise, pops here and there, and many tracks lacked dynamics. The music failed to engage me the same way that I remember from long ago. Then I listened to a few the same tracks via streaming and quite frankly, the digital versions sounded so much better! I thought to myself, why bother with analog unless it is an LP has was truly well-recorded, well mastered, and well maintained? It actually crossed my mind getting rid of the large majority of my LPs and keeping a minimalist number of cherished LP gems.
Click to expand...
 
Having been in the hobby only for the last 15 or so years, I have to agree in general - it seems like a much higher proportion of the current gear being sold today actually sounds good. This is definitely true for digital sources, and streaming/file-serving is extremely cool/exciting stuff to boot. Technology (better parts quality, materials, design tools/CAD, isolation/damping/vibration control, cleaning machines) has even greatly enhanced analog sources, too - so they're not exactly getting left behind, either. The only downsides are being killed by too many great choices, and how much this stuff now costs!

I remember splashing out (what was at the time for me) a huge chunk of cash on a system of early 2000s gear, designed on paper and in-head by focusing on well-reviewed single components, rather than through auditions and knowledge of good pairings, that I was certain would be amazing. And much to my chagrin, it sucked :( Though that's still possible today, I think it's less likely.
 
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