Is it time for an upgrade? When digital sounds better than analog

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Djn04

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Jun 30, 2013
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Over the past year I have upgraded all my components except my Clearaudio Performance SE and Clearaudio Maestro turntable/cartridge and Auraliti PK90 music server.

I started with a Simaudio i3.3 integrated amp, Simaudio lp5.3 phono preamp, and Ayre QB-9 DAC. With this setup I felt that the analog sound bested the digital when listening to the same recording and in general.

I've since replaced the Simaudio and Ayre components with a Devialet 170 and upgraded my speakers to a pair of Magico S1s. I now feel that digital is giving me the better sound. The digital sounds more open and I hear more inner detail in the recordings. In comparison the analog sounds duller and more closed in. The bass on the analog is deeper but not as tight as with digital. The soundstage and imagining is comparable between the two.

This leads me to wonder if an upgrade to the turntable and/or cartridge would benefit me. I'm wondering how far up the analog food chain I would need to go to hear significant improvement?

Or maybe getting my current analog setup better dialed in would help too. I setup the cartridge myself using a mint lp protractor and a 10x loop. I think it's setup properly and I've followed the online recommendation for VTF and VTA.

I welcome all comments and suggestions. Thanks.
 
The DAC in the Devialet 170 is excellent. I had one in for review and really liked it. The phonostage is also very good. Aside from checking your TT setup, I would first consider a new cartridge before an entirely new table. I would look at a Lyra (Kleos) cartridge for that arm and table. My gut feeling is to go with a non-clearaudio cartridge so that if you determine after a cartridge upgrade that you still want a new table and arm, then you can easily migrate the new cartridge to the new table. It's not to say that a clearaudio cartridge wouldn't work on a non-clearaudio table - its just that a Lyra or something similar is perhaps, more versatile.

I would normally recommend a Benz or Dynavector for your arm and table, but considering your comments wanting more inner detail and analog sounding "duller" - then a higher resolution cartridge like the Lyra Kleos, might be just the ticket.
 
Mike-

Thanks for the reply. I bought my turntable and cart from Jeff years ago. It might be time to pay him another visit. Maybe drag the Devialet along with me.
 
Djn04 said:
Mike-

Thanks for the reply. I bought my turntable and cart from Jeff years ago. It might be time to pay him another visit. Maybe drag the Devialet along with me.
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Definitely! Jeff is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to analog. If he's local, what the heck are you waiting for? :)
 
i also ran a ca maestro for almost 2 years, and although a good cartridge i easily bested it with a $1600 (retail) ortofon cadenza blue mc. i was a huge mm fan because i loved grado cartridges and had loads of experience with them in the past, but i was never fully on board with the maestro. jeff is your man though.
 
Petro85 said:
i also ran a ca maestro for almost 2 years, and although a good cartridge i easily bested it with a $1600 (retail) ortofon cadenza blue mc. i was a huge mm fan because i loved grado cartridges and had loads of experience with them in the past, but i was never fully on board with the maestro. jeff is your man though.
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Ortofon is on my list. How would the Kleos compare to the Cadenza Black or Bronze? Would either the Lyra or Ortofon work well with the Clearaudio Satisfy tonearm?

Mike-
I need to make some time to meet up with Jeff. When I bought the Performance SE I wasn't local so I've never been to his room.
 
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