[Tom McQueen]

Originally Posted by 61 389-348

"none of three original DP albums made it onto the CD format"

Time for a turntable.

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Nope. Vinyl is a PITA. A good digital setup plays at least as well as a good analog setup. But quality digital playback is more sensitive to 'cheap' components. With digital, the weak link theory shows up loud and clear.

Tubes are also a complete PITA. Been there.....done that. Used one of these for years. Still have some tubes left to sell. This was my old headphone setup. I use a Ray Samuels 'Dark Star' now. Kicks ass.

A quality solid state amp is every bit the equal of a tube amp. Minus the fire hazard.

[61 389-348]

Originally Posted by Tom McQueen

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Nope. Vinyl is a PITA. A good digital setup plays at least as well as a good analog setup. But quality digital playback is more sensitive to 'cheap' components. With digital, the weak link theory shows up loud and clear.

Tubes are also a complete PITA. Been there.....done that. Used one of these for years. Still have some tubes left to sell. This was my old headphone setup. I use a Ray Samuels 'Dark Star' now. Kicks ass.

A quality solid state amp is every bit the equal of a tube amp. Minus the fire hazard.

"Vinyl is a PITA"

It's a ritual. Digital is fine for background, when you don't want to get up to change every 30 min or so, car, etc. For lights down/off listening where music is the only focus, it's still hugely clear .... vinyl.

"A good digital setup plays at least as well as a good analog setup"

Not even close. True, digital has improved, but so has analog. I have both. Very easy for me to A / B back and forth between the best recording on both. Then it becomes very 'clear'. Even neophytes can hear it with some familiarity to my system. Electrostats require a little familiarity. Longer one listens the more obvious it becomes.

"A quality solid state amp is every bit the equal of a tube amp"

Not close enough. True, solid state has improved, but tube has improved faster. Have had very little trouble with tube over 50+ years of this. Not 'none' mind you, but so little that I'll continue for however long I'm here. My big system is solid state. From the beginning that was going to be temporary. However, with a tube phone stage. Only my office system is tube preamp and amp.

In fact, this is my next change .... to a VAC 160i

"Still have some tubes left to sell"

What do you have to sell?