This is a really great analogue / digital discussion. Can I make a request though? Can the analogue people please quantify why they believe analogue is better in a very rational manner?
Background: As an audiophile, i'm always interested in anything that can give me better sound. At present, I use digital (SACD) because of many of the reasons Dan (DTB300) states earlier in this thread. Most of my music is on digital, and I have the digital rig set up already.
If analogue can really give better sound then I am prepared to put the money and time into setting up a turntable, but so far, all I hear from analogue people is sweeping statements like "analogue is better", "analogue live forever", "analogue is the only way" without actually any unbiased comments to back it up. Sure, a top-line turntable might beat a top-line digital front end (in some (or all) areas of performance) but I'm talking real world stuff that you and I own.
I have listened to many modest and not so modest analogue rigs over the years, but none seriously. While I can appreciate it does do some things better than digital, such as being very musical and warm, it also does some things a lot worse than digital. Most obvious to me is a kind of soft distortion - and the fact that it just doesn't seem to do macro dynamics and bass as good as digital, not to mention the noise.
So from my totally unbiased opinion, I can connect with the music equally as well with either format, each with their own strengths. Given that, I will stay with CD/SACD as
1: All of my music is on these formats
2: These formats are easier to live with
3: These formats are universal - they can be played in the car/ipod/holiday house/etc
4: Having a digital rig already set up, I'd rather put the analogue money into a better source (digital) rather than another source.
5: More music is available for purchase
So come on, sway me!
Givens: digital is more convenient, it certainly is more portable. Other than that I don't believe digital competes with vinyl.
Though I doubt you'll be swayed, here are some of the differences I hear between vinyl and RBCD as compared to the real thing which in my estimation is unamplified music played in a real acoustic space. This in no way indicts SACD/DVD-A which are in my opinion much better than RBCD but still not up to vinyl.
1. RB kills the high frequency "air", for lack of a better term, truncating the decay of instruments like cymbals and other high percussion instruments, making them all leading edge and no decay. Vinyl gives these instruments a better presentation and integrates the fundamental with the harmonic better, IMO. This integration makes the instruments more believable sounding and adds the dimension of space to the music that IMO digital doesn't provide.
2. The overtones of strings, woodwinds and brass instruments are "wrong." Violins, trumpets, flute all sound hard in their middle and upper registers compared to the real thing. Vinyl tends to be more correct in reproducing these overtones and when well done allows the listener to better differentiate between similar sounding instruments, e.g. English horn and oboe, violin and viola, trumpet and cornet.
3. Regarding the bass and dynamics of vinyl I would point you to the Classic Records 45 rpm reissue of Ravel's Alborado del Gracioso (LSC-2222-45) which is a reference for both wide dynamic swings and dynamic bass impact. Where CD falls off IMO is in bass dryness, yes bass is extended but, except for mega expensive unit such as the McIntosh separates, digital bass is dry and lifeless. Basses, the string type, don't sound like wooden instruments, organs lack the air and movement of the real thing and well balanced vinyl. Once again a type of dryness seeps into the music that isn't there in life or on well reproduced vinyl.
4. Regarding noise I would argue that for those of us who pamper our vinyl noise is rarely an issue. Yes we have RCM's, fluids, antistatic guns and numerous and varied brushes but for the vinyl lover these are part of a comforting ritual and make the music more enjoyable. The majority of my albums are perfectly quiet.
5. Taken together I find digital to be like a simulacrum of the real thing whereas analog (vinyl) is more like real instruments playing in real spaces. The warmth and tonal balance of vinyl is simply more consonant with the sound of real music as I hear it.
6. Some music that I think shows the superiority of vinyl when compared to CD are: 1. Brothers in Arms Dire Straits LP WB 125264; CD
2. Copland Appalachian Spring LP RR22; CD RR-22CD
3. Rickie Lee Jones S/T
