Analog, analog, analog!

dogberry · « **on:** 29 May 2003, 06:07 pm »

Okay, so I have this friend o' mine who's becoming an audio snob. I've been talking about getting back into vinyl and he says it's pointless with my current setup (Anthem MCA 50 and AVM 20). The Anthem has analog bypass, so I think plugging the TT into the bypass input should be good to go.

He says I should have gone with a DVD player that does the decoding and gone with a 5-channel preamp (like the Sony TAP9000, McCormack MAP-1, etc.). Then, and only, then will I have true analog acceptable for TT playback.

I think he's a choad-smoking audio elitist rat bastard, but somehow I think he might be right anyway.

I trust the analog preamps would be great. I'm just not so sure about the DVD players with the built-in decoding.

Thoughts?

Sa-dono · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 May 2003, 06:29 pm »

There are some great DACs in some of the DVD players. My take on this is unless you're going multi-channel audio, then you're better off just getting separate 2-channel gear.

Hantra · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 May 2003, 06:43 pm »

Man, the AVM-20 is a great piece, and I am not sure I'd give it up. You could always use the analog bypass. I am not sure I buy the DVD thing with a 5 channel pre. That makes no sense to me. I fail to see how it would impact your analog playback.

dogberry · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 May 2003, 07:02 pm »

Well, he says the analog bypass cannot compete with a true analog pre-amp. He's saying my CD and TT would plug into the pre-amp, and not have to go through any additional circuitry "that's supposedly turned off" (his words).

I have heard a number of people say that a pre-amp stage in a surround sound processor can't compete with a dedicated analog pre-amp.

To my ears, my CDP sounds farouking amazing going through the analog bypass. To my understanding, andper Anthem, everything is turned off: no DACS, filters, video circuits--nothing is on.

You know. He can bite me. He's sowing seeds of doubt, and I think the TT is going to sound great. I'm not getting rid of my AVM. It's just too good.

Brad · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 May 2003, 07:15 pm »

Aren't you going to need a phono stage?
The signal from the TT needs to be amplified/eq'd.

If you're happy with CD sound in bypass mode, you should be even happier with TT sound through a phono stage into the bypass mode.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 May 2003, 07:52 pm »

Looks to me like Anthem has made the preamp very accomodating

http://www.anthemav.com/NewSitev2.0/AnthemProduct/AVM20/Literature/AVM20pg4.html

There was one guy on Audio Asylum with a Sony 9000 preamp that had two sets of 5.1 inputs but just ONE bypass.

michael w · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 May 2003, 11:19 pm »

Your audio snob friend may be right ....if you are running a super High End table/phono stage like a Rockport and Connoisseur Definitions...

What table/phono stage do you plan on getting ?

IMO most stuff should sound just fine with the Anthem.

An alternative would be to use an analog preamp with HT pass through just for vinyl and other analog sources , then switch to the Anthem for HT etc.

You're right about avoiding DVD players with built-in decoding.
These are invariably inferior to a good standalone processor; poorer sound and less flexible in setup.

cheerio

dogberry · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 May 2003, 11:54 pm »

Probably going with a Clearaudio TT (w/Benz Micro Ace cart) and the Phenomena phono stage.

RS Audio silver ICs (balanced between amp/SSP), Sony 9000es DVP, RS Audio SCs, Revel Performa M20 speakers.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 May 2003, 03:08 am »

I only hear bad things from the Phonomena--I didn't even consider it when I got my phono stage. I would get something more in tune with the erest of your gear. Remember Dejan says phono stage is more important than the TT!

I got myself a Monolithic Phono Stage--Dusty and Greg know what they're doing...

My next step is to send the outboard power supply to cryo treatment.

Your *friend* doesn't know what he's talking about, BTW.

dogberry · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 May 2003, 05:59 am »

I haven't heard the Monolithic stuff. The Phenomena sounded prettty damn good to me. Everyone's ears are different.

But, I haven't bought it yet, either. I'd like to hear the Channel Island's phono, the Monolithic--stock and one modded by Dan Wright.

BTW, I punched my friend out this afternoon, and told him to keep his damn poison idears to hissef.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 May 2003, 01:34 pm »

I think Doug S. had the Phonomena and got rid of it. Dusty told me the Monolithic is better than the Channel Islands and will be going up in price. In this price range it's pretty much the Monolithic and the EAR 834. The EAR will have the tube sound at the expense of noise floor. I already have issues with analog's noise floor since I conquered (finally) electrical noise in my system. Digital is sounding soo clean that I also want to achieve a low noise floor in my analog!

I have only good things to say about Danny Boy. He modded my Swans mini monitors and now my Marchand X-over. I'm waiting for its arrival...

Before sending my Monolithic to Danny, I will send the dual mono power supply to cryo treatment. I want to lower the noise floor and cryo'ing the transformer is going to be most significant...