[NIGHTFALL1970]

I know that I may start a war here, but here it goes:
I know that a lot of audiophiles are going to spit out their latte when they read this. I play my records through an AVA A2D converter. The signal then goes to my Laiv uDDC reclocker, then to my Laiv Crescendo DAC. I do this out of convenience and don’t hear anything negative from doing it. I even asked ChatGTP and it said that I wasn’t downgrading quality and I was getting a lower noise floor. So I want to know if other people here are doing the same thing. What are your experiences good or bad?

[Letitroll98]

My brother transcribers his lps to digital storage, then he sends me the lps for free.  He's doing it very slowly whenever he has extra time, I'm encouraging him to work harder at it.

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Letitroll98,
Thanks for the reply. How do you like the sound quality?
Tell your brother that I said that he should work harder and faster for you.😁

[AllanS]

I play my records through an AVA A2D converter.

Which is AVA’s prime path through their SOTA Digital Preamp.  Good enough for Frank and Mithat is good enough for me.  That said, my vinyl is sufficiently crappy that I didn’t notice any appreciable degradation of those I digitized and likely wouldn’t even if the collection and signal chain were of higher quality.

[Mag]

  I did for 2 albums that I recall. I bought a phono amp that has a digital out. These two albums I also have in CD, so basically it was for comparison purpose. One was Tangerine Dream- Poland and the other I think was Gary Numan- Living Ornaments 1980.
 My results were good better than the CD version. Basically I ran the signal through my stereo with piggybacked dacs. The same albums though on Amazon are just as good maybe better because I believe they are the Masters.
  I rarely play vinyl because I lack space for a turntable and I need a new turntable. I also gave away most of my records, though I still have a pile.

[TomS]

I know that I may start a war here, but here it goes:
I know that a lot of audiophiles are going to spit out their latte when they read this. I play my records through an AVA A2D converter. The signal then goes to my Laiv uDDC reclocker, then to my Laiv Crescendo DAC. I do this out of convenience and don’t hear anything negative from doing it. I even asked ChatGTP and it said that I wasn’t downgrading quality and I was getting a lower noise floor. So I want to know if other people here are doing the same thing. What are your experiences good or bad?

Where is your RIAA eq happening?
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=164629.msg1750547#msg1750547

[NIGHTFALL1970]

I have a couple of phono preamps. The AVA Vision Q+, Smsl and currently using a Cambridge Alva Solo.

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Mag,
What phono preamp did you use? I am curious about it’s digital output.

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Allan S,
Are you not a fan of vinyl or are your LPs worn badly so that they won’t sound good anyway? I played an old LP of Eagles- one of these nights, and it was so scratched up and crackly that I couldn’t stand it. That was the only time I remember that happened. Most of my LPs sound so good that most of my friends think I put on a CD.

[Mag]

Mag,
What phono preamp did you use? I am curious about it’s digital output.

It's a Rega fono amp mini, with USB output on front. I believe I had this plugged into USB on BDA-1. I also use a mixer after SP2 processor to recorder.

My turntable doesn't turn at a consistent speed so I need one that works. I have a Pickering cartridge which I read is suppose to be good.

[nlitworld]

I would love to digitize my vinyl collection. I've already downloaded a lot of vinyl rips in 24/96 flac. I would love to compare my digitized files vs downloaded ones just because it would be interesting how my setup would compare to theirs. For me though, that's about as far as I've gotten. Most of my albums I already have a flac download because torrent sites are rad. Would be a lot of work for only a little gain in my circumstances.

[AllanS]

Allan S,
Are you not a fan of vinyl or are your LPs worn badly so that they won’t sound good anyway? I played an old LP of Eagles- one of these nights, and it was so scratched up and crackly that I couldn’t stand it. That was the only time I remember that happened. Most of my LPs sound so good that most of my friends think I put on a CD.

Vinyl is fine but most of the albums in my collection are cheap, flimsy pressings of material I’ve mostly moved on from.  Even if I had the budget I’m also not dedicated enough to invest in quality material and dedicated equipment.  I’m content with streaming.

[jschwenker]

Years ago I set myself up with the equipment needed to make 24/96 hi-res recordings of my vinyl. Sounded quite good but was just too much work for my tastes.

Decided that I generally A) Have a lot of good albums and B) Take good enough care of them to largely avoid degradation. Conclusion for me was to tell myself: "Just play the damm records!!"

[andyr]

I know that I may start a war here, but here it goes:
I know that a lot of audiophiles are going to spit out their latte when they read this. I play my records through an AVA A2D converter. The signal then goes to my Laiv uDDC reclocker, then to my Laiv Crescendo DAC. I do this out of convenience and don’t hear anything negative from doing it. I even asked ChatGTP and it said that I wasn’t downgrading quality and I was getting a lower noise floor. So I want to know if other people here are doing the same thing. What are your experiences good or bad?

I've been running my phono stage into an A2D converter since I started to use a digital active XO ... about 10 years ago (miniDSP nanoDIGI).

So my signal chain was:
* phono stage --> A2D --> nanoDIGI (IIR filters) --> DACs --> amplifier channels.

Recently, I changed from the miniDSP to Roon Convolution for my XOs.  So my signal chain is now:
* phono stage --> A2D --> Roon PC Convolution (FIR filters) --> DACs --> amplifier channels.

Recently a mate of mine (who is a confirmed analogue / tube / vinyl guy) came over for a listen.  His comment was ... that's one of the best vinyl reproductions I have ever heard - absolutely no trace of 'digititus'!

So, no - I get absoluely no negatives at all!

I would love to digitize my vinyl collection. I've already downloaded a lot of vinyl rips in 24/96 flac. I would love to compare my digitized files vs downloaded ones just because it would be interesting how my setup would compare to theirs. For me though, that's about as far as I've gotten. Most of my albums I already have a flac download because torrent sites are rad. Would be a lot of work for only a little gain in my circumstances.

You don't need to rip your vinyl collection if you use a Roon PC.  Roon has a facility called 'Live Radio' - which allows you to play Internet radio stations.  Adding 2 ancillary pieces of (free) software - Icecast & BUTT - allows you to fool Roon's Live Radio into thinking your vinyl stream is actually an Internet radio station!

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Andyr,
Cool! Good to know. Thanks.😊

[cleeds]

I've found digitizing LPs to be a very tedious business if you're serious about the quality of the result. I have records that date back to the late '50s and early '60s that still play unbelievably well, so it doesn't make sense to me to digitize a record just to prevent wear or preserve it. But I do have some rather rare LPs that apparently never made it to streaming or CD, and some of those I've digitized simply so that I can include them in a playlist of local music files. There are also a few that simply sound so much better on LP that the commercial digital version is virtually unlistenable. I've digitized them, too.

[/mp]

I think I shared the my experience several years ago. Skip it if it sounds familiar.

TLDR version: I hear on my system what is to me a small difference. YMMV.

Short version: I connected my stereo to my video editing-centric workstation ~15 years ago. The signal path between the preamp tape processor loop and the workstation is short RCA interconnects <--> bal/unbal converters <--> long XLR interconnects <--> AD/DA <--> IEEE1394 <--> workstation.

Properly setup, volume matched direct AB comparisons are easy by toggling the tape monitor switch.

I found the digitized version slightly brighter than the direct from the turntable signal. The difference is there to hear. Is it enough for the listener to care is a different question. Is it an artifact of the more complex signal chain or hardware and/or software used? I cannot say without empirical evidence. Can the difference be zeroed out by changing equipment? Maybe. Anyone interesting in funding tests send me a note.

Hope this helps.

[toocool4]

Conclusion for me was to tell myself: "Just play the damm records!!"

 

[Doublej]

MoFi takes care of it for me.