[henryackerman]

Elaborating on the audiophile market: you have audiophiles and audiofools. I consider myself a bit of an audiophile, your friend might be an audiofool... I have even heard someone claim that spotify sounds better than CD.

There is this audiophile article [0] that takes compares some different consumer level NAS devices. They used the same listening setup to play lossless audio files from different NAS devices. The article's authors perceived a difference in sound quality and characteristics, depending on the NAS and RAID configuration!

The article is a solid example of a placebo effect. The bitstream is identical between the setups.

When it comes down to digital to analog conversion, there's a lot of variables going on. I can definitely hear the difference between my laptop's headphone output and the headphone output of my prosumer-level audio interface. A more expensive audio interface might introduce measurably less cross-talk and noise. Some headphones will sound weak if the headphone amp is not powerful enough.

In other words: some people focus on things that are measurable. Others seem to be deliberately chasing the placebo effect of expensive equipment.

0. http://www.enjoythemusic.com/hificritic/vol5_no3/listening_t...

[steerablesafe]

> I have even heard someone claim that spotify sounds better than CD.

This can be probably explained by different mastering between the two. CD releases were subject to loudness war. Spotify and other streaming services normalize volume, so there is no incentive to release louder, less dynamic range tracks.

[Loughla]

Hey, off topic, but while you're here, this is a question I like to ask audiophiles when I come across them in the wild.

What entry level turntable and speakers would you buy for listening to vinyl in a standard living room and why?

[deadmetheny]

I don't really consider myself an audiophile, but I do love music and vinyl. My general suggestion if someone wants to buy new is an Audio-Technica LP 120X turntable and a pair of Klipsh R-51M bookshelf speakers. The 120x has most of the features a newbie will want/need, and the speakers are fairly low priced while still sounding pretty good (although they're not quite as punchy on the bass as I'd personally like). The setup will probably run around $500, but the turntable won't make mincemeat of your records like a cheapo Crosley.

Of course, the real answer is to find vintage equipment at a local audio place, but that isn't always easy for newbs and is a bit dependent on your local music nerd community.

[tinco]

That's one thing I've always wondered about with the vinyl scene. My dad's an audio enthusiast, and he once told me that when my mom and he had 2 incomes and no kids yet he bought a diamond tip for his record player for hundreds of dollars.

So that's a crazy thing that the thing that would make your record have the best audio quality, will also just rip into your record so bad it will probably also immediately be the last time you could listen to it at that quality.

He swapped his collection to CD's the second that became a reasonable option.

[Rillen]

Normal digital setup is better then vinyl.

If you really want to play and use vinyl, you should try to read up on it yourself shopping around and experience it, otherwise you just have something at home because its hip to have it at home.

You might just like the weirder sound from your selection even more.

There are plenty of good youtube channels and videos showing you a varity on options you have to explore.

[Loughla]

I have and do play vinyl, just for the nostalgia of sitting in my attic bedroom with the liner notes out in front of me and my shitty old headphones on when I was a teenager. I have done reading up and shopping around.

I also understand that I am not a good evaluator of audio items. I don't know, nor do I care about the lingo. I just want a good turntable, so I can get some of the old vinyl out for my small children. I think Thick as a Brick and Locomotive Breath are two things that absolutely need to be experienced in your youth.

And I can't break up my pot and roll a joint on the back of an mp3 player. (jokes)

That's why I've asked here for advice.

[nitrogen]

Powered studio monitors are usually a pretty good option. I'm a fan of the JBL LSR series (305 or 308 can be had for cheap on sale). The dispersion pattern of studio monitors may not work well for all rooms, but usually are pretty good. After that, room treatments are a bigger ROI than better speakers.