My one year old Preamp and power amp Mcintosh have been fed with digital music since acquisition. They have been fed with HD music successively through a PC, PC to a SCHIIT DAC, Cambdridge NAS then eventually a LINN Majik DSM. This provided pure pleasure.
Two months ago on a vacation I bought several original british press records consisting of Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Basie and the Beatles among others. Because of this I was forced to buy a turntable and bought an entry Denon DP300F just to listen to them. With the stock cartridge the music was good if not so..so, but you could here the potential.
I recently bought an entry 2M red Ortofon Cartridge on a trip out. After installing the cartridge the music bloomed. Suddenly my digital music sounded clinical and artificial by comparison. I used to wonder at vinyl heads who seemingly wasted time and money on old tech.. well now in know why
The Vinyl held its own "pound per pound" against the LINN. The soundstage was spread wide, the highs crisp and instruments were separated from each other, you can hear each instrument distinctly and clearly. This was all on an entry deck and cart
I never believed in snake oil so I always spent on the entry level first, hence the entry level turntable and cartridge but with this sonic revelation I want to upgrade my deck and cartridge as far as my budget will suffice... I never thought vinyl could beat my LINN.