2. digital
  3. 1086818638

Reconciling analog and digital playback

My catalyst for posting is the recent upgrades I made to my analog system: Micro Seiki / SME 3012 / Shelter 901. The changes were made last week, so I am still getting a handle on the nuances and subtleties, but there is a significant naturalness, ease and presence that really allows me to connect emotionally with the music. The problem is that now digital playback on the Sony DVP-S9000es is so lacking in soul, emotion and body compared to analog. I was satisfied until now, realizing that the Sony is good, not great. My digital sources are almost exclusively PCM CDs, not SACD.

I want to close the gap, so that I can enjoy my CDs again! The Sony is used for DVD video playback no more than 20% of the time. I have decided to either: 1) replace the Sony with a more contemporary universal player, or 2) add a nice DAC, either a Bidat or Lavry 924, using the Sony for transport and video duties.

Is anyone more experienced with digital playback, who can provide some guidance?
skushino

Showing 1 response by john_beavers

john_beavers
47 posts
 
I have been told by those that have NOS (Non-upsampling) DACs, that these devices bridge the gap between analog sound and digital. I am considering trying it, as I recently had the experience of having a friend bring his analog rig into my all digital audio rig. I figured my Audiomeca Mephisto II.X would hold it's own quite nicely, but no, two different presentations were had, and I preferred what I heard on the much less expensive analog rig of my friend. I simply have too many CDs to consider switching to a new money pit :), so we shall see what a NOS DAC can provide. I'm going to try either the dACK or Nixon offerings to begin with.
More to discover