Personally, I think that although the inclusion of certain tube circuitry in the system may possibly soften the digital sound, there is no way that a problem in the source can be improved by the downstream components. If the problem is not corrected at the source, all the other items in the chain can only color it, or lose some signal. Even a perfect playback system is only capable of revealing exactly what is on the source, and nothing more.
That said, I do believe that the tube additions to digital systems has become very popular to try to cover up some of the digital sound artifacts. I don't really think that "covering things up" is the proper way to go about solving the problem though. And a really good tube system won't do any "covering up" anyway. Also alot of "covering up" going on with cables in digital systems. And the quest for "non-fatiguing" speakers to "cover up" the "fatiguing" digital sound. And on, and on. It seems that many audiophiles spend thousands on trying to "cover up" the sound of the source item they picked.
It's funny how you never hear about any vinyl addict posting a question about how he can make his analog rig sound more "digital". :^)
That said, I do believe that the tube additions to digital systems has become very popular to try to cover up some of the digital sound artifacts. I don't really think that "covering things up" is the proper way to go about solving the problem though. And a really good tube system won't do any "covering up" anyway. Also alot of "covering up" going on with cables in digital systems. And the quest for "non-fatiguing" speakers to "cover up" the "fatiguing" digital sound. And on, and on. It seems that many audiophiles spend thousands on trying to "cover up" the sound of the source item they picked.
It's funny how you never hear about any vinyl addict posting a question about how he can make his analog rig sound more "digital". :^)