Can digital "be as good as analog?"
I think that's in the ears of the beholder. I love vinyl. I love digital. For me it's not an either or proposition.
In many ways, my MHDT Labs r2r Orchid DAC streaming Qobuz sounds better than my turntable, a Clearaudio Emotion with a Hana SL and Parks Puffin phono stage. That's over $2K of analog gear vs $1200 of digital gear. I bought the Orchid used, so paid less.
No clicks, no pops, no background noise, no fatigue, no glare, more detail, greater ease of use, and an almost infinite selection of music.
Does the Orchid sound as "analog" as analog? Uh, no. Better? Decidedly so.
I still like spinning records and with a good pressing, those sound great also.
I don't feel a need to choose one over the other.
I think that's in the ears of the beholder. I love vinyl. I love digital. For me it's not an either or proposition.
In many ways, my MHDT Labs r2r Orchid DAC streaming Qobuz sounds better than my turntable, a Clearaudio Emotion with a Hana SL and Parks Puffin phono stage. That's over $2K of analog gear vs $1200 of digital gear. I bought the Orchid used, so paid less.
No clicks, no pops, no background noise, no fatigue, no glare, more detail, greater ease of use, and an almost infinite selection of music.
Does the Orchid sound as "analog" as analog? Uh, no. Better? Decidedly so.
I still like spinning records and with a good pressing, those sound great also.
I don't feel a need to choose one over the other.