Listening to digital and analog

@rvpiano,

It seems to me there are two issues here.

Can I enjoy recorded music AS recorded music? Can I enjoy "Hamlet" the movie knowing it’s not the live stage performance? I think most of us here can. Some may like the analog experience more and some may like the digital experience more. That may very well depend upon their analog budget vs. their digital budget and their acumen at selecting components. I think we are now past the time when it can be said one is inherently superior to the other.  In my case, I have the luck of two fine front ends (by my standards) and am enjoying them equally--though it’s hard to deny the convenience of digital--especially if relaxation is an issue. Read on.

But you have raised the stakes to a new level. I call it "the WILLFUL suspension of dis-belief" for if a person has his wits about him he will not be fooled into believing he is hearing a live concert. One has to try, Sometimes being totally relaxed (and I’m not going to divulge how I may attain that state) I can try to believe I am there, and succeed. It may be easier with a simple recording, a solo instrument perhaps. The first note* of the Chopin first Ballad played by Moravec comes to mind. But I have done it to the Mahler 3 too.

So what I hear you saying is that on your system you find it easier to push yourself into this willful state listening to your analog side, than from your digital side. Am I getting close?

*To me it always sounds like that piano is in my room, and it’s 16/44..

Melm,

 Interesting discussion.
 I do agree that on my system, the analog side is more convincing to me.  Through the years, when one side, analog or digital, got too far ahead of the other side, I poured time and money into equaling things out.  I’m at a point now where I really do enjoy both, and if truth be told,  (for whatever reasons) I listen more to digital than analog.  And I do have a sense of reality therein.  
BUT. when I play a record, even though the digital seemed convincing, I hear more texture and space. And, I just have to convince myself when streaming or playing a disc that it’s just as real, even though the sonic signatures are different.
Where we disagree, is on the reason for this.  After many, many years listening and experimenting, I think the sonic nature is inherent in the media.  You are convinced the difference ls due to the quality of the equipment used in each.
Maybe we’re both right!

@rvpiano

but does that mean it’s not possible to enjoy digital sound?

This is your personal subjective opinion not supported by the robust sales of digital gear, media, and streaming. If you’re asking can one enjoy their digital audio as much as analog is also highly subjective AND it depends on the quality of your audio chain.

Although the audio quality of digital components are growing rapidly, the sound approaches analog at significantly higher price points such as MSB, dCS, Soulution, Lampi, etc. The cheapest “analog sounding” DACs I’ve found is the $10K Mojo Mystique or the $15k APL Hi-FI DSD-SR mk2 (this DAC was designed to sound analog).  

Maybe you’ll enjoy a tube DAC, like the $3k PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube DAC, better than your current component.

glad both camps of creators seek to best the other…..some of us continue to invest in digital, the LP and high speed tape and enjoy the music, very rarely available….wait for it……on all three formats….

Music lover and Audiophile…

Digital is more picky on quality of speaker and amplifier but when your system is setup up correctly with the necessary components and speakers both are magic and you just pick the best recordings on either format and enjoy.