Distinctly Digital Forever?

@tomcy6 For purposes of this question I am defining "better" as "making acoustic music performed in real space and recorded via microphones to tape or direct disc sound more like acoustic music performed and heard in real space." The FM radio signals are from a high-end tuner delivering programs playing vinyl recordings, so if the source is compressed/limited low-bitrate digital, it doesn't sound that way. Granting the many audible virtues of digital reproduction, I just don't find realistic representation of acoustic music recorded via mic in actual space to be among them.

I think Audio Note DACs your description of what is desirable more than do most other high end digital gear.  The prices of their gear goes pretty high and that range is almost entirely the result of using higher quality parts for the analogue post-conversion sections of the DAC; the digital section does not change much and is deliberately simple—no oversampling, very simple filters.

I went with the Border Patrol DAC for the same reason & along w/ an Innuos Zenith Mark  III sounds very good & not digitally fatiguing.  It’s not pricey  & You might check it out..