I could not hear a difference between Analog and digital...... what gives ?

The sonic signature playing the same mastered album on digital vs analog is entirely dependent on your components... well except for surface noise. This has been true for a while. Congratulations for discovering it. So, at this point it means... you want a better sounding system invest more into digital. It used to be analog was your best bet, no longer true. Both get better with cost but digital has the advantage in convenience and no surface noise. 

So, if you haven’t got there yet. A high end streaming can equal or exceed vinyl. On the same master streaming sound quality equals stored files, equals CD. So, streaming is the way to go. Infinite library almost no cost. 

Welcome to the future...it’s great isn’t it!

Well, this is a hobby were there’s lots of passionate nostalgia and emotional connection to vinyl (mostly old guys like me), and CD to a lesser degree.  It seems to have always been  assumed (at least to vinyl lovers) that vinyl will always automatically sound better than digital, although that was never always the case, but much more so, I would say, 5 to 10 years ago and beyond.  In recent years, with the vast improvements in sound quality of separate/outboard DACs, leading to brilliant digital sound quality, the gap has narrowed to the point were many of us, myself included, have opted to lay aside vinyl and CD, and enjoy streaming our music exclusively (the new, wonderful, brilliant technology).  The wonderful thing about high-end audio is that, all of these different wonderful forms of music media, old and new, (streaming, CD, vinyl, reel-to-reel, etc.) are still available for all of us to enjoy for the foreseeable future.  Happy listening  

@ghdprentice @kennymacc 

Thanks for your response.  Yup, I have invested in my ethernet, streamer, cables,  Linear Power supplies, Power cords, power conditioners all going to the same DAC as my SACD/CD transport.  I subscribe to Qobuz and when I A/B identical songs coming from streaming and CD, I cannot tell the difference.  They sound the same - fantastic.  So, I also believe that high end streaming sounds just as good as CD and SACD - assuming the same file resolution.  In addition streaming 196/24 seems to be just as good as my ripped SACD (dsf files) which are 1-bit, 2.8 MHz DSD. 

I guess I am just now coming to the realization that as you continue to go down the rabbit hole, Digital files and streaming can continue to improve on the sound of the best first pressing Vinyl records.  Ok, so now, I am going to go back to looking for one of the best, latest DAC within my budget.   

Thanks so much everyone for your input and help !  It is much appreciated.   

When CD’s first came out, they were made with the original master tapes that were processed to get the most out of vinyl without having the sound sound sound dull or the needle jumping out of the grooves and that’s why CD’s sounded so different in the beginning.  Since then, recordings are produced for each format (more or less).  Also, as others have said, DAC technology has improved by leaps and bounds, and so has clock and power source technology.  In 1982 an oven controller for a clock was unheard of, and now, even some of the new switching power supply’s are fantastic. 

Noromance- I just ordered it with a 30 day in home trial period and will get it Monday. Let it break in over Christmas week and will know more by the 1st of the year if it’s a keeper. The unit is made completely different than what I have today. My current dac is fpga based with no more updates and this new dac isn’t fpga based.