Does anyone have a digital system that is as involving as their analogue front end?


I have a good analogue front end. Not stratuspherically good but good enough for this comparison. VPI Prime Signature 21 turntable, Pass Labs XP-25 pono preamp, Pass Labs XP-30 preamp and Hovland Radia amp. It has a lovely, very involving sound. On the right recording, I just drop everythng and am drawn in to listen.

My streamer, on the other hand, is decent but not spectacular. It is better than my CD player, but it is not jaw-dropping like my analogue front-end. My question is this: does anyone have a high-end, tier-one streamer (dCS Bartok Apex, Lumin X2, or something like them) that can rival a good analogue system?

audio-b-dog

I prefer my streamer much more than my turntable. But I have a little over entry level turntable (Technics 1500 with a Technics ml540 upgraded with a RigB body). I just don't like deformities that occur on vinyl (or CDs for that matter). I find streaming through the Aurender N20 with a Bricasti M1S2 DAC much more fun and a lot less stressful.

The answer is yes. Any CD player or a one box dac with streaming card features digital to analog conversion and an analog output stage. Given the right components and source material you will rival your analog setup. 

We need to realize that each format can offer top notch sound quality with streaming giving you all the music in the world, well almost, at your fingertips and given the right source material we can enjoy both digital and analog for what they have to offer. Neither is perfect. Both are more than competent in delivering world class listening experience. 

Agree with audphile1.  Both digital and analog can produce very involving sound.  I know that my digital set-up is very involving.  Yours may not be, but you can probably fix that if you want to.

Excellent question and I think my analog and digital are pretty close to me.  And this is very dependent on the music and recording.  An excellent analog recording sounds awesome and so does an excellent digital file.

I listen mostly to digital for convenience. 

@audio-b-dog 

I use Meitner MA3i that has a network card that can be used with Qobuz and Tidal connect, as Roon endpoint and as Jplay renderer. It has inputs for a CD transport. It doesn’t cost as much as a dCS Bartok Apex but it’s very musical and delivers all the details in a very natural way. If you are looking for a good digital source, this DAC will replace your streamer, your CD player and will be very close if not on par with your analog. These come up used once in a while and I highly recommend it.