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

@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. 

What sounds better is a matter of opinion. You have to decide for yourself. That said, if I was in your position, I would be looking at the analog stage of a player or dac. For example, I like Ayre for solid state, The analog stage in an Ayre CD player or DAC will have a similar sound as their other components. Analog stage, power supply and digital stage, in that order. Most audiophiles focus on the digital stage/chip. For what you're asking of the components, the analog stage is how you're going to get there. But that's just my opinion. Use our recommendations as a guide, but the final choice has to be yours.

If you live in the US, give The Cable Company a call. Have them send you a few demos so you can try them in your system before you make a purchase decision. It takes most of the risk out of the equation. 

@xmbw4 

My streamer is a Moon 280D. Moon builds their streamers around the analogue stage and I found that most convincing when I first heard the Moon. This is a stripped-down model, no headphone amp or preamp. Just a streamer and DAC. The DAC chip is an earlier ESS, but the analogue stage is the same as on their more expensive models. Reviewers say the Moon 280D punches above its weight. I have a feeling it's in the same class as many other mid-tier streamers by Lumin and other high-end designers.

It's almost as though you would have to listen to my system to know what the streamer is missing. When I was younger, I had an inexpensive turntable and phono preamp and my CDs sounded as good or better. But when you get into the higher tiers, it's as if you're there, at least on some records. Especially some jazz, like Cassandra Wilson or Bill Evans remastered albums. Some albums, especially those which have digital masters, can sound awful. Bruce Springsteen "Born in the USA" would sound better on a streamer because it was recorded hot from digital masters.

My question is basically who has heard a really good streamer and a really good turntable and phono preamp and compared them head to head. Is there a streamer out there that can compare to analogue at its best?

Play the right album, though, and it is hard to imagine a digital front end with the air and separation an analogue rig (a good analogue rig) gives you. I was hoping somebody had a really good analogue rig and digital rig and could compare from their own experience. 

The gear that I have does not involve me, the music that I love does. So I am just as happy listening to the table radio in my kitchen as my big rig, YMMV.