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

@miketj 

Interesting perspective given that you’re nearer the top end of digital than most of us. I hope it’s not presumptuous of me to mention that while many love the sound and consider their offerings some of the best available, DCS is also a somewhat polarizing brand.

Personally I’ve heard most of their offerings, including the Varese stack, and while that particular model is well out of my budget, not even it moved me. They are fantastically detailed and precise but more digital sounding to me than some other top end units I’ve auditioned, including the T+A unit I ultimately selected.  

As you own the Vivaldi Apex and find it limiting, it wouldn’t surprise me if you find the Wadax studio to be a better solution for you.You might also want to explore MSB or Lampizator which, like the WADAX, are a decidedly different flavor than DCS. And while I haven’t heard it (yet), rumor has it that the Master Fidelity DAC and Clock are truly superb as well.  

My own T+A DAC is equally involving as my vinyl rig to my ears. Indeed, on the same recording (vinyl pressing vs streamed via Qobuz) are shockingly close but for the surface noise on the vinyl. So it can be achieved.

I use a PS Audio AIRLENS and feed it ROON from my NAS. The Airlens is connected to my dac via i2s.

@mgrif104 

i appreciate the advice, I have not spent any time with  T&A gear, I will certainly give it a listen. DCS is extremely polarizing as to their “sound” and have myself thought it forward or strident in some systems. I spent a considerable amount of time listening to the Varese stack before I purchased the clock for the Vivaldi One. I  didn’t think the Varese was nearly the upgrade that my local dealer insisted it was. I did listen to the MSB Cascade and while I thought it was an excellent sounding front end, it didn’t do enough to justify switching from my DCS.

 The majority of my problem is the waffling between wanting to hear and feel the same thing from the myriad number of live shows we attend. When I get, what I perceive is closer to that goal, a year  or two down the line, I am desperately wanting a more laidback sound.

 My problem is always me and the sound I think I want long term, then staying happy with it.. With that aside I still have not found the  analog equivalent from digital gear, but I will continue to slowly listen to what is out there trying to find the same satisfaction I felt when I hooked a new pair of Merlin 3B’s up to a McCormack DNA 1 and pre-amp, probably an Adcom CD player, laying on the living room floor listening to SRV playing Riviera Paradise on repeat and thinking it really can’t get better than this.
 My many hundreds of thousands of dollars, current system, is theoretically better in every respect, but sometimes I wonder if it really makes me as happy, of course that may go for every single piece of gear I have purchased in the past 35 years. Happy searching and let us all know if you find that perfect match. 
MJ

Yes.  I have emmLabs DA2i dac going into an emmLabs PREi preamp.  Theses are driving a pair of Mola Mola Ossetra amps.  In the same system I have an Audio Research Ref 6SE preamp feeding a pair of Rogue Audio Apollo Dark mono.  Both setups are driving a pair of Estelon X Diamond Mk2's.  I have tried 7 different high end dacs.  All were great, but the emmLabs DA2i dac sounds like the best of any other Class A setup, no matter the price point.  Once you cross the $100K price point, for a dac or power amp, it gets so close that it comes down to personal sonic preferences.

I took a leap of faith and added the Ferrum Wandla GSE DAC/Pre and Hyssop external power supply with my Aurender N200. Digital improved so much from SimAudio NP 390. Sound is great and at times almost at same sound quality level. Analog still better with my VPI 19/4 with upgrade package (SAMA, TNT delrin/steel platter), Fatboy 10 uni-pivot, Palo Santos cart, and Ayre P-5xe phono pre. Powered by McCormack DNA 225 thru Nova V speakers and 2 REL T-9 subs and Transparent Ultra MM2/G5 cables. Happy and satisfied with Ferrum-Aurender combo. Hyssop external power supply does boost the Wandla sound quality. Ferrum continues to upgrade/update firmware that keeps improving sound quality and my digital side.