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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
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audio-b-dog OP
777 posts
 

@audphile1 

I'll check them out. I think I've heard a few of them. Are you into ta Brazilian music and jazz? In the seventies some great Brazilian jazz was happening. Tania Maria, whom I've seen live several times back in the early eighties, was classically trained on piano in Paris. Her piano playing is amazing, as well as her singing. Her best album to try is Brazil With My Soul. Luckily I have most of her albums and those that wore out on my seventies $79 cartridge on a tonearm that didn't have counter weights (or I didn't know about them), I've repurchased mint copies. I have enough Brazilian music to play eight hours a day for weeks. Many CDs too.

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audphile1
7,824 posts
 

Thank you. I’ll listen 

audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog OP
777 posts
 

@audphile1 

If you have the chance and inclination, I tried playing an album by Klaus Mikela in which he was conducting Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Firebird on Qobuz. During the first cut of Rite of Spring I found myself listening deep into the Firebird. It had jumped down many, many tracks. I downloaded Tidal and tried the same album. It did the same thing, jumping from the first cut of Rite down into the Firebird. Of course, this album fits the description of a long album at a hi rez. I'm listening to Melody Gardot now (which album do you like?) but I'll try another hi rez classical album later to see what happens.

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audphile1
7,824 posts
 

@audio-b-dog 

I’m playing the Rite with Klaus - no issues. Your network is what needs to be looked at. In another thread I linked you to the guys recommended changing DNS to google, which is 8.8.8.8  

I did that just to try. It requires a reboot of your router to take effect. You should be able to try it out.

audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog OP
777 posts
 

@audphile1

I remember when you sent that and I looked at it. I thought it was just way over my head. I had no idea how I would find a way to change DNS, or what it was. So, I put it aside thinking I'd try simpler ways of fixing it first. But I guess I must try it. Could you send me that link again. It's way up in our chain and I'm not sure I'd be able to find it. Also, if you have anything you could explain to make it simpler. Thank you. 

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