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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
gbmcleod
602 posts
 

@mclinnguy 

 

I know, right?? A pianist, too! He can’t be all that good; he’s not even on Instagram.

And all those notes on the piano! Too hard to listen to. Why couldn't he just make a "song" the day Dua Lipa does it? It would be SO much easier to listen to. Hey, tell you what: lets just ignore him and hope he’ll go away! 

Duuudeeeee, as I already said before, what the hell does HE know?!?

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

@gbmcleod 

I think you're talking about Keith Jarrett. If you are, listen to his album "Keith Jarrett/Charlie Hayden" and you'll hear songs the way I think you like them, but with ultimate minimalism and soul. Keith Jarrett has also recorded Bach. He's a master, or at least he was until he had his stroke. 

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

@audphile1 

The Meitner MA3 has the relaxed analogue ease of vinyl. The instruments do not sound like they went through a blender and were reconstituted. But the sound is a bit "thick." Vinyl when done right can give a very focused sound so that the notes are tight and that also gives the recording more air. Does the MA3i upgrade help to fix that?

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,882 posts
 

@audio-b-dog I wouldn’t describe MA3 as thick sounding but I would say when it comes to image focus and image placement precision it is a bit “diffused” so to speak. 
The MA3i improves upon this greatly. The key is to have enough precision and focus without crossing over into the presentation with etched out images that distracts you from music. The MA3i balances this act very well. 

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

@audphile1 

Thanks for the response. I inherited a Matisse drawing from my mother that I thought was real. I knew it was a real drawing and it was signed by Matisse and it was damned good. Better than any of the artists whom I knew could do. 

I took it to the Matisse archives in Paris to get it authenticated. The woman who ran the archives knew in one look that it was a forgery. Matisse used a fine fountain pen and this was done with a slightly thicker sharpie. Matisse's fine fountain pen was much more elegant. And that's what I think of when I say a note is focused or thick.

In a way the Meitner reminds me of tube gear of old that was lush and "musical," but distorted. 

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