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

@audio-b-dog I’ll be interested in your experiences, but i do think listening to all 3 of the versions i linked to will be worthwhile. I don’t think the higher resolution one is the best.

@kirkwallace 

I have listened to the streamed versions of "My Foolish Heart" and the record. I don't think the digital version is close. There is a naturalness and a sense of air from the album that I'm not sure if digital can capture, at least not today. Also, when people clap on the record, you can actually hear the flesh of their hands. Obviously, I'd have to listen to something like the dCS $250,000 stack or something better the Meitner to know for sure, but I think that song offers inner complexity that is beyond digital today. Not bad news. We have something to look forward to!

As for the version you cited, how am I supposed to listen to that on my stereo? My laptop won't be a fair comparison.

@audio-b-dog 

I still remember when it went through the Preamp compared to now…that’s the whole point you don’t need your vinyl rig….

@charles007100 

My ear says that in so many cases records sound better still. Is digital now involving? Yes, I admit to that. Is it better than vinyl sometimes. Yes. But is the best vinyl experience better than the best digital experience. Yes. And I wouldn't want to part with all these albums that I curated over the years. Brazilian albums I had to look all over the city for. Albums I had when I was a teenager. No. I'll keep the albums. I'll keep the anaolgue rig. I'll play both.

@kirkwallace I’n looking at a high resolution version on Tidal and it does not list KG as a mastering engineer. I will check the the credits on a standard redbook version. But thanks for pointing that out. I’ll give it a listen as well.