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

@audphile1 

Try Javon Jackson "Jazz in the New Harmonic." The sonics are excellent. It was made with David Chesky who made some of the best sounding CDs I've heard. The music is a bit like later Miles, but not as edgy. 

@chesebert 

I agree with you about Emm Labs, although I am still down at the Meitner MA3i level, but I've heard it's close to the higher priced spread.

The one place I would disagree is with your statement "assuming playing modern records." Records after 1980 almost all come from digital sources. At 24/192 that can sound very much like analogue, but not always. Sometimes digital sounds like the sound has been torn apart and reassembled.

I think the best sounding records are AAA reissues. Other reissues are very iffy. I bought the reissue of "First Take" by Roberta Flack and it sounded so bad to my ear that I went looking for a mint copy of the original pressing. Finding good records has become more difficult. 

@audio-b-dog I’ll check that album out thanks!

This has obviously morphed into something else but, to respond to the op's original question - yes, i have a digital set that sounds better than my analog. It should because more thought and investment has been made into digital. At retail, I have more than double the investment in digital than analog,

Innuos Zenith MK 3; Innuos Phoenix; Sonore Etheregen & all in 1 power supply; Sonore Optical Converter with Ferrum Hypsos power supply; T+A DAC 200; Shunyata Venom V14 power cables for optical converter and Etheregen; Using Less Loss power cable & filter on the DAC; Less Loss premium DAC interconnects.

Analog - VPI Classic tt with upgrade tonearm and transfiguration Axia cart; Parasound JC 3 phono pre; Audio Sensibility Statement interconnects.

Using Qobuz, in every release of any artist's albums or tracks the digital system will easily identify its signature sound. It's fun to play the different releases and pick my favorite. 
On some original vinyl recordings it is possible to get superior sound and, in some cases, better sound that digital. For example, the Cisco Music vinyl version of Aja by Steele Dan sounds terrific. They can go for $400 or more but I shopped and found one for around $200. I've read that the UHQR 45 rpm version is exceptional also but have not heard it. The UHQRs are expensive also. Bottom line, in my experience, is that you need to spend more on vinyl quality to rival digital. However, I have not heard any of those super expensive analog rigs and don't know if they are more forgiving on lesser quality vinyl or not. Cheers!

Hi, 

I use a Meitner Ma3i and I would be willing to put it against any analog setup.

the detail, air, and soundstage mixed with a medium that has no dust, scratch, or warping to contend with has me hardly ever using my analog set up which cost over double the Meitner cost. Even using a cd transport running into the Meitner sounds better.

@hysteve @falieee 

Interesting that you mention Aja and the Meitner MA3i. I just played Aja through my MA3i and on my VPI Prime Signature 21 with a Pass Labs XP-25 phono stage. Bottom-line I could have happily listened to the digital version through the Meitner, but I know that album pretty well and it sounded a bit washed out to me streaming. The transcient attacks were too smooth, etc. I played the vinyl album and I could hear that it sounded more "present." So, in that case, I would obviously choose the album. 

Another example is Cat Stevens "Foreigner Suite." It is only recorded at CD quality in digital and obviously my album sounds a lot better.

I don't really care about vinyl vs. digital. I am using the Meitner to discover new material, much of which isn't on vinyl. It was recorded digitally and lives in the digital domain. I just discovered Javon Jackson. His album "Jazz in the New Harmonic" sounds as good as vinyl to my ear. And what would be the point of putting a digital recording on vinyl, although it's happening a lot.

So, I have quit comparing. If I have a decent vinyl record, I will play that, but AAA vinyl pretty much ended after the early 80s and there is a lot of good music recorded after that. And the Meitner MA3i captures it beautifully. 

@audphile1 

I have had a few more drop offs and I realized that they happen when the air conditioner comes on or the garbage disposal is turned on. So I bought a battery backup to plug my fiber hub into. I am guessing when something is drawing enough electricity to make my lights dim, then the fiber hub is taking a hit too. I had a discussion with chatgpt, and settled on a $100 fix. To be tested.