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

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. 

@audio-b-dog hmm not sure it’s the network that drops off when your AC or garbage disposal hits. 
I would highly recommend running a dedicated line to your system. It could be the appliances are impacting the power delivery to components. 
It shouldn’t cost too much to run even two dedicated lines, one for analog and one for digital. You will hear an improvement in sound quality as well. 

@audphile1 

I do have a dedicated line running to my stereo. When we remodeled the house I made sure that one was put in. Everything important is plugged into a Shunyata Venom 16 power conditioner which has plugs for digital, so the digital equipment is separated from the other equipment.

I think it's worth $100 to give it a try. In layman's terms, it seems as though the handshake between the iPad and Meitner is momentarily failing. I'll put the battery backup, which is made for backing up routers and computer equipment, in tomorrow. The drop-offs have become very rare, but I did notice that two times they happened when something drew on the power. I no longer have drop-offs in the cuts you and I talked about earlier. So, something has definitely been fixed with the Eero mesh system.