Analog and digital are both equally amazing...


My whole life (so far 39 years) has been battling with affording a high end stereo system and finding out what it is want to do with my life. For many years I believed vinyl sounded better and I use to get a lot of flack from people. This opinion that opinion anyway I did always buy cd's simply because it was the "standard" format available at tower records. Anyway I always went to the local mom and pop record store and bought my favorite albums on vinyl. So I have experience with both and understand the positives and negatives of both.

My point is my amazing wife got me Apple TV this past Christmas and for a few years I've been bringing my cd collection into iTunes. I have to say that tonight I realized neither is better or worse than the other I'm just happy that I can enjoy music no matter the medium over a mcintosh and Thiel system.

This is a general statement I'm taking the good with the bad with both formats.

Happy listening fellow nut cases may we always search for the nirvana of listening where ever that maybe, during ain't talking about love from van halen or she's gone by hall and oats.
128x128thegoldenear
I would add that while I am not so sure the ceiling is being raised anymore in terms of in-home sound quality, there is still a lot of progress being made in regards to the cost of gear needed to achieve excellent results, especially with digital music. Although already a viable option, I also think Class D amps are still blazing new frontiers in terms of the sound quality that can be delivered out of a smaller, lighter, more energy efficient amplifiers.
I agree with the basic premise. Both can sound amazing; but, amazing in different ways. However, the more familiar one is with the sound of unamplified acoustic instruments the more apparent it is that analog still comes closer to that sound than even the best digital.
"02-02-15: Frogman
I agree with the basic premise. Both can sound amazing; but, amazing in different ways. However, the more familiar one is with the sound of unamplified acoustic instruments the more apparent it is that analog still comes closer to that sound than even the best digital."

Overall, I agree with your post. One thing I've noticed with digital is that the analog portion of a digital source, has a very big effect on how real instruments sound.
Zd542 wrote,

"Overall, I agree with your post. One thing I've noticed with digital is that the analog portion of a digital source, has a very big effect on how real instruments sound."

Absolutely. I have a habit of looking on every CD for the AAD, ADD, DDD. Too bad there's never an AAA. Yuk, yuk. DDD labeled CD can sound transparent but rather lifeless, whereas AAD labeled CDs are more engaging. Digital remastered cassettes? They sound pretty damn good, difficult to tell IMO. Tape is a natural medium. It breathes.
Hey guys sorry for the late response work has been crazy, anyway check this out. I mention the Apple TV well I have it running through my cheap open box Insigna TV that had a mini phone plug audio out. So I hooked the Apple TV HDMI in to the Insigna then out RCA to my C41. I know I know don't kill me, anyway I signed up for HD Tracks and AS Super Hi Re just to see about this HI REZ Digital form, kinda like how Geddy Lee finding a guitar for the 1st time in 2112. Anyway I started listening and I was more happy with the fact that I didn't have to get up from drinking my single malt scotch. But something was missing I knew there needed to be more.

So I was surfin the web and Musicdirect had the Sim Audio Moon 100 D for 325, I ordered it, it came today, crap toslink, ran to Audio Breakthoughs here on Long Island and Bruce hooked me just before he was closing the doors at 8.

So now, although not "super high end" I have a good starting point, Ill fill you all in after a couple more Macallan 12 years :)

I made my inital comments listening through a DAC in a 99 dollar open box tv so will my opinion get sway hmmm not sure, there was only one song on one medium that ever made me sweat when having an intimate listening session in my living room one night.

Song: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - LZ
Medium: Classic Records 200mg

It sounded so damm good the sound the environment of the recording was outstanding never heard a D28 sound so good. (i think it was D28 on that recording)

Digital has yet to make me sweat.

We will see.