30 Years of Perfect Sound?

Huh? The guy is a nut... The best vinyl still sounds better and is more enjoyable to listen too than the 'best' digital. It is true that the greatest limiting factor is the original recording; great original recording is the first and most important step in achieving great listenable music.

Even the very best digital of today and yesteryear lacks much of the life and emotion contained in those vinyl grooves... Digital is getting better, but it is still lacking overall when compared to the best vinyl..

I have plenty of 96hz/24bit recordings and they sound very good through my PS Audio Dac and on my new Magnepan 20.7's, but my very best records still sound better...is the digital better is some ways? Yes! Is is generally quieter overall, check!, does it have ample slam and power in the bass and mid-bass, check!... But, overall does it convey a greater sense of realism and a 'you are there' or 'they are here'feeling, nope!... Emotionally, vinyl still wins out for raising the most goosebumps...

I have heard a fair number of 'high-end' digital demos too and many sounded very good, but none really reached the best vinyl.

The very best digital that I have ever heard was a rig at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest that used Audio Research electronics, Wilson Sophia's, and the Light Harmonic DaVinci DAC; it sounded very good and very much like vinyl...it even raised goosebumps on a number of tracks; However, that DAC cost close to $20k now and with the same electronics and speakers you could do just as well with a $10k table.

I would agree that eventually, one day, digital will reach vinyl's performance and will even surpass it; that day just hasn't arrived quite yet...