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An interesting Digital vs. Analog experience

On Friday I visited my local hi fi store where Garth Leer of Musical Surroundings was showing off the new Clear Audio Master Innovation turntable and Jim White of Aesthetix was on hand with a lot of his gear. The speakers were Focal Stella with dual JL Audio Gothom subs. Obviously, the point of the event was the turntable, but I'll have to admit that when the music was temporarily switched from the turntable to a labtop both my friend and I thought the digital sounded better.

I've heard A/B comparisons in the store before using identical recordings and in that case preferred the vinyl, but this time with the recordings being different I would have left with a very different impression.

I mentioned it to Jim White (I didn't discuss it with Garth Leer since because I didn't want to rain on his parade) and his comment was that the system was tailored for analog so I'd probably really enjoy a system that was intended for digital. I think the computer was using an Aesthetix CD player for the DAC.

It was the first time in a long time that I was blown away with the sound of a system in that room, it made my system sound very humble (as it is in comparison) in a way that I had not heard before. It was the first time that I've heard Aesthetix amplification making the Focal Utopia's shine.

I guess what I'm saying is that both vinyl and digital can be amazing, but the difference in convienience is astounding.

I could see myself owning a pair of Stella speakers, but I don't think I have enough organs to sell to pay the bill. I doubt my wife would be willing to chip in...
mceljo

Showing 8 responses by mceljo

mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
Any specific component that you're interested in knowing about? I have no idea what the computer was and didn't really look closely at the individual components. I know the cabling is almost always Nordost (probably Odin) in that room and amplification was Aesthetix, but I don't know any specifics. It was an event at the store so it was more about listening than checking out all the components.
mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
Tubegroover - I've had the opportunity to listen to several of the models in the Focal Utopia line. The store has always had the Diablo and Scala models on the floor and has always had either the Grande EM or more recently the Stella EM. I've heard the Diablos and Grande EM with both Krell and Aesthetix amplification. I've only heard the Stella with Aesthetix amplification. I've never heard the Scala's connected in the main system so I can't really say that I've heard them in a comparable way.

With the Krell amplification I really enjoyed the Diablo's paired with a JL Audio subwoofer the most. When the switch from Krell to Aesthetix was made I can't say that I've ever been as impressed with either the Diablo's or Grande EM's, but based on my most recently experience with the Stella's and Aesthetix there much be something else making the difference because it was once again an amazing sound.

I've actually heard several of the Chorus Series speakers connected to the main system when it was Krell based. The list is 706v, 816v and 836v (my speakers). I've also heard the 706v, 806v and 807v connected to the Aesthetix based main system. It's amazing at how good those models can really sound when given every opportunity to succeed.

By the way, I don't think the name JM Labs applies to any of the new speakers, it's simply Focal these days.
mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
Rockitman - I don't know for sure, but that's what Jim White commented. I take it to mean that because analog and digital have very different sounds a system tuned using an analog source would likely be different than one using a digital source. Once the system is built/tuned you can hook up either source and have a great sound. I'm all digital on a completely different, and much lower, scale so I just took his comment at face value.
mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
The way I understood the JM Lab / Focal story was that JM Lab was making drivers for other companies under a second name at their request. They didn't want people to stop purchasing their product when they realized that they could purchase a full speaker from the company that was making the drivers. At some point JM Lab / Focal desided to just go with one name and be done with it. I thought they still made drivers for other companies? I'm pretty sure that at one point Focal supplied Wilson with drivers, but I may be all wet on that.
mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
Bombaywalla - Considering that a carefully built system requies "synergy" from the source to the speakers including all associated cables and supports, then it's safe to assume that simply switching sources, which would include going from digital to analog that an equal sound wouldn't necessarily be expected.

I believe that a good system will always sound good, but I'm sure there will be some differences that would put one source above another.
mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
I guess what I was trying to say is that while a system may not be optimized for digital vs. analog, it's seems fairly clear that things like power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables are very system dependent. Assuming this to be a fact, simply switching sources could case a change in the way the system sounds. If this change were negative when switching from a digital to analog source then some people might place the blame completely on the source media rather than realizing that a similar negative effect could also happen by switching to a different digital source.
mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
"and also perhaps with solo instruments containing a lot of high frequency energy, like cymbals, etc." - Mapman

Can you recommend a good cymbal solo CD? Pardon the text jargon, but ROFL. I know that's not what you mean, but it's what I immediately thought when reading your post.
mceljo OP
1,351 posts
 
I actually love the way cymbals sound on my system. I notice them and other small percussion instruments like the triangle a lot more with my new speakers than ever before.
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