Analog playback on computer.

I've been scrutinizing HD downloads all morning, and they are the ultimate; no cracks or pops.

I can understand how much fun people derive from playing with their very expensive "eye candy" toys, and refuse to admit that there is a new "high end" kid on the block; never the less, the new kid is the winner; less money and baggage.

I doubt if there are many PC people who even own records; I know I've never met one.

Assuming the "Analoger" has spent much time and expensive resources in acquiring his class A rig, that he enjoys immensely; would he object to a class A reel to reel playback?

If the same dedication to detail and expenses are expended in things such as; analog to computer interface in the down loading to hard drive process, and the same attention to detail and quality of hardware on retrieval through a quality DAC; what you hear will be no different from no computer at all.

Since, most "Analogers" derive so much more pleasure from playing with their expensive toys, than the actual results of the music, that this would deprive them of that pleasure; they would rather caress cartridges than listen to music.

I, on the other hand, derive my pleasure from the exquisite sound of the music after all of the hard work, and considerable expense. Now I can focus exclusively on the music; "My love Supreme".

No, I hear the vinyl records I down loaded into the hard drive; they went from analog, through a converter to digital, and then back to "analog" after going through a DAC.

Do you remember "Star Trek";  "Beam me up Scotty"!   Now anytime someone was beamed up, they were transformed to particles and returned back to their normal selves through the converter.

When digital goes through the DAC, it is returned to "Analog".

jim204, I recall when the idea of down loading vinyl to PC was new, and all the conversation was on the PC forum. There was much discussion about computer analog interface, as well as the best DACs to retrieve the digital; I took it all in.

The biggest problem here is that the PC crowd is so much more advanced than the "horse and buggy" analog crowd.

There was a well heeled extreme audiophile who belonged to a club that met once a month, and when he hosted the meeting, he had to rush and get his analog gear together because he had gone digital; the convenience alone is worth the change. While it's too complicated to explain, "Geeks" are available to take care of the hardware for you.

I'm glad you're enjoying the pleasures of digital.

At this very moment, I'm listening to all that vinyl I purchased many years ago, and it sounds better than I have ever heard it before; that's without getting out of the sweet spot, record after record; "how sweet it is".