Analog vs. digital

Looking at your components, it’s not hard to see that the SQ may not be converging as between digital and analog as you may wish.

What you haven’t told us is which sounds more to you like real instruments in real space. After all, that's the real test.  I’m guessing from your various posts that you listen to unamplified music a lot.

I do find enough convergence in my own set-up that it is hard to choose for SQ. But the advantages on the digital side are undeniable.

It's hard to wrap my mind around a space being sharper.  Perhaps you mean that the edges of notes are more distinct on the digital side.  While you use an excellent phono cartridge, a MM does soften things up a bit compared to a low output MC.  But then you'd have to compensate for its lower output.

By your own description your analog side outperforms your digital side in ways that are important to you.  Most of your system is shared by both sides.  However, if you read Goldensound's review of your DAC it sounds very much like what you've described.  My personal bias is to look directly at hardware.  In analog you have, IIUC, an excellent phono stage with tubes and powered with an LPS.  On the digital side, once you get by the digital manipulation, you have an analog section consisting of op-amp chips.  These typically have a lot of feedback.  And it's powered by a switch mode ps.  I think you can do far better on the digital side.