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How can we settle for digital?

My friend, a recording engineer, once made a remark when I told him I had spent $3000 on a CD player. He said "How far can you polish a turd?" Those I know in the music business all agree that digital can only go so far. Vinyl is certainly making a comeback, but the advent of new digital formats seems to perpetuate new hope on the part of audiophiles. Do you buy it? Or are you sticking with your records? Or will you stand up for your $3000+ CDP? Is it just polishing a turd?
chashmal

Showing 3 responses by dcstep

dcstep
1,518 posts
 
My Playback Designs MPS-5 really does amazing things with my turdiest CDs. I've got $10,000 into digital and about $3000 in my analog TT and now, finally, consider them equally satisfying. Getting digital right ain't cheap, but it's being done. In another year or two we'll probably be able to buy DACs equivalent to Playback Designs, Emm, dCS and others of that ilk for $3000.

Strangely, digital software now costs less than the same analog. Whenever given the choice, I'm buying SACDs first, CDs next and LPs last, based on cost-performance ratio in my system.

Dave
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Gs5556 said:

"I think what your friend is trying to convey is that the actual retrieval process hasn't changed over the years..."

Well, the upsampling schemes and clocks in DACs have changed a lot in the last 24-months or so.

Dave
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
For once, I agree with Mr. Feil. ;-)

Dave
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