How much do you need to spend to get digital to rival analog?

@mikelavigne 

i have 600-700 2xdsd needle drop files, and the associated Lp pressings to those needle drops. the 2xdsd files sound great. listen to them often when i’m not in the mood to change sides.

but......when i compare directly; game, set, match to the original vinyl. every time.

i don’t do waveforms. i can't reach my 'zen' state with them. :-)

i have dubbed many of my tapes, and my dubs are indistinguishable from my originals. i can tell you that a digital file copy of those dubs would not be......indistinguishable that is. but that is a Studer A-820 dubbing to another A-820.

as far as RTR tape deck references, a Revox would not be quite up to the task as a reference for what tape can do. solid tape playback deck though for sure.

Andreas Koch is a smart guy. has been to my room and stayed with me back in the day. had the first Playback Designs MPS-5, the first Playback Designs product. was my digital reference for 9 years.

Which ADC and cables were used?

Wait a minute, you're going to argue against the Revox, but you didn't use quad DSD? Talk about a red herring!

Also, a waveform would clearly prove your theory, or that the sources were not properly level matched, or that it is unfounded.

ask Andreas about 2xdsd verses 4xdsd. not relevant to this discussion. i have plenty of 4sdsd files where i have 2xdsd too. meh. i like and appreciate the difference but it’s not profound.

ADC for some was a Modified Korg. others i think were a Merging Technology NADAC. i did not do the needle drops myself, but it was the same tt/arm cartridge i had and same front end electronics.

are there better adc’s? i would assume there are. enough difference to matter? not likely.

the digital <-> analog delta i experience is not marginal.

mikelavigne
can you tell us which specific recording this is?

Mike
Had to go digging for the link. Long time since I was on their website. 
The recording of my tape. NAB EQ. Back in 2011.

https://ultraanaloguerecordings.com/new/shop/musician/yun-yang-lee/beethoven-cello-sonata-no-3-in-a-...

But...... I am no longer seeing a digital option for purchase of the music like there used to be. If there is not a legal, or other reason for this, I'm sure Ed would be happy to send you or someone the Digital version if requested.   The CD was a DSD transfer of the tape.

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From their site for the tape heads reading.  8^0

These master tape duplicates are recorded on RMG SM900 tape at +4 dB above 250 nWb/m. which equals 396 nWb/m. This will give you the most realistic dynamic range and best S/N ratio possible. The output level of your tape deck must be adjustable and needs to be calibrated to this level to realize the best playback of these tapes. I have recorded a 25 sec track of 1 kHz tone behind the leader to help you calibrate your tape machine. Use this to set the output level of your tape deck to show 0 VU.
I can make you a 250 nWb/m tape, (TapeProject level) if your tape deck does not have an adjustable output stage – please let me know in your order.

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This was an interesting period for me going back to 2011. I can't believe all these years have gone by. 8^0 . I remember using select 15 IPS Tapes at the time to help me tune my digital and vinyl. For those interested...my digital is a personal build. It is based on a dedicated Lenovo Thinkpad Laptop, external WD going through the ARC Dac. For my vinyl setup - Verdier La Platine Granito / Custom build ET 2.5, various carts. Click on Wile E Coyote and select the system link.  

Let me say this. 

Most of my LPS (many) I do not own digital files of and do not feel (anymore) a need to acquire them on digital. 

Likewise most of my digital music I do not have vinyl versions of - because again, I do not feel a need.
  
But the best way I can say it.

If it starts digital and eventually goes to vinyl - it does not go back to digital.

Have never gone ..... ever .....from vinyl playing to digital.

I blame this phenomena on the engineers...8^0