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When is digital going to get the soul of music?

I have to ask this(actually, I thought I mentioned this in another thread.). It's been at least 25 years of digital. The equivalent in vinyl is 1975. I am currently listening to a pre-1975 album. It conveys the soul of music. Although digital may be more detailed, and even gives more detail than analog does(in a way), when will it convey the soul of music. This has escaped digital, as far as I can tell.
mmakshak
nevillekapadia
95 posts
 
Thanks Kijanki.

You are right, DSD is the format used for making discs that we call SACD. A better format than PCM redbook playback.
engelgrafik
3 posts
 
I love vinyl even though I think the reason why it seems to sound better is a combination of fluff, overdrive, gain, distortion, imperfections, etc. Digital doesn't really have that... everything that distorts in digital is like nails scratching a chalkboard. However, when something analog distorts (I'm using the term loosely, not technically) it sounds a little fuzzy. More fuzz and you get warmer sounding perception. It's the same reason guitarists like me love tube amps.

I bet if people used tube amps for their hi fi systems, they'd get more warmth. Some do, but it's expensive!

In the guitar world, they're more affordable... usually just 2X as expensive as solid state. So a $200 ss amp will be about $400 if it's tube. There are more expensive ones that go for $1000, $2000, etc. Whereas in the audio world, the contrast in price in simply inaccessible... $20,000? Insanity! It is hard to find any tube guitar amp for more than $3000.
ralvspd
1 posts
 
I think MSB has done it. I have the power DAC and a friend just purchased the DAC IV Platinum with the CDIV transport. Digital never sounded so good. My power DAC holds it's own but the DAC IV is so open, so reveiling I thought I would cry as I listened to his system. It was chilling.
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
One of the closest I've heard, is the Exemplar/Oppo, by Exemplar, of course.
This, while not analog is pretty remarkable sounding, and very tube-like, yet without the tubes. Lush midrange, great bass, imaging--very analog sounding for such a reasonably priced piece--$2500 US.

Try to hear one, its worth it to hear this piece.
Larry
rick_hopkins's avatar
rick_hopkins
21 posts
 
I'm going to say it will eventually get there but not with anything we have currently. Redbook CD will never get there in my opinion. It's too course to possibly trump vinyl.

Higher resolution perhaps but it hasn't happened yet. I have hope because a fair amount of work is going on in this area. If only high-rez files would come along. They are, however, I'm sure they will never be mainstream.

SACD is in the ICU because few are providing software for it.

DVD-A is DOA...
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