Analog vs Digital

My digital setup (Forsell Mk IV transport/dCS Purcell upsampler/Audio Logic 2400/Marantz DV18 for 24/96 discs)is almost twice as expensive as my analog setup (Basis Ovation/Graham 2.0tc/Benz Ruby 2/Walker Precision Motor Drive). The digital does some things better than the analog in terms of ultimate resolution and bass (although I've noticed those differences shrinking with the crop of vinyl reissues from Classic and Testament) and is something I can listen to both for extended periods without fatigue and, of more importance, in the same session as analog, although I still prefer the vinyl for its warmth and continuousness. I recently purchased a Sony SACD player, currently being modified by Audio Logic to give it their tubed analog stage and a separate analog power supply. That, and 24/96 digital, are the first digital products I've owned that seem to get close to the openness and ease of analog, although I've yet to do a detailed comparison between SACD and my turntable. I'll still never stop listening to and collecting vinyl, and my preference in long term listening for pleasure lies there, but I think that now you can get digital setups that will at least hold a candle to a good turntable, probably for a lot less than I've spent.

If enough Audiogon posters actually agreed that a particular digital rig would compete with analog, I would like to find a way to get one to audition. Interestingly, people that own analog (turntables), Seem to argue much less about the differences between models. Most agree that while quality differences do exist (usually price dependant) Basis, VPI, Walker, etc. all make great music, especially when coupled with equal quality tone arms. Obviously phono cartridge and the set up procedures play an equal role, but with each of these combinations of choices, the essential sound that analog delivers, remains the same kind of magic. Digital media seems to have not yet reached that level of repeatability and perfection. It is also obvious that there is no "one" particular model or combination that will sway enough people to agree on a particular digital models superiority. Again, I am disappointed that there is not a simple answer for this. For me, the only choice is to enjoy the musical excellence of my analog, while waiting to see if there will ever be a "magic" digital rig. One where it is the overwhelming and obvious choice for getting the music right.

Jeffiostarca, I couldnt agree with you more..digital is convenient, and as always I concur with Albertporter. As I rarely buy "audiophile grade recordings, I own several recordings both on vinyl and cd, many many times the cd's disappoint me, aside from some surface noise never am I unhappy with the vinyl version.

Well, there is no shortage of bad sounding and even amusical digital gear to be sure, but by the same token, there is some really great sounding digital starting to appear and the gap has closed substantially. Sometimes I play records and get surprised when the CD version actually sounds better than the LP. "Lightyears" difference--that's just nonsense--don't look in the laser boys...sounds are closer than they appear. :)

My CD50 is just as pleasing to me as my vinyl rig, and they are at similar retail price points. My vinyl rig is a VPI HW19 junior, AQ PT-8 arm, Benz Lo4 cartridge, Phonomena phono stage.....................Good CD's do remind me very much of analog, thru the CD50. It might not be "equal" to the vinyl, but my definition of "hold a candle" would be more generous than yours, perhaps. You might even say it fires a laser, a musical laser that extracts all the musical colors in the rainbow, from a mere 570 nm of reflected infrared...and extremely low jitter, and dual differential DACs, and an output stage that runs in full class A, and can drive any power amplifier anywhere DIRECTLY....and sounds like music...and ALMOST like my analog rig.