"If so close, why bother with the analog? I'm guessing that's at least another $20K you've got tied up there? Just because of the records you've got that'll never be on digital?"
Paulfolbrecht, yes I do have lot of music on CDs that is not available on Vinyl and vise versa. Let me qualify my statement where I said 'so close' to analog. It is so close that you could be fooled in to believing you are listenening to analog- until you compare analog and Vinyl playback back to back that is. Analong is still got an edge on resolution but ever so slightly- okay may be 5% more. That is also using Zanden 1200 mk2 phono or Vendetta research phono- Vendetta a little brighter in comparision but still very very good. Zanden digital combo indeed compares very well. And I wish I could say I have tied up only $20K on digital. It is lot more than that.
"Zanden combo sounds rather anemic next to SME30/SME5/Kondo IO-J/Kondo pre vinyl rig. I've heard it with my ears on A-B. "
Hmmm, It is hard to imagine Zanden being anemic next to SME30 set up you describe. I think you mean the bass weight and heft when you say anemic. I have heard SME 30 set up and yes the bass and mid bass is very hefty, some might say too 'fat' but I think I see what you mean. In a way it sounds like there is complement to Zanden digital combo in your statement.
Alex, how does your products compare and sound to the analog combo you describe above?