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

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

Define "rival".

It all depends on what sounds better means. There are obvious differences when you compare analog to digital versions of the same recording which I love to do with people. Frankly, it goes both ways. Sometimes the analog version sounds better and sometimes the digital version sounds better. I have to believe it comes down to how the recording was mastered or remastered. I have never had an instance where a CD sounds better. But with high res (96/24 or higher) digital downloads it is a toss up. Dylan's Desire sounds better in analog using the MoFi 45 RPM disc. Early Bowie stuff sounds much better in digital even though they were analog recordings. Much of the very current recordings sound better in digital form such as any of the recent Wilco discs. This is all by direct AB comparison with both versions running at the same time with the volume equalized by meter. I use an Apple Mini loaded with the Pure Music program. I love vinyl but it is just not true that it sounds better all the time. It does sound better much of the time and I have many great old records that I have no desire to get a digital copy because the analog sounds great. But, I do have some knock out digital recordings like the high res version of Tool's new disc. WOW.

Raul.....+1

$200, $2000 or infiniti.

mijostyn covered off the obvious issue of the masters being different.

If you are currently a "vinyl" person, then you may have an expectation of a sound that digital .... well just isn’t. The fairly high channel cross-talk of vinyl certainly creates a sound "field" that can be pleasing and I am inclined to believe that perhaps it has a benefit in untreated or poorly treated rooms, and hence offers a euphonic advantage over digital for many people. Even that slight background "hiss" can give an airyness that again many find pleasing.

There are features, typically in higher end DACs, but not exclusively, that allow you to play with filters that may allow you to tune the sound to how you like .... literally by adding imperfection, but nothing wrong if you enjoy the result. You can also pay an arm and a leg for a non oversampling DAC that will do the same thing, but without the ability to remove the imperfections when you do.

If you have a good listening space, a reasoned blend of absorption and diffusing to create a nice "environment" and you are not emotionally invested in vinyl, then you may find a good but fairly low end DAC sounds wonderful.

Keep in mind that almost everything in the last few decades was recorded and mastered in digital, and even remasterings often will be, so any "advantages" of vinyl come down to specific masterings and pleasant "flaws".