When is digital going to get the soul of music?

This will show my ignorance, but by recording techniques, I meant something like the singer who's voice was coming from the left side of his throat to maybe step further away from the microphone to give a more natural presentation. D_edwards, would surround sound help this a bit? I still can't get over the high I got when I listened to Aplhifi's system. If I judged it a 15, I judge mine a 1 or less. I do know that when I'm away from my all analog system, that the songs start playing through my head. Does digital do that?

Tvad:

Stock, the SA-14 is thin and hard sounding, with a sucked out mid-range and without much frequency extension in the bottom end. (To my ears, in my system) Not overly dynamic, either.

After the mod, that ALL changes dramatically, however it still sounds a little mechanical to some degree, especially when compared to a player that is both accurate and incredibly musical.

I could still live with the SA-14 (I don't plan on selling mine), but find myself desiring the musicality that I now enjoy. (And it is more accurate to boot).

"No TRL dig intended."

Thank you. It's pleasant when we can share our opinions, even though we may walk different paths. Don't you agree?

Best,

Jack

FWIW:
The Dodson 217 Mark 2 D DAC that I own is fantastic. The new (and improved) Dodson 218 flagship, which is pricey, is claimed by Ralph Dodson to have essentially duplicated the analog experience, if I'm paraphrasing him correctly. I obviously can't say for sure, but in talking to him on the phone, his laconic, no nonsense conversation style would suggest that he's not at all the type of guy who's prone to hyperbole. Pretty terse, matter of fact, and believable.