When is digital going to get the soul of music?

"Since my comparison was made only between the commercial CD release and the artists personal copy of a digital master, there was no analog to judge by."

Ok, I have no doubt that the vinyl would cut it, all other factors aside.

But did the digital master you heard get the "soul" of the music or no?

I'm praying that there is some hope here the answer is "yes".....but maybe I'm doomed.

Mapman, again I was composing my response when your post went up, sorry to be out of sync.

I have not compared that recording of the Moody Blues, I'm pretty sure I have the LP but not the CD. Then again, even if I wanted to conduct tests again, I would need to get a high end loaner digital playback system.

With my current Blue Ray player serving all my digital sources, I have no expectations it can serve as a comparison. I had a $16K D to A box here about 2 months ago and it was really nice. Still not analog but I would sure buy it if it were about one third that price.

Gotta crash, I've been up nearly 18 hours. I'll visit tomorrow with a clear head and see what gems have been posted.

Albertporter -

"You're missing the point completely" - I'm not sure what point it is since you use a lot of words with just one conclusion that current CD format is not as good as LP. I never said it is, and there is no need to jump at me such unpleasant way. I merely reacted, if you read the tread, to statement that digital will never rival analog. I don't understand logic behind it - that's all. Many of my friends claimed the same at the beginning of digital photography and now all have digital cameras. I am not an angry person - just read my other post but it seems to me that with claimed experience and amount of dollars you "throw" at me you are a little arrogant. It might be better if you will not respond to my posts and I will do the same for you.

"Music buyers voted down high resolution audio with their failure to buy enough SACD or DVD-A discs to encourage the record companies to continue with the business model."

Tvad, I'm more optimistic than you on this I believe.

Yes, those were not good business models.

I believe electronic delivery of music over the internet is the business model that will work as it does for other forms of electronic media and will continue to expand into higher resolution formats as well. Its already happening, I believe.

Its inevitable that upcoming generations of products like Roku Soundbridge ($129 currently) for example will expand to higher resolution and continue to be relatively cost effective hardware products to produce. You will pay accordingly for the high res content to go along with them though.

It'll be similar to how companies practically give away cell phones today do that they can lock you into their much higher revenue services.

Digital technology is the enabler of all this, not a hindrance. Viable business models are a different concern.