When is digital going to get the soul of music?

Kijanki, sorry for my delayed return, but I imagine that what Charles is referring to is reflected in the fact that most equipment modders (and I realize that not every single one of them out there is legit, but many are) usually start by swapping the SMPS for a linear (based on sound, again like what Charles is saying). I had always heard that the digital environment under the hood was possibly rather noisy (self noise), but have recently had my eyes opened in my own rig to just how much that may in fact be true. And additionally that these same digital circuits are also it seems much more sensitive to that noise (whatever frequencies of it may be involved) than analog their counterparts...and again I suspect SMPS's may simply create more noise and induce more jitter in their own right. I would like to find favor with SMPS's, they are smaller, cheaper and cooler running, but continue to find IME that linear usually sounds better, sometimes a lot better. But, I do agree, to each his own.

I depends on implementation. Good SMPS will be superior to linear power supply. It will be quieter plus line and load regulated. Yes they are smaller and more effective but it is not the reason Jeff Rowland uses them in Capri Preamp.

Linear power supply, as I said before, is also SMPS - a very primitive one (that switches at max voltage) and without regulation, at least in power amps.

I'd like to add a "lay techie" comment. I hope that digital does improve to the point that it is consistently better sounding than vinyl. I'm NOT saying that all of my LPs sound better than my "redbook" CDs because they do not. But, IME and to my ears, subject to a few exceptions, my vinyl set up is better sounding than my redbook CDP.

Nevertheless, I am optimistic that the music industry at large will settle on a uniform digital format that will set a new standard of music playback and that will reliably out perform vinyl. Believe me -- I like to load and play for 60 or more minutes without worrying about picking up a tone arm at the end of a 15 to 20 min. playback, or replacing styli after 1500 hour so hours of use.

One other observation. ARC has been aggressively pushing forward on the digital front, now offering a new dedicated REF DAC and REF CD-9 CD player (replaced the REF CD-8). These new offerings are ridiculously expensive ($30K for the REF DAC and $16K for CD-9). Interestingly, these new products provide a half a dozen or more formats from which to choose. I hope ARC guessed it right. ;>')

Cheers.

Naim gets to the soul of music, IMO.