When is digital going to get the soul of music?

Mapman and Charles1dad, all I can say is that I have many double record 45 rpm reissued great jazz recordings where I have nice remastered cd versions. There is just no comparison in the attack, involvement in the recording, or just realism.

If you are happy with what you hear, and so am I, all is well. I do think that dsd and certainly double dsd will get digital so close that the convenience of hard drive and computer music servers and their convenience will overcome any shortfall of digital.

Tbg,
If we're happy all is well, I agree wholeheartedly. I listen to numerous analog fronted systems and really enjoy them. I don't hear the wide gap between those and first rate digital as you do, that's all. I certainly don't question your perception, I appreciate the subtle differences that exist. Night and day contrast ? No.
Charles,

I personally agree with what Detlof states above concerning digital vs. vinyl. To MY ears it is in the presentation of large scale orchestral music that digital just misses the mark, it is not as convincing as vinyl. Just listen to the violins on a great vinyl recording and then compare to a great digital recording of the same piece and tell me there is no difference. It is just too obvious to me as good as digital is now it still isn't as natural IMHO. There is just an inherent sweetness (resolution) that escapes digital, it just isn't there yet but I hold hope for the future!

I don't listen to much large scale orchestral music so I have no opinion in that regard. For the acoustic jazz and big band I listen to and know well I find the formats very competitive and enjoyable with a 'good' set up. I've heard both formats sound poor also.

Agreed Charles! I too find acoustic jazz and big band satisfactory in the digital format and it would be, to me, splitting hairs concerning the preference of one over the other. I just don't understand why this doesn't carry over as convincingly with large scale orchestral. Overall though, at its very best I would say I would prefer a good vinyl recording over the same digital all thing being equal less the inconvenience of dealing with vinyl, it is just a bit more relaxed and natural to my ears. But having said that I wouldn't agree that digital music playback doesn't get to the soul, it sure can.