When is digital going to get the soul of music?

Jwm, please re-read the quote, and perhaps the article too. What you said is exactly what the author IS saying. I thought the article was quite interesting because the author made a very cogent case maintaining that the redbook CD format of 16 bit/44.1 KHz is more than sufficient for excellent playback --- IF and that's a big IF -- the music was better recorded, mastered and engineered. It's not the format that's the problem. It the production process.

Well at least that's what the author said.

Best,

Bruce

Metralla, what is your opinion re the Steve Hoffman hybrid?

I admit I have not gone through all 15 pgs of this, I'm just skipping to the end (this IS unlike me) so if its been said already just tack this on as a +1 ( or + #) for the fact that digital's soul has arrived with at least one new Dac (there are likely more?) It's the Lampizator Big 6. SOUL Baby, S O U L.

11-03-13: Jwm writes:

I'm not talking about comparing to the redbook layer in the same disc. I'm talking about comparing SACD to its RED book counterpart.

The problem with that is to ensure the mastering is the same. That's why I gave you the Hoffman Creedence example.

The redbook layer on the SACD is never as good as the SACD of it.

Ummm, OK. I think I would have no argument that.

I have always found the redbook cd by itself is always better than the redbook of a hybrid cd.

I don't see why this should be so. Can you be certain they have the same mastering? Could you tell me a specific example so I can make the comparison myself.

Regards,

A very short list of DACs I've personally heard that possess "soul" and are natural sounding with much emotional involvement. Alphabetically,
1)Concert Fidelity.
2 ) Modwright -Oppo 105.
3) Triode Corp. CD player and DAC.
4) Yamamoto YDA DAC (both the tube and SS versions)

I know there are others like the Lampizator(much word of mouth support) for instance but I have no listening experience with them.