When is digital going to get the soul of music?

Timrhu, I took my hat off for you, Sir. Analog is soul of the past and digital is soul of the future. I never understand why people think everything is better 50 year ago. Let's face it. Every thing on the face of the earth is better now than ever.

I love digital but I am now the newly converted (analog). When it is done RIGHT, and I mean every cylinder needs to be firing correctly Analog is in my opinion sans pareil. I for years would state and still to this day believe that when you have superlative digital, DCS/AMR/Playback Design/Meitner/Stahltek/Super Bidat/Dynavox Dynastation...etc. it can be difficult for analog to keep up if it is not optimized.

The KEY is OPTIMIZATION. When you have the correct table with the right arm/cartridge combination, phono stage, clamp...etc...> This is still not enough. Is the setup done EXCELLENTLY and I can not stress this enough. My SP10 MK3/ PH77 + Graaf GM70/Kuzma 4 Point/Ortofon MC Anna sounds FANTASTIC (if I do say so myself :)... and I will LOL BUT I can change my VTF by 2/100ths of a gram and it will collapse!!!

I can change the VTA by a minuscule amount and it will shut it down. Remember this is a microscopic world we are dealing with and a lot of tables are just not setup correctly. Also a lot of modern mass produced tables have horrible bearings.

Avid, Basis, TW Acoustic all have fantastic bearings as does Feikert and Brinkman... to name just a few.

My digital which to me is VERY VERY good, at this point, it simply can not keep up with my analog. AMR DP777/iPurifier/iUSB Power/2x Gemini USB cables (better than and replaced my former $3K Locus Design Cynosure/custom Duelund VSF BLACK output coupling caps.

Now having said that I had NEVER and I mean NEVER heard analog at a show or in a friends home that sounded nearly as good a my digital.., but when in my own home and METICULOUSLY setup and broken in... it is a revelation. VTF/VTA/Azimuth/Anti Skate/Loading/Correct EQ .., I find Diana Krall albums only sound good to me with Enhanced RIAA.

All I am saying is make sure you have that microscopic world absolutely setup correctly and experiment with clamps/weights :)

Just my analog novice 2 cents :)

Enjoy

When everyone gets that ac power conditioning is vital!. Until then "no one" can't evaluate.
It's like dirty water. It can kill you----purified, you must have it. How simple.

Ptss:

You are very correct, power cords as well as wall sockets have a profound effect on my system. I use one of the original PSAudio P300's to power the phono stage and TT. I plan to power the entire system with a few P10's eventually. The P300 really does make a difference and I use it at 65hz.

Every thing on earth will have profound effect on your system if you don't have enough power (more than the maximum rating) to drive their speaker. Most folk will never able get the soul of MUSIC because they listen to their sound instead of their MUSIC.