Funny how streaming/digital still chases that analog benchmark.


Funny how manufacturers of streaming and digital gear continues to chase that elusive analog sound. I thought digital was better?

Before you all get your panties in a wad I enjoy both Digital and Analog but much rather listen to an analog source than digital.

So today I see  Innuos Introduces The PhoenixNET – A Network Switch For Audiophiles @ only $3500.00

Guess I do not see the point you can get superior sound for say $2500 or less with a decent turntable cartridge combo and phono stage. Hell Clear Audio has an all in one for $2500.

I just don’t get it and I do not care to either.
128x128skypunk
has2be,

Where have you been for the past 25-30 years ?

Almost all analog since the 90's is first recorded digitally.  Ask recording engineers if you have any doubt.

When you listen to what you think is analog, you are actually listening to a digital recording which has been converted to analog.


Why is MC calling people perverts when MC himself has no ears or a decent system that he can actually hear a difference in SQ between sources?
IMO, digital has left vinyl behind years ago. With hi res, dsd, MQA, and with the newer better dacs out there, digital has gotten much better.
There is no “reference” tt setup for $2500. A decent cartridge costs more than that. A good tonearm is $3000 minimum, and the tt itself is more. You can get a music hall tt with a grado mm cartridge using a built in phono preamp that will play records which will cost $1000-$1500, but it’s not going to sound that good, been there, done that. I also had a very nice tt setup that cost more tan a Toyota Corolla and still prefer digital.It’s also true that a good sounding dac is going to cost around $7000 and up.
@glupson
People outside of this very small group of "audiophiles" cannot care less for analog sound.
Yep. Yer right. Most listen to mp3's and have no clue about bitrate or codecs, etc. Cheap & convenient is what they want. Digital does fulfill that. Still doesn't change the fact that digital is and always has been chasing analog


@cakyol
 
Only the nostalgic oldies are chasing the old analog sound. People living in the 21st century are not
Indeed, and among those " nostalgic oldies " is a 40 yr old named Digital. FWIW, many of us sold or got rid of our albums for the new improved perfect sound forever. We wanted to believe it was better because it was so convenient & new.  Then in the 90's someone pulled out their albums and listened to it and began to question whether the digital format was really better. Then slowly we began to realize it really wasn't. My 20 yr old Dual rivaled my $2300 CDP. I bought many VG+-NM albums for ten cents apiece. Hardly ever paid more than $1. Fortunately I have 4K albums so I don't need anymore. But if what you say is true, WHY aren't the albums still $1 apiece? No, they start at $20. $8-10 is the lowest prices I've seen for used VG+. That is usually not the popular ones. They sell for $15 in 2021
& have for 4-5 yrs now. 

All that said, I still ordered a Streamer/Dac today. The reason is convenience. At this age I can foresee a day that may come sooner than I like which I will need the convenience of digital. And I still have & play my CDP because some good music never was cut on vinyl. And sometimes, I like the convenience. 
.