Analog vs. digital

It is completely dependent on your components. While in the past analog provided a definite advantage that could not be duplicated… so there was an “analog” and “digital” sound, and resolution wise analog just blew away digital.

All that is different now. Depending on you price range and components ala,go and digital can sound exactly the same of one can exceed the other.

I currently own the best system I have ever owned. I carefully crafted it in light of my decades of experience pursuing the high end. Both the analog and digital ends have exactly the same sound quality (see my UserID). This is by having the same brand and level of Audio Research amp, preamp, Phonostage, and DAC. Also, I carefully chose my cartridge to reflect my preferences as far as sound quality.

Both the analog and digital have very very similar levels of detail. The recording would determine if one sounded better than the other. Recently I upgraded the tone area and sub chassis on my turntable. This allowed the turntable to pull ahead on many recordings. But if I am not paying attention I can perk up and be amazed at the level of detail, thinking it is the turntable, and find it is streaming. This allows continued happy surprises from both sides.

If I was downing this again… this would be my goal… well, if I was starting now I would skip analog. Although at inexpensive levels… say systems <$10K, analog is a real bargain. And if you have absolutely no budget restraints in system >$250 K you need to spend quite a bit more on digital to equal the performance of analog. But in between these you can choose the same performance or adjust one better than the other.

It seems with the best audiophile records there is much less of a difference between analog and digital.  They’re almost identical.  But that’s not true with the majority of records on my system.

Mostly depends on your investment preference, all things equal tape and lp's  would still have the edge.

My digital consist of an Innuos Zenith mkIII and Chord Qutest connected by Shunyata Alpha USB. Streaming Qobuz and a lot of purchased hi res files, some DSD and ripped CD’s that were ripped by the Zenith. So about $7500 investment.

My analog is a VPI Prime 21 with Hana ML and Manley Chinook SE II so ~$9000.

If I compare lets say Nora Jones - Come away with me, Analogue Productions pressing to the DSD version of that same album. To me the digital is dynamic, precise and clean. However, compared to my analog setup, the bass is further extended, like bass notes on "turn me on" is just amazing on vinyl, further extended and reaching far into the room. But the layers and layers of added depth to the vinyl are just amazing and makes the digital sound flat. Her voice is just so much more "in the room" on vinyl. So for "my taste" I prefer vinyl.