Analog vs. digital

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.

J photography,

Yes, I’m finding the same thing with an Analogue Productions LP vs. the same company’s SACD of Prokofiev’s “Lt. Kije.”

As usual a +1 @ghdprentice I came back to vinyl about 20 yrs ago and was surprised how close a <$1K TT and <$1K phono preamp came to my digital and often bested it. I've moved up quite a bit since then and actually my vinyl rig is much more costly than my Theta Miles CDP. But I'm often surprised how close the Miles comes to the vinyl with certain recordings. However the Miles is tweaked a bit also which brought it up quite a bit from pure stock.

That said, the Miles is also known as THE R&R CDP due to its abundance of bass punch which is necessary for Classic rock  to sound good. This is what I listen to mostly and I get that punch with analog but not with all digital. The bass is often there but not the punch or driving force which is what a rhythm section is supposed to add for R&R. i'm not sure that is the goal in female vocals or jazz. So good clean digital without the glare may be the better for the typical audiophile music. But IME It took several digital players to get the sound I was looking for. Now the Miles is getting old and I'm trying to stream. As for Dacs, I think my safest bet is probably the Yggdrasil since it is supposedly the Theta Gen 5a on steroids. 

+2, @ghdprentice

If both recordings source from the same master, your components can be the differentiator in maximizing your joy.

@jmphotography

If you’re up for it, try a nice tube DAC to bridge the gap between digital and analog systems. While Qutest is nice, I believe you can do much better under $2K. Couple of suggestions, check out DAC’s from MHDT Orchid and Border Patrol.