CD has laid back and uninvolving sound


Hi folks, yesterday I listened again to vinyl. I conducted also a comparison between vinyl and CD. The most peculiar thing with CD is that the sound seems to be more laid back, distant and uninvolving. With vinyl the sound has more bloom, is less laid back and has more PRaT. To me this laid back and distant sonic character of CD is the most significant finding and bothers me quite a lot. How can I improve this? Btw, my digital front end: MBL 1621 transport + Accustic Arts Tube DAC. Would Wadia DAC (the old Wadia 9 or another classic Wadia) be better in rendering a more upfront and engaging sound (more PRaT)?

Chris
dazzdax
since all "vinyl systems" do not sound alike, it is misleading to generalize differences between vinyl and digital.

simply change the cartridge and the "sound" of an lp will change significantly. there are also audible differences between dac/xport combinations and cd players.

my experience does not confirm the distant perspective as typical of digital components. there are many players or dac/xport combinations which are forward.
"How can I improve this"?
The answer is simple- get a quality turntable, decent cart and you will have the sound you are seeking.
It baffles me that so many people spend thousands of dollars trying to get an analog sound out of their digital machines. Why spend thousands on DACs, which stands for Digital to ANALOG CONVERTER???
Why not put the money into a good vinyl playback system?
Then you don't need converters and cables and super discs.
And please, stay away from belt drives.
Get a Lenco. You will have PRat you want.
Get a cd from ECM label--Marcin Wasilewski Trio's _January_, or Bobo Stenson's _Cantando_, say--and see what you think. CD recordings don't get any better than ECM (IMHO), so that might be a good benchmark against which to measure your best vinyl.
12-14-08: Oregon writes:
It baffles me that so many people spend thousands of dollars trying to get an analog sound out of their digital machines. Why spend thousands on DACs ...
Why? Because we have thousands of CDs. If one has spent $50k on the little silver buggers, then one is going to spend some money to get the most out of them. Obvious, no?

Regards,