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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
oregon
826 posts
 
"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.
stewie
187 posts
 
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.
metralla
945 posts
 
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,
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
Hi Oregon, I already have a decent vinyl playback system. That's why I'm starting this topic at Audiogon.

Chris
teajay
1,697 posts
 
Chris, you and I have the same digital front end. Yet, I find this combo to be wonderfully musical with great microdynamics and full extension on the top and bottom. Very "emotionally" involving, not laid back and distant at all.

I do use the MBL reference clamp instead of the one that comes with the 1621 transport, the tubes in the AA DAC are Amperex long plate D-getters, and finally I use a Stealth Sextet cable. Would you please share if you have ever experiemented with the upgraded clamp and what tubes and cable you use in your system. Maybe, its these other factors that are taking away the dynamics/emotional aspects that you say you are missing in your rig. I have heard most of the very high end digital gear and still have not heard anything that makes me want to replace either the MBL transport or Accoustic Arts Tube Hybrid DAC in my system.
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