Digital with same soundstage as analog


I have a modest setup, but the analog sounds good to me. Question, can I get the same soundstage with digital by adding a DAC or Streamer?

Current equipment is;

VPI Scout with Hana SL

Parasound A21

Vincent SA32 Preamp

Elac PPA2 

Dyneaudio Emit 30

Oppo 83SE

room is conditioned floor to ceiling and approximately 12x24’

When I play SACD’s, the soundstage is no where near the analogue presence. Maybe it’s the SACD player that’s limiting my experience to go streaming.

Advice based on setup would be helpful

Thanks in advance

128x128vette5451

the Oppo 83SE is what, almost 15 years old?  Oppo made great products, but digital has advanced a lot since then.  i would first add a newer DAC to the mix.  there are plenty of reasonably priced DAC's that IMO would be better sounding than the DAC inside the Oppo.  streamers have also come a long way in the last few years, but the sound quality depends on the quality of the input (qobuz or whomever).  i have not done a lot of streaming, and haven't had the chance to compare what is out there, but i've heard that Qobuz high resolution sounds the best of the bunch.  maybe others will chime in on this.  i'm currently tempted to add the Ferrum Wandla DAC, which is currently $2,800 (not including the Hypsos power supply, which you can always add later).

 

I can share my experience which is quite different than yours. I happen to have the same cartridge (Hana SL) on a Denon DP 47f turntable. For digital I'm running a Jay's Audio CD3 Mk III transport with a Berkeley Alpha Reference Series 2 MQA DAC as well as a Tubadour Mk IV DAC. I also have a Marantz KI Ruby SACD player. I have about 4,000 CDs/SACDs and about a thousand albums.

If I'm careful to make sure that I'm playing the same version of a record and CD/SACD my analog rig sounds remarkably similar to my digital rig(s). The soundstage is about the same and the other aspects of SQ are very close. This was also true when I was running a Marantz SA 8005 SACD player.

I have quite a few newer audiophile releases in both vinyl and SACD. Analog Productions puts out high quality vinyl pressings and a corresponding SACD and I have many titles where I own both. Same with Mobile Fidelity. Some that I own are Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steely Dan, Donald Fagan, Pink Floyd, Crosby Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell, and others. I'm sort of a format junkie and have quite few titles in more than one format.

I have never heard a substantial soundstage difference between different formats of the same master. I can hear differences in detail or harshness but thus far, not in soundstage.

I don't know why you would be experiencing this but one theory is that your turntable/arm/phono preamp combo is doing something to widen the soundstage. I'm doubtful that getting a new digital player will make a big difference but there is lots of good used digital gear for sale and you can experiment without spending huge sums of money.

Please report back if you try a new DAC or digital front end. I'm curious about how much difference it will make.

Yes you can get a soundstage, no if “same” means “identical” - analog and digital are 2 different technologies and not mixed the same way

I have used the Hana SL as both a work horse Cart, and as a A/B Cart' against other Cart' and a Digtal Source..

Both experiences had reinforced my understanding, the SL was not for me. 

I have a bespoke built Valve DAC used with CD and to date, the experience had is enjoyed as much as Vinyl. I don't concern myself with such things anymore. 

Is the CD Source better?, Is the Vinyl Source better? 

I have a modest setup, but the analog sounds good to me. Question, can I get the same soundstage with digital by adding a DAC or Streamer?

The short answer is yes.  At present you’re comparing a >$4000 vinyl rig to an old $900 CD/SACD player so not very surprising you’re hearing what you do — apples and oranges. If you spend anywhere near that on a good DAC and streamer and get a Qobuz subscription your digital and overall listening experience will improve exponentially to the point that you’ll likely find yourself listening far less to vinyl and CDs/SACDs. It’s a crying shame some SACDs are holding you hostage from the excitement of discovering worlds of new music through streaming, much of which is available in hi res. Your only regret about streaming will be that you didn’t start way, way sooner — that was definitely my experience about five years ago. The ability to find and embrace worlds of new music along with playing virtually anything I want in any order from my listening chair has been the biggest revelation in audio in my 40+ years of being an audiophile, and I don’t make that statement lightly. It’s time. Just my $0.02 FWIW.