Having been a Vinyl Die Hard for most on my time with a Audio System. Where through out that time I did not rest on laurels or knock before having an in front of experience. I travelled many miles and met with many, whilst seeking out experiences that would lead me to the place my Vinyl Source is at today.
In relation to Digital, I have not too long ago, added a CD Source into my system, and attempted to learn about what Streaming Data could offer as a Source to be used, where the devices experienced have been up to £6K in value.
Additional to the seeking out Streaming experiences, I have become familiarised with a Selection of CDP's and CDT's used for CD replays along with a wider ranger of DAC's used with all the above methods to produce a Digital Signal.
Firstly I have not been impressed with Streamed Source Material to the place where I believe it is a Parity with both CD and Vinyl Sources. Recent experiences had resulted in my being impressed very much to the point I have a liking for Streamed Data, and can see a place for it to be used, but not as the go to Source where sound quality is the concern.
My experiences have left me with the view, after having limited encounters with CD Sources up to a Value of £5K, is that CDP's used standalone in my experiences had. Have been mainly second to CDT's, where sound quality is being assessed. There are a couple of exceptions where the Standalone CDP in a particular system have been a Parity in the impression made when compared to alternate equipment used for CD replays.
DAC's are in my assessments of ones experienced in demo's, are as different as Phonostages in how they can influence the end sound.
I am familiar with both SS and Valve DAC designs, I am also familiar with DIY produced to Branded with a Maximum Value of approx' £3K.
There are DAC's experienced and I have assessed as being very intrusive, pushing the end sound hard in ones face, over revealing of details and not very coherent across the frequencies.
There are the Anti Thesis to the above, where the assessment is the DAC is a Slouch, and creates a end sound where one can sink into the listening seat and have 40 winks if wanted. Again seemingly rolled off in the expansion of the frequencies, maybe a little too biased towards the Bass, not being coherent across the frequencies.
As always there is the in between and demo's where the coherence across the frequencies is attractive, where the end sound can tweak ones listening posture to the point they are edge of seat or relaxed in the seat.
To achieve my ideal balance of detail retrieval and being extremely impressed by the end sound, especially in Parity to the Vinyl Source, a CDT with a Bespoke Built Valve DAC was the route I took.
My suggestion is to be extremely ruthless in ones evaluation of a DAC, where if it does not impress abandon the model with immediacy.
The Digital Section of Forums is filled up with posts about short term satisfaction, with DACs being made known to be up for exchange.
The Honeymoon periods being very short lived and the DAC has stated farting in the Bed 🤣.
