Worlds best DAC

As someone who used a turn table for many happy years and still hears them in the systems of friends, digital doesn't "suck" at all. I listen to music long and often and enjoy it immensely and experience much emotional involvement. I'm in jazz clubs 3-4 times a month so I feel my ears certainly are use to natural sound. Neither analog or digital front ends fully capture the live acoustic experience I hear, but both can come close enough to be very satisfying. But I don't pursue a " perfect" sound rather I just want a reasonably organic character with realistic tone, body and harmonic beauty-honesty. I believe a good digital system delivers that these days. I avoid hifi sounding components like the plague.
Charles,

Digital does indeed suck. There is always something ever so slightly askew. I don't own a vinyl rig, but in those escapist moments, my subconscious mind dreams of some big brass platter. A lot of the "solutions" for sale seem to fall short and somehow desecrate the music. Not just absence of fatigue but lifelike dynamics and energy. That is a razor's edge. Many NOS or tube dacs fails in that department. Reclockers fail. Upsampling fails. Hi rez and DSD fails.

I will personally disagree as I have demonstrated at a recent audio show in Norway how vinyl recorded to DSD sounds exactly like the vinyl on A-B test. This actually shocked some hard-core vinyl loving audiophiles and reviewers.

In the event of vinyl vs. digital shootout, I personally don't know of any other way, except using something recorded direct to disc/vinyl and direct to DSD, without additional mastering, usually done by different recording engineers. For example MFSL Patricia Barber "Night Club" 45rpm audiophile pressing was mastered by someone else and, in my opinion, sounds somewhat inferior to the MFSL SACD.
This said, I use the vinyl/SACD bundle Bassface Trio Plays Gershwin by Stockfish. For me, with this bundle, I can really tell the difference between vinyl and digital.

Best,
Alex Peychev

Charles, most people who own SOTA vinyl and digital concurrently favor vinyl (Mike L. for example). Beyond that, people I trust who have nothing to sell still feel master tape is king. If digital works for you, great. Its a matter of goals and expectations. Its getting closer though as this and other threads indicate which is exciting.

Good suggestions Alex. I would be interested to hear that outcome....

Agear,
With all the time, money and effort you have put in your system are you dissatisfied with your digital playback? I hope not. I'm constantly finding good sounding CDs to listen to. If you truly believe digital sucks you should consider going exclusively LP or R2R. Spending time on this forum it appears some just can't find lasting happiness with their systems regardless of the expenditure. Don't fall into that rut.
Charles,

I was asked about the zanden dac. in my opinion having heard all of the versions, I prefer the original. it had the classic tube sound and one could listen to any recording , regardless of quality, and still have a smile on your face.