Digital Source with Tube Amplification

Charles1dad,

I agree that most remastered jazz cds sound very good, as do most new jazz issues. Jazz has not been utterly corrupted like most mastering of pop and rock music. But, if you ever heard some of the original Atlantic, Impulse and Bluenotes, for example, or the Analogue Productions and other highend lp reissues, there is a little more THERE, there.

We are both not big fans of high powered pentode and tetrode amps. To me, most listeners would be better off with some of the better solid state stuff, such as Ayre or D'Agostino, if they need that much power.

Larryi,
Yes I'm aware of good original vinyl and own a nice amount of them. I took a few of my albums to a good friend's home today and we listened to them and some CDs. He has a Basis Debut TT and just installed his new Basis Superarm 9 with his trusty ZYX UNiverse II cartridge. This arm is definitely a step above his vector arm (and that was a good arm!). His analog front end is making superb quality sound, however he also produces truly excellent sound with his Mod Wright modified Oppo 105 as well. He has it covered in both formats and we heard some beautiful natural sounding jazz today.
Charles,

One thing I can say for sure, the new tube amp makes one of my Claude Bolling CDs sound fantastic compared to my solid state receiver. It was one disk that I always wished was recorded better and it turns out that the tube amp was the key. Possibly something to do with being an originally analog recording. Very fun.

Option #3 for me.Love my Quickies!I've quit upgrading and just enjoy now.

I don't think it has much to do with the fact that it is an analog recording but the pedigree of the the SS receiver as there are quite a few out there that can bring out the best in a CD. Also, the tube amp you have is most certainly imparting a bit of tube flavor to smooth out the digital artifacts of the CD that are being highlighted by the receiver.

This is not to knock the receiver but to point out what others have been posting all along: there are way too many variables involved to able to say anything definitively, or even in general, as say, a rule of thumb.

Here is something that won't clear things up but rather, add another perspective:http://6moons.com/audioreviews/psaudio7/perfectwave.html.
You don't have to read the whole review, just the first few pages to get an idea of how a CDP isn't really all that digital after all.

The deeper you go into this hobby, the more you'll come across the same tracks but from a different direction. The good thing about it is the end of the path is always were it should be.

Enjoy and all the best,
Nonoise