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How Good Can Digital Get?

I've read these threads on the EMM, Exemplar, DV-50, etc. with interest. Last year the "best" digital was the AA Cap II or Wadia/GNSC or MF Trivista or SCD-1 Modified Kern, or whatever. Now we've got a whole new crop of contenders.
You don't see debates like this in any other forum -- standard setting speakers or amps or turntables do not pop up every few months.

This suggests to me that (a) digital audio, like computer processors, is a rapidly moving techonology in which it's possible to make significant advancements quickly and successively; and (b) digital audio still leaves a lot to be desired (when compared to analogue).

What I wonder is will digital ever (really) get as good (or even better) than vinyl? My last comparison was my Audio Aero Cap 2 against a VPI Scout and the turntable truly did "trounce" the cd player. It was a difference in kind, not degree. Given that redbook CD is just a sample of the analogue wave form I have trouble understanding how it can ever sound as fluid, natural, and, well, musical as a properly matched and calibrated table, arm and cartridge.

That said, I have not heard the EMM or Exemplar gear. Am I missing something?
bsal
reb1208
518 posts
 
I think your on a roll Newbee. Not so "new" in your advice. Keep it commin'.
gregadd
574 posts
 
Harry Pearson, former publisher of the absolute sound claims we lost a whole generation of music to digital. Digital suffers from a problem vinyl never did. You can make the best record you like and it will still be compatible. A small company like Sheffield(Doug Sax) revolutionized record production with no compatibility problem. Digital mandated a standard that was inherently inferior. Every major advance requires a new standrd. That means dragging manufacturers, artists and consumers into a new standard. Very expensive.
speedfreak
11 posts
 
Actually, I think that the sound of digital gear is getting worse and worse. I think that the top of the line designs from 5 years ago sound better then the best of the best today. I heard some really awesome players from Goldmund and Metronome a few years back that sounded extremely musical and analogue like. The best of todays players are really kind of sterile sounding.
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
As one who is strictly analog based I can say in no uncertain terms that I have gained a great deal of respect for digital of late. The EMM Labs gear is truely breathtaking. Too bad it's so far out of my reach. In the end though, whichever medium you use, it comes down to what is on the disk and, considering that aspect, digital has come light years in the last decade.
honest1
586 posts
 
Speed - analogue went through format changes, too. Cylindrical discs, 78, 45, 33, stereo, each requiring new players to hear the improvement, or even to play. In most cases, the new players would accomodate the old formats. The thing that I worry about is when discs are completely obsoleted, perhaps by RAM, or who knows what. While it is relatively easy to find 80 year old players that will still play cylindrical records, I doubt that anyone will be able to restore a CD player 80 years from now. It is possible to replace springs, clean and lubriocate mechanical bearings, even make new needles for old record players, but who is going to supplu the multitude of chips used in current equipmentto restorers in 80 years? And apart from the hardware loss, if all the recordings don't get rematered every time the format changes, they will be lost forever (unless they were pressed on vinyl).
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