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Can Digital beat our Analog installations?

Having gone a long walk on developing my analog systems I am addicted to phono reproduction. Nevertheless I always kept an eye on CDs and also SACDs. Before I currently updated my digital dCS chain to the complete Scarlatti boxes I experimented on the best wordclocking connections. in the end I decided going for an additional rubidium clock added to my Verona master clock.

I am using also a second system equipped with the Accuphase 800 drive and 801 DAC, an Esoteric XO1 Limited and a Wadia 861 SE for other utilization. Let's concentrate on the dCS stack. These four boxes are sounding such good and analog like that I like to question my friends, Why isn't Digital an alternative to our best analogue chains?

So it's time comparing digital vs. analog systems and maybe some sophisticated digital chains are beating our sophisticated analog systems. Will it be possible?
thuchan
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
09-06-13: Csontos
It already is possible. This topic has been brought up not too long ago. Almarg described how. I don't remember the thread. Search the archives. Or pm Al.
Thanks for the mention, Peter, but it wasn't me.

FWIW, I enjoy both formats, to a greater or lesser degree depending mainly on the quality of the particular recording.

Best regards,
-- Al
hevac1
812 posts
 
No digital is too pristine and/or clean to me. Even in life nothing is that quiet, there is always some kind of noise no matter what. I have the dCS Debussy, it is very good at what it does but at times it just sounds too clear and does not sound natural. It is the closest I have come getting digital to sound like analog though.
lewm
12,849 posts
 
Thuchan, I admire your purchasing power, but the topic has been hashed over beyond ad nauseam. Let me turn the question around: do you like either of your digital rigs better than your EMT927?
downunder
1,329 posts
 
In the car - Absolutely :-)
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charles1dad
10,249 posts
 
Lewm,
You're right, at this point I don't know what you can say that hasn't been said previously. Both formats can sound fine and both can be disappointing, depending on the quality and the set up. I like both.
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