Are You Happy?

It's pretty simple. Most digital sounds "soul-less", is bright and glaring and lacks what many claim is not real or quantifiable: PRaT. As such, you might initally like the music on the recording, it's just that the reproduction of it isn't "musical". Who wants to listen to something that isn't enjoyable over and over again ?

This is the reason why even a basic vinyl system can seem "so good" for many people. Even though they've dumped hundreds ( sometimes thousands ) of dollars into a digital source, it still can't compete with the "antique" yet "musical" recordings preserved on vinyl. As one gets a better digital system, the differences begin to shrivel but are still there. Sean
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I've always spent more on my vinyl setup than on digital (including SACD) but have to admit that digital is sounding pretty good these days. I don't find it "soulless" or bright and glaring but maybe my tube amp and preamp are compensating. To me, solid state is the real culprit (but if I were totally honest, that's probably because I haven't heard the right solid state). In any event, vinyl still rules, but not by much. Anyone who can't find some satisfaction with CDs hasn't tried hard enough, IMHO.

I'm pretty happy. Yes I have some cd's that are untolerable but this is a minimal amount. Most of these are classic rock and some blues. I'm planning on adding a sub which will hopefully add a little bottom end and help smooth out some of the brightness of these offenders. I can't imagine anyone having 90% of their cd's being unlistenable. That system is unacceptable.