An interesting Digital vs. Analog experience


On Friday I visited my local hi fi store where Garth Leer of Musical Surroundings was showing off the new Clear Audio Master Innovation turntable and Jim White of Aesthetix was on hand with a lot of his gear. The speakers were Focal Stella with dual JL Audio Gothom subs. Obviously, the point of the event was the turntable, but I'll have to admit that when the music was temporarily switched from the turntable to a labtop both my friend and I thought the digital sounded better.

I've heard A/B comparisons in the store before using identical recordings and in that case preferred the vinyl, but this time with the recordings being different I would have left with a very different impression.

I mentioned it to Jim White (I didn't discuss it with Garth Leer since because I didn't want to rain on his parade) and his comment was that the system was tailored for analog so I'd probably really enjoy a system that was intended for digital. I think the computer was using an Aesthetix CD player for the DAC.

It was the first time in a long time that I was blown away with the sound of a system in that room, it made my system sound very humble (as it is in comparison) in a way that I had not heard before. It was the first time that I've heard Aesthetix amplification making the Focal Utopia's shine.

I guess what I'm saying is that both vinyl and digital can be amazing, but the difference in convienience is astounding.

I could see myself owning a pair of Stella speakers, but I don't think I have enough organs to sell to pay the bill. I doubt my wife would be willing to chip in...
mceljo
I've often wondered when vinyl is preferred over digital on the same system if the reason is because it was not built for digital. If a person builds and refines a system strictly for digital, then adds a TT of comparable value to their digital player, would there then be such a gap between the two formats in quality of sound? Just a thought from someone who built and refined their system based on digital sourcing, which sounds quite nice and has no desire to go back to vinyl.
.....if the reason is because it was not built for digital. If a person builds and refines a system strictly for digital,.......

Rockadanny, what is the meaning of these statements? How does one build a system with a slant towards digital OR a slant towards vinyl....
as opposed to building a system that is designed to bring out the best of the recorded music no matter which format??
Thanks.
Bombaywalla - Considering that a carefully built system requies "synergy" from the source to the speakers including all associated cables and supports, then it's safe to assume that simply switching sources, which would include going from digital to analog that an equal sound wouldn't necessarily be expected.

I believe that a good system will always sound good, but I'm sure there will be some differences that would put one source above another.
10-06-11: Mceljo
Bombaywalla - Considering that a carefully built system requies "synergy" from the source to the speakers including all associated cables ....

Mceljo, I trust that by "synergy" you mean
* connecting 2 pieces of electronics that you can afford within your budget by the 'best' cable that you can afford that harmonizes with the compromises made within those particular pieces of electronic equipment

right?

I do not believe that synergy has much to do with sound but has a lot to do with matching the impedances between 2 pieces of gear (and good/better/best sound is the end result when the impedances between 2 pieces of gear are correctly matched). I.E. taking care of the electrical interface bwtn 2 pieces of gear.

ANd, this "synergy" thing might be a separate discussion topic....
I guess what I was trying to say is that while a system may not be optimized for digital vs. analog, it's seems fairly clear that things like power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables are very system dependent. Assuming this to be a fact, simply switching sources could case a change in the way the system sounds. If this change were negative when switching from a digital to analog source then some people might place the blame completely on the source media rather than realizing that a similar negative effect could also happen by switching to a different digital source.