When is digital going to get the soul of music?

C5150, I have been drinking wine since I was in the stroller, whilst growing up with Toscanini and the NBC Symphony on RCA vinyl. Today I purchase wine based solely on my personal taste and reasonable price. Call this PPr (price/performance ratio). I have also purchased my current CDp -- Teac X-01 based on the same PPR and personal taste last October. . . although my better half thinks I must have 'brilliant pebbles' for brains. In spite of her financial objections I enjoy it immensely and through it I am experieincing the 'soul of music' like never before: today it was Lara St. John on solo violin on Bach's Ciaccona in D minor in an HDCD recording, and Edgar Meyer on bowed double bass playing Bach's 5th suite for cello solo (Sony Classical SK 89183
). I am sure I would also experience music to be as solful through Vinyl, if perhaps marginally less conveniently so. Yet I have made a deliberate decision to retire my LP collection just over two decades ago in 1984 without suffering major regrets. My marriage will endure only 1 major music playback format at a time. I don't do iPods either, nor MP3 on notebooks computers, but then. . . I don't do wine coolers. Do give me a bottle of hardy California Merlot any time, chilled to 18C, or perhaps a liter of 1978 Amarone from the Cantine Sociali Di negrar. . . Alla salute!

I just got back from Alphifi's, and I appreciate the fact that you guys haven't actually call me a neophyte. He, and many others out there, are far, far more experienced than I am. Now, I have to say that Alphifi has made all his own equipment, including interconnects. He may be selling these interconnects. They deserve to be heard. They definitely gave me pause for thought. I do want to say to the less experienced to still trust your own ears. I also know that back in the day, that the Linn way of PRAT helped me know what to look for. Today with digital, PRAT is almost a given, but I think it helps to have some way of evaluating what is better.

01-21-06: Mmakshak
I just got back from Alphifi's...He may be selling these interconnects. They deserve to be heard. They definitely gave me pause for thought.

...back in the day, the Linn way of PRAT helped me know what to look for. Today with digital, PRAT is almost a given, but I think it helps to have some way of evaluating what is better.

But, what about the soul of the music?

And, if I may so ask, did you still experience 'tension' while listening to Alex's fine digital wares?
Finally, which interconnects did you enjoy best, APL's or your beloved Oritek X2s? and Why?

I want to apologize Aplhifi, for misspelling your name, and thanks for having me over there. I also heard that DVD-A disc that Aplhifi made, and my comment was "this sounds like analog vinyl". I did notice that the most natural sounding discs were originally recorded in analog. That would be an Elvis Pressly recording, a Nat King Cole made by Reference Recordings, plus that DVD-A Aplhifi recorded. This might related to what Jlambrick and the guy who recommended Mapleshade's cd's were saying. C5150, this might relate to your point. Discussions are good.