When is digital going to get the soul of music?

My vote for the most soulfull, emotionally involving player goes to the TRL/Sony 900.

Jack, fully respecting your opinion regarding the TRL offerings, I'd like to request some insight into other digital sources you've owned to provide some context for your comments.

Would you please list the other digital sources you've owned.

I'll start. I have owned:
Parts Connexion Shanling T200
Modwright Sony 999ES (early version without dedicated power supply)
Electrocompaniet EMC 1-UP SE (stock and Empirical Audio modified)
Marantz SA-14 (stock)
APL Philips SACD1000
Exemplar Denon 2900 with Siltech wire upgrade
APL Denon 3910

guidocorona: yes, indeed. yes, indeed. but, it does appear that people really believe that the way to the 'soul'in music is through equipment and technology.
whatever.

My vote for the most soulfull, emotionally involving player goes to the TRL/Sony 900.

Jack, your previous posts indicate that it was the Esoteric DV-50 (which is the best ever and as good as the $30K processor), then it was the Sony 595, then it was Sony 2000ES, then, wait, the best ever and most musical ever is the Marantz SA-14. What I am talking about? The best ever now is the NS900V - the pearl of the CES2006. Any press on that by any chance?

Remember this from me Jack, Epoxy can not be upgraded.

Regards,
Alex

Dear Alex,

You should worry less about the ramblings of one man, (me), and more about folks like FX-Jitter and Ta-Chen Wu, whose e-mails still remain unanswered (over 18 months for Ta-Chen Wu). (Phone calls, too.)

Another issue: Why is it that the course of discussion always has to be centered around you and your APL products? If anyone posts about your competitors, (especially TRL), you and a handful of your supporters are quick to post derogatory comments and in extreme cases, sending unsolicited e-mails to us making rude comments about our choice.

If there is one thing that I've learned in my 30 plus years in the hobby it is that we all hear differently and all have different tastes. This is easily seen in the Inmate systems portion of AA or by viewing the gear of various members of Audiogon. SET versus transistor ... single driver horns versus electrostats .. we all have different tatses and likes/dislikes.

This said, why are you so defensive whenever the praise does not center around you? If you have the press from CES that you believe that you do, and the customer support and plenty of work, then why are you concerned about what a JES45 or a Clio09, or an Lkdog has to say? Why?

And, why can't you allow us the opportunity to share and discuss OUR opinion and likes/dislikes/tastes?

Best wishes,

Jack Seaton

What is a digital Lp? Lps mastered from digital tapes. From about '78 to '82(?) digital tape was available, but not the CD. One could only buy digital records, with the word DIGITAL splashed proudly across the front with all sorts of technical info on back. CD's came out later, but Classical records continued to be pressed simultaneously by the majors, (Decca/DG/Nonesuch/Philips, etc) until about '89. They're not bad at all. I particularly recommend Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov cycle and Mackerrass' Janacek.