My digital front end outdoes my analog.....

Chad 'n Shad, what I meant by "imperfect" with respect to analog is that when storing analog information, any damage to the storage medium (the groove, the tape) also damages the information itself.

With storage of binary code, that is not true. As long as you can read the binary info AT ALL, you will be able to digitally reconstruct a "perfect facsimile" of the original sound. However, the resulting sound wave that gets to your ear, did not originate from an analog source (a wiggly groove), rather it was "reconstructed" using a code that can at best only "approximate" the analog equivalent, albeit without any pops and scratches.

The example of the DNA molecule would make a brilliant argument, except that it is not a digital (binary) storage system, and like the record groove, is vulnerable to all kinds of degradation and damage, and consequently, so is the information it stores. When this "damage" happens, we call it a mutation. Essential for evolution, but probably not so good for music reproduction.

.

I think another consideration that has not been discussed here is the software as opposed to hardware issues. You have not told us what you listen to or have compared CD to vinyl. Not that the stlye of music matters but I have found that my excellent condition original issue 1950's jazz LP's are completely magical compared to even the best audiophile cd reissues sold today. On the other hand, many LP reissues (and new issues) don't necessarily beat or equal their cd equivalents. There are far too many gross generalizations about the whole issue of cd vs. vinyl. I will show anyone specific examples of where one format blows away the other or vica versa so be sure you aren't reaching your conclusions from too narrow a set of software comparisons.

Nothing in nature is digital. The helix only looks digital to us today because we don't have the technology to "look" even closer. Guaranteed those edges are rounded over and science will eventually find even more there, there.

I don't really care about the digital/analog debate. I do use both in my system. However, I have found very little to justify an investment in SACD. To my ears DVD-A has a much better potential. I choose not to go beyond CD because I'd rather wait and see where the digital world settles. There have been great strides in SS and digital components in the last few years. But there have also been great strides in analog components as well.

I still see this as a dollar for dollar comparison. I don't subscribe to the thinking that a $1k analog investment will outperform any digital. Might have been true a little while ago, but it's not a given any more. So, if someone chooses to invest more in digital than analog (or the other way around) then fine. Electroid posts that vinyl will never have the same place in his system while telling us about the performance of his $6K player. So he feels the need to tell us that his expediture makes him happy. Ok, but what's the point?

This really is pretty simple as I see it. If you do want to improve your analog source, invest in it to the same extent that you have invested in SACD. If you don't want to spend anymore on analog then that's fine as well, but why do you ask the obvious? I believe that for the same $6K one can have an analog front end that will better whatever SACD you want to bring to the table.

In response to Jyprez thanks for bringing up that point. I did a lot of comparing. I used the same title on vinyl and CD as well as other recordings and one thing is always the same. The image is inferior on the vinyl rig and the HF is slightly nicer(more natural) on the vinyl rig. My other point holds true too in terms of bass and dynamic range being better on the CD rig.

ET

To Dan Ed - I got the Trivista for $2682 brand new as an accomodation whilst in the business. As a music lover how can vinyl hold the same place in anyones heart since only 1% or so of new releases are on vinyl. I love old and new stuff but I have almost every vinyl recording that I want or will ever want(except those not yet made) . I have two friends that own record stores and I have been collecting for over 25 years. I asked for phono pre recommendations and have yet to recieve one. It has to have a ton of gain as I will not every use an active linestage again(famous last words)I am starting the rewire project for tha arm which terminates with its own RCS'a on the arm. I like you don't care about the digital analog debate either.

ET