Can digitizing vinyl match CD?

I am using the Alesis Masterlink and my secret weapon for getting great sounding recordings to CD is using the Wadia 17 Analog to Digital converter. I go record out of my preamp into the Wadia and then XLR digital to the Masterlink. Compared to using the converters in the Masterlink this is a night and day difference. There are newer and probably better units out there than the Wadia. You can't just plug your table into the crap converters in a computer and expect to get great sound.

It is true that the quality of the table, cart, phono stage all determines the sound of the final recording. Even the cables from the preamp affect the recording.

Just to confirm that even using a cheap (not crap) Creative audigy notebook card, I get better music from my vinyl than I do from CD. Even though I have to downsample from 24/96 to 16/44. My main issue, now, is why there are no small players able to play the higher format directly. My Cowon D2 does a good job, but it only handles downsampled (CD-level) formats. Even if this is a bit of work (and hassle), there is no competition, vinyl wins. When you start doing this, you don't want to go back.

It is a bit of a dilemma, though. Ideally, I would like to record in the best way possible, e g using the new Korg with high-speed DSD, supposedly "future proof". Yet the portable player market hasn't even climbed to 24/96 yet; the bigger files will take more space, more time to convert, and so on. I already have a collection of analog tapes, and also DAT tapes, on my loft. I enjoy the 50 albums I have recorded in 24/96. But I don't like the feeling that I may have to do it all over again!

Is it possible for digitizing vinyl to match or exceed commercial Red Book CDs?

Match, no. Exceed, maybe.

The results will sound different than any CD mastering in most cases. Could be better or could be worse or could just be a matter of preference. It will be different though almost without doubt.

It should sound pretty much like the vinyl itself did though if done well.

do any of the high res sacd/dvda players (thinking oppo) play the 24/96 or other higher sampled formats?

can you have a hard drive tied to the system with high res needle drops?

We recorded the Jun Fukamachi "At the Steinway, Take 2" from a Rockport Sirus TT using Digital Audio Denmark converters at 32/352.8 for First Impression Music.
So far, the CD has gotten rave reviews. We did not use any EQ/Compression. We tried to take out the ticks/pops, but even with the best equipment available, it just took too much from the music.
I'd suggest the Korg or Tascam DSD units for this. You can store the files on your computer and be happy as a clam!