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Revisiting Digital?

Have you done more than consider going back to Digital? I have only put my toe into the analog world, and found it to be the lost "High End" format. SACD and DVD-A failed to gain acceptance as a next generation High Definition audio format (Weird Huh..) With more and more vinyl being printed each month, customers are voting with their dollars.

However, I have not been able to get over the snaps and pops associated with vinyl. I have bought too many new albums, only to have a high noise floor, and distract me from the experience.

If you have any of these feelings, and have tip toed back into digital, what did you consider for your digital system, knowing you have drank from the TurnTable Cup!

To be fair, my system is decidedly Mid-Fi, theater led. I have a NHT 2.9/AC2/HDP2 - Velodyne 1210x 5.1 system. I use a B&K 31/50 Processor, and a Parasound 2205at 5ch amp. It is nice for theater, and in two channel mode with my Denon 300f turntable/phonopre.

Your journey - thoughts are appreciated/welcomed.

Jeff
jbryngelson
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,033 posts
 
A Mac Book Pro is good enough for Digital.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
John,

If you ever get a chance to hear lossless you may just decide to give up the CDP all together. It really is that good, with a big assumption on the DAC side. ;-)

Syntax,

I agree, that is a good way to go. My neighbor is using one of the new HP all-in-one PCs. Very compact footprint. The downside is having to turn off the wireless keyboard and mouse since my electronics pick up the noise. :-)
stiltskin
499 posts
 
Jeff,
No doubt about it ,analogue play back can be frustrating at times with a capital F...

Though I wouldn't dump it for any other format.

I agree with Dan and John digital play back has come a long way recently and should not be disregarded.

Good analogue play back demands a bit of knowledge going into it , patience, work and money....

If your going to stick with it, a cleaned Lp new or used is a good place to start.
madhf
170 posts
 
I have a stock Denon 3910 and an Esoteric DV50S. Although I prefer the esoteric, the Denon should do just fine. You can get them on Agon for $550 or less. They play all the formats you would most likely encounter today including multichannel of course.
jbryngelson OP
25 posts
 
I have read two articles, nearly 3yrs apart on the differences between McIntosh Media Servers and good CD playback. Read the article yourself, it is a good read, but here is the punchline. To get the real deep base, the impactfull midrange that hits you in the chest. And yes, that elusive AIR and space we all covet is far more present in the stand alone player vs the media player. Bits are not just bits, if you take these guys at their word.

http://www.stereophile.com/mediaservers/108mac/index.html

This is essentially, what I want to get from my digital source. I want the best from digital, so I think I will give up the ease of use of a music server, for the purity of great digital. I know Analog-Vinyl offers the best of this, but as mentioned earlier, I am nearly done with the issues of vinyl. I have listened to the VPI cleaned albums after a three step process, and find still find myself lacking the sound I seek. It needs to be new, and perfectly clean to get it to the point I hope to hear.

So if you are still with my, what would you put on the list for great digital playback? I need to add a great BluRay player to my system, but would be happy to add a universal player for great SACD or DVD-A in addition to Redbook.

Jeff
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