Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

Mike Lavigne said:

so streaming can deliver the music at a high level, and overcome the technical challenges, but the steps to get all the way there can be considerable. but it's doable. likely over time the trickle down will continue to raise the bar on what is reasonably accessible.

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skinnyfla said:

... I enjoy Roon a lot and bought a lifetime membership. I use it for local files and streaming. But can`t you have both? An Antipodes as Roon core and music server in the music room that stores files locally and is a direct server to the DAC, so no problems with traveling files. At the same time it is connected to the internet and can be used to stream via Qobuz and Tidal (there - obviously - you still have the noise problem). I ALWAYS end up buying stuff I like, be it as vinyl, CD or digital file - but the bought digital stuff would then be stored locally and the jitter/noise problem from traveling files will only affect exploring new music via Qobuz/Tidal.

Or am am thinking wrong here?

Cheers,

Christoph

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abeidrov said:

This is exactly like all music servers / streamers work now: you can buy downloads and store them locally on you server SSD or HDD and / or stream from internet. Not sure what you are asking about?

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PYP said:

I believe the question was whether files stored locally on the server would avoid the internet traffic/noise and therefore would theoretically sound better than those same files streamed from a service like Qobuz.

Of course, there are companies like Taiko which provide a separate router to accomplish the separation of household traffic from audio streams, but those are expensive and add complexity.

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skinnyfla said:

... yepp, that was exactly my question - cheers

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PYP said:

@skinnyfla An audio friend has tested high-resolution local and streaming albums and slightly prefers the local ones. He has taken care in mitigating network noise. He played in a band many years ago, thus has trained ears.

In my own setup, 44/16 files played via the streamer/server's internal SSD, attached USB and streaming via Roon/Qobuz sound the same to me. I don't typically listen for small differences and pay more attention to whether I gravitate toward listening to specific alternatives (= ability to engage with the music).

As one might expect, a streamed high-resolution version compared with the local 44/16 sounds much more realistic nearly every time (some 44/16 are exceptionally well engineered and therefore compare well with a higher-resolution version; some streamed high-resolution must have used a degraded "master" because they can sound pretty poor).

Your question made me realize that I've never disconnected the ethernet cable after starting an album via SSD or USB to see if it makes a difference. That would be seem to be the equivalent of stand-alone mode and perhaps that was specifically your question.

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skinnyfla said:

… yes, because if the main downside is the file traveling through the internet or the home/local network, then a local server connected directly should eliminate all that, as the file is served directly, just like a CD would be… at least that’s my logic…

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ScottK said:

Easy answer No. I have been keenly following the Lampizator products especially the Horizon. I'd love to audition the DAC (hard to do) as I think it or the MSB Reference may be my best options IF I decide to take the plunge. It's the value thing that holds me back. Like many have said here I use my vinyl playback for dedicated listening and digital for more informal sessions. I'm also seeing a lot of folks who commented with very impressive digital frontends still preferring vinyl which was at the core of my question. Interestingly, a year ago I did consider abandoning my Vinyl but, with a rather large record collection, I instead upgraded my 20 year old equipment. I was rewarded with a huge improvement in SQ.

As to digital tweaks I have done many. Linear power supplied network switch, optical break in ethernet source, USB reclocker, etc. All have helped a bit. All and all its a very close run thing against my Vinyl.

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MarkusBarkus said:

...Taiko Extreme + MSB Reference + Digital Director = Paradise Found

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MarkusBarkus said:

...no sir: only the Taiko, first with the Ref DAC and later, with DD and Ref DAC.

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PYP said:

For the betterment of audio nervosa worldwide, I will try playing local files with and without the wired ethernet connected (if the MU1 allows that) and post my findings.

It isn't completely altruistic since if the files sound better without the ethernet connected I know there is more to do to eliminate noise on the network side.

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Blackmorec said:

Hi PYP,
What you will likely find is that if your network is injecting a lot of noise into your system, remotely streamed files are not the only thing affected. I spent several years removing noise from my audio network and the effects were broader than just internet related streaming.

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Can vinyl get to digital sound and at what price?​

skinnyfla said:

... I enjoy Roon a lot and bought a lifetime membership.

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Mike Lavigne said:

me too. a couple times.

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Blackmorec said:

Hi PYP,
What you will likely find is that if your network is injecting a lot of noise into your system, remotely streamed files are not the only thing affected. I spent several years removing noise from my audio network and the effects were broader than just internet related streaming. The noise coming into the system via the network has the ability to affect any digital processing.….even vinyl replay can sound better depending on the type of noise that’s getting into the system via the network

In IT circles, the network has one function and that is to move a file from A to B as fast and cheap as possible with few errors. The same applies to audio files BUT the network can have an additional role if sound quality is important and that is to improve the ‘fidelity’ of the files being moved by removing noise of all kinds and refining the specification of the physical layer associated with the file. The network can be set up to function as a filter to remove noise and refine and improve the data files. Steps include;

Separation of audio traffic from all other household network traffic
Galvanic isolation either via conversion of the audio traffic to radio waves or light pulses
Filtration of the data stream via a cascade of switches with ever improving physical layer specs and filtration
Exceptional power supplies with super low noise, impedance and ability to track current demand effortlessly
A cascade of improving oscillators to remove timing errors from all network processing
reduction of vibration of all network electronics and power supplies
protection of all network cabling from EMI ingress

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marty said:

Mike, this one has me scratching my head. There's got to be a good story here. Please elaborate!

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