Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

[D.Duttilleux]

Why direct replay (e.g. using foobar) beats streaming?
Unrecoverable errors as a result of interruptions and bandwidth limitations are often neglected, to name just 2 factors.


Despite the inherently chaotic process, vinyl + tubes often (still) sound subjectively better.

How come?

 

[skinnyfla]

Why direct replay (e.g. using foobar) beats streaming?
Unrecoverable errors as a result of interruptions and bandwidth limitations are often neglected, to name just 2 factors.

… yes, but how is direct reply using a Laptop and Foobar better than using a dedicated streamer such as the Antipodes with dedicated software like Roon for direct replay?

 

[DasguteOhr]

That's just an example. You can use any DAC you like, preferably fully balanced and with transformer coupled output.

Personally I don't see merits in additional (re)clocking in hifi context. Of course, it's different in a recording environment.

Any pc/laptop used as a playback device for DSD/WAV/flac files straight into a decent DAC will beat any streaming solution (by definition), as long as it supports UAC2.

+1
that's why I love metronome dac and la rosita streamers (dacs) both transformer coupled create a special sound.

 

[D.Duttilleux]

… yes, but how is direct reply using a Laptop and Foobar better than using a dedicated streamer such as the Antipodes with dedicated software like Roon for direct replay?

Do you think that there's a streaming service that supports single tracks (flac) such as these?




Qobuz says it does, but does it?

 

[Rexp]

Thanks, if you find a better streamer like la rosita tell me. That the best i ever heared.
No matter how you go about it, the main thing is that you are ultimately happy with it. Many roads lead to Rome.
View attachment 126216

Exsample vid link how it sound

https://m.facebook.com/video.php/?video_id=768940430347362

It sounds a bit 'digital' to me.
Folks hear stuff differently, lots of people were happy with CD when it came out.

 

[DasguteOhr]

It sounds a bit 'digital' to me.
Folks hear stuff differently, lots of people were happy with CD when it came out.

Really, i've heard many times other videos of anette askvik here for me the best sound with headphones. People hear differently and have other personal taste its ok.

 

[Rexp]

Really, i've heard many times other videos of anette askvik here for me the best sound with headphones. People hear differently and have other personal taste its ok.

Sure, it's more likely this album I don't like the sound of.

 

[Rensselaer]

Do you think that there's a streaming service that supports single tracks (flac) such as these?

View attachment 126243


Qobuz says it does, but does it?

View attachment 126244

Does the highest Maximum bit rate sound the most analogue?

 

[D.Duttilleux]

Does the highest Maximum bit rate sound the most analogue?

In this specific case, yes, but you won't find these files on streaming services.

 

[D.Duttilleux]

It sounds a bit 'digital' to me.
Folks hear stuff differently, lots of people were happy with CD when it came out.

NOS CDPs can sound pretty analogue, but most of the early CDPs didn't.

This budget NOS DAC, based on Ryohei Kusunoki's philosophy, was for some time one of the most vinyl-like sounding DACs on the market.
I still have mine.

 

[Rensselaer]

In this specific case, yes, but you won't find these files on streaming services.

Why then not just buy a record player?

 

[hopkins]

NOS CDPs can sound pretty analogue, but most of the early CDPs didn't.

This budget NOS DAC, based on Ryohei Kusunoki's philosophy, was for some time one of the most vinyl-like sounding DACs on the market.
I still have mine.
View attachment 126274

The concept of an "analog sounding" DAC is something I struggle with. I know a lot of people use that to characterize DACs that they feel have a "warm" sound. This invariably leads others to think that those DACs have less resolution, or introduce some distortions.

Personally I just like to feel that I hear what's on the recording. Obviously it is impossible to know, if only because we never listen to a DAC on its own (you need a preamp, amp, speakers/room or headphones).

But one way to get an idea is when the system you listen to provides more individuality to each recording. No two recordings are similar. The more "distinct" they get, you can assume that the more transparent your system is. Listen through a cheap system (ex: a Bluetooth speaker) and everything sounds the same.

So "analog sounding" I think should be more an attribute of the recording than of the gear.

 

[D.Duttilleux]

So "analog sounding" I think should be more an attribute of the recording than of the gear.

Very true of course.

A bit lame, I know, but no system is completely transparent (again: by definition).
As far as I'm concerned, it's not about a 'true to the source representation', but about 'credible reproduction' (and emotional/musical/natural experience).

 

[D.Duttilleux]

Why then not just buy a record player?

I already/still have a few turntables

 

[hopkins]

Very true of course.

A bit lame, I know, but no system is completely transparent (again: by definition).
As far as I'm concerned, it's not about a 'true to the source representation', but about 'credible reproduction' (and emotional/musical/natural experience).

Yes, and I constantly struggle with this, to be honest. I find my headphones give me a really good sense of what is in the recording. But I don't like listening to headphones for a long time. With speakers, things are more complicated, at least for me at this stage.

 

[D.Duttilleux]

Tbh, I despise headphones.
It's very unnatural to have a full orchestra injected into your ear canals.

 

[Rexp]

Very true of course.

A bit lame, I know, but no system is completely transparent (again: by definition).
As far as I'm concerned, it's not about a 'true to the source representation', but about 'credible reproduction' (and emotional/musical/natural experience).

Well no, there are many digital sources out there that produce harsh digital sound even with good recordings. This harsh or sometimes dead sound can even be heard via YouTube videos. It's just that some folks seem to be immune to it.

 

[D.Duttilleux]

Well no, there are many digital sources out there that produce harsh digital sound even with good recordings. This harsh or sometimes dead sound can even be heard via YouTube videos. It's just that some folks seem to be immune to it.

True, but I assumed a setup including digital sources with an 'analog signature', i.e. without annoying digititus.
It's a kind of balancing act, roughly between warmth and woolliness.

 

[morricab]

That's just an example. You can use any DAC you like, preferably fully balanced and with transformer coupled output.

Personally I don't see merits in additional (re)clocking in hifi context. Of course, it's different in a recording environment.

Any pc/laptop used as a playback device for DSD/WAV/flac files straight into a decent DAC will beat any streaming solution (by definition), as long as it supports UAC2.

Not my experience. Reclocking matters a lot with nearly all digital sources….they all make substantial jitter.

Full balanced and transformer coupled in itself guarantees nothing. I run a SET, why woukd I want to use balanced circuits?

 

[DasguteOhr]

Tbh, I despise headphones.
It's very unnatural to have a full orchestra injected into your ear canals.

You connect a DAC directly to something like that and listen through headphones. Then your brain doesn't have to filter what sound comes from the device and what is the influence of the room. This means you take a lot of unknowns out of the equation. Only headamp and headphones.