let's be very clear that
my invite to you is not focused on the Wadax/Playbacks compare but the digital/vinyl compare you offered to Jeff. my response to you was not any over the top Wadax bluster assuming any result for that compare. but sorting out the digital representative would be just a first step.
we could ignore that step and just do the Playbacks/vinyl compare.
my agenda was that as i do this digital/vinyl compare every day, and have seriously committed much time and efforts to it, and you never do it, i feel your dismissing of vinyl is un-professional.
not sure how this is coming down, i still want to do this. the agendas going on in this thread are not making me feel warm and inviting. not interested in a circus.
Hi Mike,
I am not interested in a circus either. In fact Ive got no problem just doing this for us in the room with no video. My Vinyl thing is not dismissing it. I love records. I used to work in a record store. Im an art lover and novice collector, so I love the graphic art and the beautiful packaging on some of the pieces. My story with Vinyl is for the newcomer. When I speak about it , I simply let my viewers know that in my opinion its not imperative to have Vinyl for great sound. These are people that have no records. So I let my clients know that if they want to collect the media for the tactile nature and more intimate engagement with each particular selection to go ahead and go for it ! I send them to another dealer for the TT/Cart/Arm and the associated Vinyl accessories. For those that dont want to collect the records, I can give them sound that makes them happy without using a TT or Preamp (as long as the DAC is PBD)... I know its crazy.. Its not typical.. but this is the way I crossed the line into an "Audio Anxiety" free listening experience and Ive been able to successfully recreate it for over 20 others at this point. Just because I dont use Vinyl myself nor sell TTs does not mean I dont respect the craft. I leave it to dealers who are great at it.. I know myself and how I get with gear and to start Vinyl would have been a very time consuming affair... I simply dont want to add any more tweaky things to my rig.. Its already active quad amp. My Analog/Digital test consists of playing a tape real time and toggling back and forth between the live digital conversion to DSD and direct tape playback using a Playback Designs A to D and DAC'ing it with an MPD-8.
Soon, Ill be making a video with a live performer, so we may hear live.. Ill be recording the performance to master tape and DSDx4... Also, Ill demonstrate the tape to DSD conversion..
So we will have;
1. Live
2. Master tape recording with direct playback
3. Digital recording to DSD with direct playback
4. Digital conversion to DSD from master tape
If we really wanted to pull out all the stops, we could cut direct to lacquer... but those would be seperate performances as the Neve Lathe (mastering engineers studio) is not where my tape machines and system is..
So Vinyl is cool, just not my thing... I rarely even listen to tape... so its a lifestyle thing. I prefer little to no ritual... If you listen to my vids I NEVER bash Vinyl not even once. I say in my opinion, its unnecessary. I still look up to Vinyl Audiophiles nonetheless.
As far as DAC, the Wadax is very interesting to me. Id love to hear the differences between my reference and a potential new one. Thats all... My interest is to explore whats possible..