Erm, I do Lol.Isn't it funny that no one brags about their analog sounding like great digital?
Isn't it funny that no one brags about their analog sounding like great digital?
different people mean different things. which might relate to their viewpoint on what analog is.
digital sounding like analog in the worst sense can mean a slightly warm tonal balance, rounded transients, and pumped up sound stage.....
or.......in a little better sense......added front to back depth and layering and holographic 'reach out and touch it' presentation.
but in the 'best term' it would be that the digital approaches the continuousness, image weight, tonal density, harmonic and timbral detail, sparkle, flow and energy projection of analog. and that somewhat it crosses over into the realism and suspension of disbelief of analog. that the digital captures more of the the ease and feeling of music and causes that positive physical reaction of real music.
Some people do describe extremely quiet vinyl as approaching digital in that sense. It’s not clear to me that that is a good thing. I think that some TechDAS turntables have been described as being “silent” or as having a digital-like silence.
If good digital sounds like all of that, why not just refer to it as sounding natural or like real music? We refer to it as “analog like” When it meets those attributes?
What do people really mean by that?
Most would like their digital to sound as good as their analog. I think that if you were limited to one word to describe well executed analog, as well as what separates it from most digital playback, that word would be NATURAL.
Regretfully, most digital does not sound natural.
Regretfully, most digital does not sound natural.
And this is exactly why I have deliberately not tried to put extra effort into my digital. I can easily realize incremental improvements in my vinyl set up for each dollar spent but I suspect I'd have to get to an inordinate price level to achieve anything close in digital. So I'm resigned to having a decent DAC for streaming, discovering new music, figuring out what vinyl to buy, play background music while I work around the house etc...but my sweat and funds will go squarely into the analog front end followed by everything else OTHER than the digital. It's just where my musical priorities are.Most would like their digital to sound as good as their analog. I think that if you were limited to one word to describe well executed analog, as well as what separates it from most digital playback, that word would be NATURAL.
Regretfully, most digital does not sound natural.
If good digital sounds like all of that, why not just refer to it as sounding natural or like real music? Why refer to it as “analog like” just it meets those attributes?
Most would like their digital to sound as good as their analog. I think that if you were limited to one word to describe well executed analog, as well as what separates it from most digital playback, that word would be NATURAL.
Regretfully, most digital does not sound natural.
Most would like their digital to sound as good as their analog. I think that if you were limited to one word to describe well executed analog, as well as what separates it from most digital playback, that word would be NATURAL.
Regretfully, most digital does not sound natural.
Even more regretfully I notice a trend in turntables to imitate digital sound. Quite a few tonarms and in particular cartridges are also guilty. Convergence? User expectations? Not sure, but today there seems to be lots of analogue equipment that sounds neither analogue, nor natural. All imho of course and I would prefer not quoting names as this will only create needless controversy.
Well put. If both analog and digital sound natural, like real music, that's what you want. And the illusion can be achieved on both platforms to an astonishing degree, even though you will never be able to exactly copy the sound of unamplified live music.
Al, my comment was based on Mike’s supposition the digital can do that. I have heard digital sound very good in some systems but in those systems that heard both Formats I personally prefer the vinyl as sounding more real and natural. I have not heard Mike’s level of digital. I do not think digital and vinyl sound like. Personally I think really good analog sounds more natural but I have enjoyed tremendously good digital in some systems.
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