Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

[Gregm]

Vinyl is nowadays from digital source too. So why does it sound "better", is a mystery.

The recorded source is digital (most of the time) but the playback is not.

Although I mostly listen to the digital set (convenience and laziness I suppose) I like the sound of vinyl; maybe it's the effect of a tiny cut diamond snatching a surface that does it...

 

[acmn]

The recorded source is digital (most of the time) but the playback is not.

That is what I said too, even explaining the exact reason. No credit for that?

 

[Kingrex]

Might be the same digital file the source comes from. But the playback equipment and technology is radically different. Would you find it odd if you had a SS amp and a tube amp and they sounded different? Why? Its the same source. Same for source equipment. A record and phono preamp are radically different than a digital file and DAC .

 

[acmn]

The digital anti-aliasing filter that corrupts the digital sound during the recording process might be the the reason for "bad" cd sound. There is a filter acting on the vinyl sound too, but it is a RLC type analogue filter and acts on the cartridge signal (coil voltage) during the playback. Compared to anti-aliasing filter, which is very sharp and violent, this filter treats the transients in a more pleasing way.
So, maybe these filters make the difference.

 

[Willgolf]

I had a phono 20+ years ago with scratched-up 14-minute-a-side albums. I had not heard vinyl since. In the last 10 years, as I built up my current and last system, I have been 100% digital. I have had outstanding DAC's in Lumin X-1. Lampi Horizon and Pacific and my current DAC AC Kassandra. My Music server is Lucas Audio LDMS which plays a supercritical role for me. I love my music.

Last week a new Audiophile friend invited me to his house for a listening session. He had a super nice turntable with Constellation and PS Audio source equipment. He was able to set up a direct experiment going from Vinyl to Digital to CD with the same song. I could tell a difference within 15 seconds. Vinyl was king followed by CD followed by Digital. I was bummed. Here I thought my digital system was king. I could say that his source was not as good as mine and that was true but I am not sure to the degree I heard. So after seeing this thread for a long time, I can finally respond.

I still love the convenience of sitting in my chair and just switching music on my computer but I do know that I am missing something. It is not enough to make me start buying albums and buying a turntable. Thankfully, I have no room anyway.

If it was not so hard, I would love to take my digital systems over to his house just to do another comparison but I can say that Vinyl is king for a true audio experience.