Are you a tone guy or a details-retrieval guy?

[Marco]

I'm not up on DACs but there are a fair few CD players that will give you that *tone*.

Yes, but not how I think you mean it, in terms of imbuing the sound with a rose-tinted coloration. Correct me if I'm wrong there, though...

However, what I'm referring to by 'tone' (and I think Alex is also) is a natural warmth and richness, which is very much a vital part of the sound of real instruments and voices, but often 'emasculated' by some equipment, usually of the modern variety.

It takes us back to the whole issue again of 'voicing'...

To my ears, there has unquestionably been a sea-change in the type of sound that is considered now as 'the norm' or 'correct', and reproduced by today's hi-fi equipment and speakers, compared with how things were in that respect, 20-30 years ago - and it's smack-bang in the zone of trading 'tone' for detail retrieval and some false notion of 'squeaky-clean clarity', which computer software/measurements say is 'accurate', but (discerning) human ears don't.

And for me, it's a major contributory factor as to why many find digital music replay harsh, cold, 'grey and lifeless', or whatever, simply because the majority of digital equipment today has the type of sound I've described in the previous paragraph 'designed in', simply to comply with what these days is considered commercially as 'accurate', which trust me, it isn't!

I could talk about this much more, but I'll leave it there for now.

Marco.

[Marco]

So if those CD players manage to retain that *tone* PLUS add intricate details that are missing from DL-103, they must be superior to the good old vintage turntable listening experience.

Nope - now you're guilty of simplistic thinking!

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Some good older CD players possess what some may describe as an 'analogue' character, which is why I mentioned Meridian and Pioneer. The Meridian 206 and Pioneer PD-S505 Precision for instance, sound remarkably pleasant. They are not the last word in extreme resolution, but not bad at all. And they are very nice to listen to.

[Jimbo]

I think digital does detail very well but not sure about tone?

[Marco]

Some good older CD players possess what some may describe as an 'analogue' character...

Indeed, but that's analogue at its best and most musically natural, not woolly, warm-sounding analogue...

Marco.

[Marco]

I think digital does detail very well but not sure about tone?

Have you ever heard a top-notch Philips TDA1541-based CDP or DAC, Jim? They have tone to die for, trust me, and can sound almost as 'analogue' as any good turntable...

Marco.

[walpurgis]

I think digital does detail very well but not sure about tone?

"Tone" from record playing equipment will vary as much as that from CD replay. You can achieve warm and cuddly or finely etched from either medium.

Of course you can totally mess up both and easily end up with 'thick and unrevealing' or 'screechingly harsh'!!

[Jimbo]

Have you ever heard a top-notch TDA1541-based CDP or DAC, Jim? They have tone to die for, trust me

Marco.

I have heard some amazing DAC's but not based around a TDA1541.

[magiccarpetride]

Nope - now you're guilty of simplistic thinking!

Marco.

Guilty as charged.

[Jimbo]

"Tone" from record playing equipment will vary as much as that from CD replay. You can achieve warm and cuddly or finely etched from either medium.

Of course you can totally mess up both and easily end up with 'thick and unrevealing' or 'screechingly harsh'!!

I agree Geoff but I find tone done well from a vinyl playback system sounds better or nicer to listen too than digital. There are very complex harmonics that make up tone and I don't think digital handles this as convincingly, at least to my ear.