Location: KY - Scotland
Posts: 5,470
I'm Mike.
I think that, not for the first time, you have got the wrong end of the stick with my post. Self did say that but the reason he said it was he was making the same point that you are - you can add distortion to taste but you shouldn't want to!
The reason I brought that up is to indicate that the right kind of distortion, in the right amounts, can subjectively improve the sound. And most enthusiasts are interested only in the sound they can subjectively perceive, not what makes it sound that way. They don't care a jot that it is not strictly high fidelity to the recording. However most would balk at the idea of an amp with user-variable distortion. That's a bridge too far. But hide the distortion in the format, and no problemo.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Location: East Riding of Yorkshire these days
Posts: 4,779
I'm Shaun.
I think 'The closest approach to the original sound' as a catch phrase is very good but as a philosophy it is utter bollocks. The music I mainly listen to has no original sound to it, it comes from a mixing desk which can be changed a million times. A synth can be made to sound however you want it to as can most recorded electronic music. OK I guess for an acoustic quartet but Jesus...! That really does not float my boat but rather sinks it.
Each to their own of course
Location: East Riding of Yorkshire these days
Posts: 4,779
I'm Shaun.
I know, there are going to be people out there who say why have a valve pre/power if you only listen to electronic music but I just prefer the 'classic' valve sound to the 'classic' transistor sound.
My early turntable was a Voyd Valdi, Rega RB300, and a Goldring Eroica and that was through an Audio Innovations Series 500, EAR Head step Up, and Pro Ac super tablets. The CD was a Marantz CD94 mk2. The turntable destroyed the CD94 so a £550 TT + £100 arm + £100 cart destroyed an £800 CD player and every other high end CD player, DAC I tried. The system I still have bar the Valdi (should not have sold that ) When I got my Oracle Delphi MK4 + SME 309, VDH MC10 and then ET 2 tonearm they still destroyed the Marantz and every other high end CD player, Transport + DAC I tried.
So while I accept others mileage as reflecting their experience it isn't mine, and the Marantz still is a very good CD player.
Back in the day I recall Ariston Q decks, Revolver, and other semi budget TTs knocking cheap CD players out as well.
Regards Neil
I have valves and solid state. I find neither better than the other. I like both.
It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!
Location: gone away
Posts: 4,870
I'm joe.
People's tastes differ, is what it comes down to. I couldn't stand any of the CD players I auditioned when they first came out, even the 'best buys' and 'highly recommended' models; they all sounded too bright and harsh. Then I heard and liked a Meridian CD player (which at the time I couldn't afford), so I knew that digital could sound good*, at a price. Meantime I continued to listen to vinyl, eventually buying an Arcam Alpha CD player which was 'good enough' until I could afford a Meridian.
There are no absolutes here; no objective 'best' that we should all be reaching for. If you prefer vinyl to digital, or vice-versa, you're right. Ditto valves vs solid state, ditto conventional speakers vs electrostatics.
* ie, it had a sound I could live with.
Did they really 'destroy' it or was it just that you preferred the sound from the TT?
I mean there is nowt wrong with a bit of hyperbole but it can get misleading. The other thing you have to bear in mind is that a system can be optimised for vinyl or digital replay. This is again due to the various colourations or 'character' of pre-amps, amps and loudspeakers, not to mention the interconnects and speaker cables. Consequently you can have a system that sounds quite poor with digital whereas with the right combination of TT/arm/cart it will sound fantastic.
Put the same digital source in a different system, and now it sounds much improved.
Box swapping and swappers like me generally get maligned but it does mean you get to hear this sort of anomaly happen quite often.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Location: East Riding of Yorkshire these days
Posts: 4,779
I'm Shaun.