i completely get preferring analog media, so if it’s about the sound characteristics (that ‘warmth’), having physical media, etc fair enough. but if the goal of an audiophile is to get the highest quality reproduction of a recording wouldn’t CDs or FLACs be your best bet?
maybe this only really applies for newer music, perhaps digital releases for music recorded analogue are just digitized vinyl or reel to reel recordings but for music produced in DAWs the highest quality version available for that release would surely be either a CD or a digital FLAC release
An additional point regarding vinyl, based on my personal experience, is that it’s challenging to find an inexpensive turntable. Achieving decent sound quality often requires a modest investment, and the turntable needs to be placed on a stable surface and properly set up. If you’re working with a tight budget, digital streamers may be the more practical choice. It’s worth noting that I may be in the minority on this subreddit, as I believe there are discernible differences in sound quality among DACs. However, the differences in sound quality between turntables are even more noticeable.
I defy anybody to listen to the new Linn Organik DAC and still say there is no discernible sound quality difference between DACs.
Yes. I recently acquired the Akurate with their previous DAC technology, Katalyst, and that was a nice improvement from my previous DAC. Unfortunately, my bank account has forbidden me from auditioning the Organic. Additionally, the upgrade cannot be done to the Akurate gears, so I need to buy a new streamer/amp. It appears to be a significant upgrade, but I’m content not to be tempted at the moment.
I was really lucky. I had the Selekt with Katalyst DAC. I heard the Organik at the Linn factory and I had to have one. I got £500 trade in on my Katalyst and a Utopik power supply for free.
The only sound quality differences between DACs are ones that are designed to sound different but not better. In other words, they bake EQ into the circuit. DACs that eclipse the threshold of audibility exist in the $150 and under range. It’s a solved problem.