Mainstream audio is boring, they are all beginning to sound alike. Naturalness is an ideology tough to sell because it itself too ordinary. Hi-fi sound, in contrast, is far more interesting. So, my approach is naturalness with a little twist.
Just when streaming rules today, there is a quiet revival of CD player, R2R particularly. Skeptical? Yes. I have never been a fan of high bitrate and up sampling. It lacks aura. It lacks warmth. It lacks human. It's just different. My dac machines evolves from PCM 1716, PCM63, TDA1543, TDA1541 single crown, PCM1704 and now back to where it all begins, TDA1541a. My ears led me to it. Music listening is about emotional affair, sound that moves you. I can't praise enough the dinosaur TDA1541a for its musicality, especially the way it renders voices. TDA1541a is the undisputed most analogue sounding dac chipset ever. I can almost get away from digital glare. OK, ok, ok, TDA1541a is last on resolution chart, it was later discontinued and replaced with 1bit bitstream for better resolution namely, TDA1547. TDA1541a dac is costly to produce as a dac as it demands highly regulated power supply, marks its death.
Given its glaring weakness, I use the most revealing and speedy cables to extract the last bit of resolution out from TDA1541a. Pick-up mechanism too, not to be overlooked. Many manufacturers will not reveal using cheap DVD pick-up mechanism that reportedly introduce digital sound. Engineers will argue DVD pick up or CD pick up makes no sonic difference but the difference is telling. Engineers stress specs over sound are not something new. Hence, their creations underscore engineering excellence than musicality, not for me.
In audio, your system is as good as what you feed. The first line of defend is the recording we have no control of. You can't do much about it if your favorite music in bad recording. So, don't hesitate on grabbing good recordings of your favorite music before it is out of press. However, it's not the end of the world but you pay more to get one.
Your audio system, you have absolute control of. This is where your skills shine or shame. Agree? You want a system that plays music or to make your guests drool? That's your absolute prerogative. But when you step over the line with silly remarks, you only make yourself a fool. I watched my lines with great caution, neither do I want to waste my time on debate. The last I had a heated debate with a snob a decade ago, he is nowhere to be seen in this passion today. Talk about unfounded arrogance. Friends that visited him mums about his sound. I listened to his system, I too, a loss for words.
