Andy Evans wrote:
Vinyl sounding indistinguishable from CD. Details as follows:

Audio Note DAC (big bugger, about £2.5K)
Rega Planar with Audio Note cartridge
Home-built phono stage with EC8010 and 6GK5

Both went through the following single ended system:
DHT valve preamp with 1G4s and a very good filament supply.
Audio Note 300b SET amp with 5687 driver stage.
Tannoy speakers (2x 12" and one 10" - don't know name ??Wellington)

Volume was equalised between both inputs. Switching was done between
the LP and CD of the following:
Santana Abraxus
Ray Gelato big Band on Linn

To my ears these were so close as to be virtually indistinguishable. My
guesses in a single blind test were approx. random.

I can only report this for what it's worth. I found it a very
interesting experiment and not at all what I'd expect. For the record,
I went to the HiFi Show and the sound in the various rooms was
radically different, so I'm pretty convinced it's not my hearing. The
CD and LP really, really were so close as to sound virtually the same.
Interesting. Andy

I'd say dumb luck at best. There are several versions of Abraxus on LP
with huge differences in sound between them.


Scott