Quote Originally Posted by tube fan
You ARE correct, IMO, that I am not influenced much by price, brand, or format in my own ratings. For example, at the CAS, I was hugely impressed by the Audio Note room, despite the fact that they played only digital, and I always hate digital. However, the sound was like no digital I have ever heard. First, it had real tonal accuracy. Voices, male or female sounded like they were in the room. The high end was extended, but not harsh (a real shock). One CD of a 15 piece jazz group sounded almost exactly like what I heard dozens of times at SF's Pearls on Monday nites: great detail but warm when the playing required it. Plus the system loaded the room properly: by that I mean that the 15 piece band seemed to be in the room, rather than sound coming from speakers. No one in my area carries Audio Note equipment, so it's going to be difficult for me to audition their equipment.
Perhaps it's time you change that view, as you've now heard a digital system sound amazing...