Maybe, but analog components can really "color" audio. Filtering, resonance, ringing, slew- when you have devices that respond slowly and nonlinearly to DC volt

Maybe, but analog components can really "color" audio. Filtering, resonance, ringing, slew- when you have devices that respond slowly and nonlinearly to DC voltage you get all sorts of effects on an AC signal. The most reliable way to reproduce the way a component affects the sound is just to use that component. Also... they look cool.