And, CD or CD-res files played off a computer is not even close to a high quality CD transport. So, I do still see a market for good CD players.
True Audiophile
- Thread starter arunlouie
- Start date
And, CD or CD-res files played off a computer is not even close to a high quality CD transport. So, I do still see a market for good CD players.
I am afraid, I must disagree. A computer with a sound card and equivalent DAC can beat a CD Player any day. Of course assuming the music has been ripped properly using something like EAC.
Cheers
ajay124
Well-Known Member
More than a digital/vinyl debate which cannot be resolved, I would be interested in a CDP/DAC debate which holds some possibility of being resolved. We have begun this debate many times on the forum but personally I opt out when arguments become convoluted, complex and confused. I woule love to read clear and concise accounts of various options for:
Ripping and downloading high resolution files.
Storage and management of the files.
Transfer of files to the dac.
Evaluation of dacs in various price segments under 500K.
Evaluation of various cdp's under 500K.
Cost and ease of buying downloaded music/compact discs
Sound quality of red book/sacd/blue ray/high resolution downloads.
Ripping and downloading high resolution files.
Storage and management of the files.
Transfer of files to the dac.
Evaluation of dacs in various price segments under 500K.
Evaluation of various cdp's under 500K.
Cost and ease of buying downloaded music/compact discs
Sound quality of red book/sacd/blue ray/high resolution downloads.
i too really believe HDD-DAC is the way to go for all new content.
but for the older stuff you do not get anymore on CDs especially Hindi Film music from the 60's/70s, I am very skeptical of getting digital formats in any format
I plan to get some really good rips of all my CDs someday and get that configuration going.
Till day all my experiments have not ended well with using a good Firewire/USB SPDIF converter with a good DAC Vs the regular CD transport.. the future is definitely based on Async USB DACs...so waiting for this whole "technology" to stabilize.
My future setup is definitely going to have a TT and an HDD-DAC combo...till then i prefer keeping the Transport-Dac combo
but for the older stuff you do not get anymore on CDs especially Hindi Film music from the 60's/70s, I am very skeptical of getting digital formats in any format
I plan to get some really good rips of all my CDs someday and get that configuration going.
Till day all my experiments have not ended well with using a good Firewire/USB SPDIF converter with a good DAC Vs the regular CD transport.. the future is definitely based on Async USB DACs...so waiting for this whole "technology" to stabilize.
My future setup is definitely going to have a TT and an HDD-DAC combo...till then i prefer keeping the Transport-Dac combo
Gentlemen,
Dont you know when Audio CDs came out there was a mess of the job of digitization as engineers wanted to put in as much loudness as possible which resulted in less dynamic range and compression to the point of clipping. So point is though Vinyls and CDs, specially CDs have good enough capacity to produce true to the source sound I would insist to look out for what is the good source. As it can be anything Vinyls or CDs.
And guys
Read here for pros and cons of vinyls and cds.
CD as good as vinyl? - diyAudio
Regards
Dont you know when Audio CDs came out there was a mess of the job of digitization as engineers wanted to put in as much loudness as possible which resulted in less dynamic range and compression to the point of clipping. So point is though Vinyls and CDs, specially CDs have good enough capacity to produce true to the source sound I would insist to look out for what is the good source. As it can be anything Vinyls or CDs.
And guys
Read here for pros and cons of vinyls and cds.
CD as good as vinyl? - diyAudio
Regards
But... but... saying this again. one listened to vinyls when their ears were in their prime and when one gets old he/she listens to HiRes audio.
A good digital setup for me would be a kind of very small (mobile type) device which will hold music directory/information (Not actual music) which I can use for browsing various music and a volume control in it. This thing will send information to play music or control volume to a solid state harddisk with good dac (Good powerdac would be better).
I guess Ken Rockwell is a photographer. And I think how much reputation he has in his own specialized field is doubtfull. Why is Ken Rockwell so hated? - Canon Digital Photography Forums.
Best regards.
imagine people quoting a photographer about audio! that too a photographer who is hated by his own community! LOL! (that's one of the reasons i posted the link earlier! but didn't want to say any of this blatantly!)
Maybe I should quote audiophiles who believe 60KHz is sub-sonic.
I still don't get your point. Someone's assertions about a topic become wrong because people hate him? Mob mentality anyone?
Besides, why are you assuming that he is not an audiophile with a real job that doesn't involve audio, like most of the folks here.
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This can be an ongoing effort, otherwise it becomes too much of a burden and therefore difficult to accomplish. Use EAC to rip your CDs. I think it's one of the best applications there is for the purpose. Say, 3-4 CDs a day. Use image search to download album cover art which can be kept in the same folder as the ripped songs. This is much faster than EAC's in-built image search function.
I have gone through this exercise and I am really glad I did it (may be only some 20-30 CDs remaining), as CDs scratch due to carelessness and accidents. And then there are good friends who don't know how to return borrowed CDs. Having a copy makes the pain more bearable. Nowadays the first thing I do on opening a newly bought CD is to rip it. That's the best condition the CD will ever be in one's possession.
Once you have them as files, it is a question of using a good upsampling DAC to play them from your digital transport of choice. I would suggest something that does 192 kHz (or higher).
Do make sure you have a backup disk. A big (form factor) 1 TB Seagate serves as a backup for me. This is hardly portable and that's a good thing as there is less chance of damage due to movements and shocks. A smaller 500 GB and a newly bought compact 1 TB are my primary drives now, and reside permanently in my bag. I don't have a computer based playout yet but I am fairly ready with the content to play
ajay124
Well-Known Member
Let's assume for a moment that all the recordings of the past 50-60 years are stored in a 'digital bank'. Let us also assume that more information cannot possibly be added to the recordings stored in this digital bank. Therefore remastering can only filter out noise which may have been passed through at the time of the original transfer from analogue to digital. Perhaps audience noise can also be filtered out of live recordings. And perhaps along with the noise, some of the essence of music may also be filtered out. Therefore can the remastered CD's, SACD's and high resolution downloads be better than older recordings? Do they really provide enhanced sound quality?
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A good digital setup for me would be a kind of very small (mobile type) device which will hold music directory/information (Not actual music) which I can use for browsing various music and a volume control in it. This thing will send information to play music or control volume to a solid state harddisk with good dac (Good powerdac would be better).
Use computer to play music on using foobar. Get an iPhone or Android phone, download foobar app. Control music playout from foobar app via wifi. You can use a cheap netbook also.
@ that guy: earlier i misquoted ultasonic frequencies as sub sonics.. while i meant that the body reacts to sub and ultrasonic frequencies in EXACTLY the same way. having said that, let me say this once again: the redbook format is devoid of such frequencies, while is why hardcore vinyl heads find that CD's just don't do it for them...
secondly, if we gotta quote then might as well quote experts from the field...
like here:
ultrasonic
hope this helps... if i wrote something that offended you, I apologize. nothing was meant as an attack. hope the atricle helps you and others in understanding why we vinyl heads prefer our medium.
as an aside, I feel properly mastered SACD's are pretty close and would have done well had they been priced better.
This can be an ongoing effort, otherwise it becomes too much of a burden and therefore difficult to accomplish. Use EAC to rip your CDs. I think it's one of the best applications there is for the purpose. Say, 3-4 CDs a day. Use image search to download album cover art which can be kept in the same folder as the ripped songs. This is much faster than EAC's in-built image search function.
I have gone through this exercise and I am really glad I did it (may be only some 20-30 CDs remaining), as CDs scratch due to carelessness and accidents. And then there are good friends who don't know how to return borrowed CDs. Having a copy makes the pain more bearable. Nowadays the first thing I do on opening a newly bought CD is to rip it. That's the best condition the CD will ever be in one's possession.
Once you have them as files, it is a question of using a good upsampling DAC to play them from your digital transport of choice. I would suggest something that does 192 kHz (or higher).
Do make sure you have a backup disk. A big (form factor) 1 TB Seagate serves as a backup for me. This is hardly portable and that's a good thing as there is less chance of damage due to movements and shocks. A smaller 500 GB and a newly bought compact 1 TB are my primary drives now, and reside permanently in my bag. I don't have a computer based playout yet but I am fairly ready with the content to play
I already have around 300 odd in FLAC etc using EAC in a externally powered HDD. Since most are already from a cd...does a high sampling really give you anything more? Usingfoobar, I still preferred sending it out at native 44..but preferred the cd even more
The really good USB dace are expensive.. Although Siva at Acoustic Portrait has developed a really good one
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Which CDP ? NAD, CA, Marantz even Arcam ? I agree with you.
Try listening to an Einstein, Reimyo, VRDS, Electrocompaniet, AMR 77, Esoteric X01, CEC TL1X, 47 Labs, Audio Aero someday as "Transport". Then we are on the same page.
I dont deny that in future we may have ways to make HDD playback as good as these top end transports but till that happens I would like to be conservative.
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Please read my post above.
I am not comparing entry level CDPs used as "Transports" to computer playback.
I already have around 300 odd in FLAC etc using EAC in a externally powered HDD. Since most are already from a cd...does a high sampling really give you anything more? Usingfoobar, I still preferred sending it out at native 44..but preferred the cd even more
The really good USB dace are expensive.. Although Siva at Acoustic Portrait has developed a really good one
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Yes, that is one of the best computer playback I have heard till date. But his own CD transport sounds clearly superior :licklips:
ajay124
Well-Known Member
Most CDP manufacturers are also building DAC's. The Bryston BCD1 and BDA1 would probably be available for audition at Audio People. I think the best way to resolve this issue would be to audition both in the same set up.
Perhaps fm's living in Mumbai could compare the performance of Esoteric SA50 as a CDP and as a DAC connected to a computer or an SB Touch.
How does Arcam's rDac sound in comparison to an FMJ CD 17?
Perhaps fm's living in Mumbai could compare the performance of Esoteric SA50 as a CDP and as a DAC connected to a computer or an SB Touch.
How does Arcam's rDac sound in comparison to an FMJ CD 17?
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