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Hopelessly mid fi?

I recently hooked up an 80 gb ipod to my system through an Apple dock and did an A/B with my CD player. I am able to match the db level between the two via the volume control on the CDP, and switch between sources instantaneously for a meaningful comparison. Much to my chagrin, the difference was minimal at best. So I brought in a Squeezebox and hooked a digital IC into the CDP's DAC with similar results using both compressed (AAC 192) and Apple Lossless formats. From what I have read on this site, I assumed that it shouldn't be possible that compressed or streaming digital should rival the sound of, by all accounts, a reputable CDP (name intentionally withheld). But it does.

Is it possible to assemble a digital front-end, for say, less than $2K, that would produce a meaningful improvement over both the ipod and Squeezebox? An external DAC perhaps? Or is my system simply not capable of resolving the differences? I'd prefer not to overhaul the rest of my system if possible which includes an Odyssey Candella preamp and Extreme mono amps, Von Schwiekert VR-4jr speakers and Virtual Dynamic Nite II cables.

Thanks for your thoughts.
sydneysophia
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
Were the lossless files ripped error free?

If not night and day diffs, the replay should at least sound more rounded and natural with the lossless files.

The comments here on a dejitterizing and worthwhile DAC are true! IME Either way... PC audio or disc player.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Much to my chagrin, the difference was minimal at best.

This matches my experience. I find differences are relatively subtle - often far less than typically found between a good recording and a bad one. I had a friend over and he could not hear the benefit of a separate DAC versus the straight sound from my DSP preamp. I have to admit it was close but once you pick up on the slight differences and begin to know what to listen for then it becomes much more noticeable. However, I'd agree with anyone who said it was not "night and day".
sydneysophia OP
18 posts
 
Thanks to all that responded. Blindjim, I do rip using error correction. And the differences I could detect had to do with soundstage width and to a lesser degree, depth. While not an indictment, the CDP is a Cary 303/200-which I have always liked. And Hens, I wouldn't say I am unhappy with the sound of my system per se, just trying to sensibly extract more from it. Haven't changed things in awhile. All recommendations welcome. Thanks again.
lwood
61 posts
 
I don't have a super expensive setup (obviously relative), but the difference in 320k mp3's and flac are very obvious to me when played back on a Consonance 120L CDP...yet 5 years ago using a Yammie HT Receiver they sounded the same....so you're answer may lay in your pre/amp setup as opposed to the source. Just my two cents, YMMV

L'wood
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
I also agree that the difference between compressed and uncompressed music is easily discernable. I have a few MP3 addicted friends who never heard a comparison between MP3 and wav or flac files and once I played both for them, they couldn't believe the difference. The Cary CD player is a decent rig. I am not familiar with the preamp & amp. That could be the reason why both sound the same but there may be more there. What it is, I'm not sure. Have you played a well recorded track both ways and compared? There realy should be a large difference between the two.
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