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I Sold my CD Player!!! Streaming sounds so incredible!!!

Several years ago, was the very first time I had the opportunity to hear a very high end, high quality, streaming audio system.  Once I heard it, I was smitten, and I knew right then and there that this was me all the way!!!  I was absolutely blown away by the handy convenience of the little iPad (or cell phone) used as remotes to control the otherworldly access to a virtual ocean of music via Tidal, Qobuz or downloads.  I immediately recognized this new technology as the future of my own audio system, especially with all the new hi rez stuff out there that was now made available. I gave up vinyl when CD came on the scene (yes, I'm an old guy), and, now, perhaps, it would be finally time to retire my beloved CD player.  Long story short:  What put my streaming audio system over the top, as far as sound quality is concerned, was the assemblage of these core streaming devices-----( #1) A superb DAC, by Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty streaming DAC  (#2)  An outstanding music server, by Roon Nucleus Plus  (#3) An outstanding Audio Switch, by Pakedge Devices   (#4) Excellent Ethernet Cables, by Shunyata Sigma.  I also utilize numerous other tweaks and filters that further purify the streaming audio signal within my room and audio system.  At this juncture in life, I am just mesmerized by the combination of sound quality and convenience that I get through my streaming audio system.  I'm also happy and pleased to report that, I don't miss my old beloved CD player one bit.  Happy listening.              

kennymacc
pcrhkr's avatar
pcrhkr
272 posts
 

I like having a CD library. Streaming does sound great and gives almost unlimited music choices. . But having it on a hard drive uncompressed is really nice for critcal listening. What I like best about streaming services is you can take it anywhere, it’s easy. With video it seems streaming services have taken over with many choices. It can get expensive. I like having my favorites handy. The same goes for CDs. They are mine, I get charged one time and it’s mine. Steaming gives you more choice, but it’s never yours and you keep paying.

thom_oz
25 posts
 

This is great if you don’t mind someone else choosing the mastering / release version for you. I’m VERY picky about my cds, and of the half dozen versions out there of ’Captain Fantastic’ the only one I care to listen to was mastered in the 1980s.

And before you ask: the correct mastering makes a HUGE difference.

jafant's avatar
jafant
19,510 posts
 

rbstehno

Which Sony CD/SACD player is in your collection?

 

Happy Listening!

ossicle2brain's avatar
ossicle2brain
128 posts
 

@fpomposo  ......I've found the same thing.   I have the Eversolo A8.  The ripped CDs on the SSD is the best digital I've heard yet and better sounding than any streaming. So easy now to access the music. And I also found that WAVE sounds better than FLAC on that unit which is controversial but I certainly hear a difference.  After ripping all my hundreds of CDs to FLAC.  Arrrrggghh.

But now with these SSDs we don't even need a CD player.  I use a laptop that has a DVD/CD drive and rip to a thumb drive using dBpoweramp.  The quality of the CD player isn't a factor anymore.  

Streaming is easier than dealing with the physical discs but with them ripped it's now so much easier.  Gotta love technology.  

sns
3,143 posts
 

Streaming sound quality extremely dependent on entire streaming chain. Stream sound quality should equal rip quality once you have streaming chain optimized.

 

As for recording quality, all over the place, this for both physical media and streams. Streams often have the advantage in that there's often multiple mastering/releases of same album, this becoming increasingly rare as cd sales decline. Streaming services have deep enough pockets to allow access to nearly every recording ever made, and its far simpler to transfer these recordings to streaming service. Physical media requires pressings and much more difficult distribution chain.

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