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Network Transport vs. CD Transport

So I decided to conduct an experiment. I pulled the old Marantz cd player circa 1999, around $400 retail, from storage along with few CDs. Using a coax digital cable with a $4.97 rca to bnc adapter from amazon, I sat down to listen. I played the CD, the ripped version (AIFF) of that CD, and a Qobuz redbook version thru my zmac Mini. Long story short...the reason why I did it was because there is something missing in the Mac Mini sound quality and I got tired of trying to figure out what the heck is going on. 
Anyways, that old cd player used as a transport into the Qutest DAC sounds considerably better  than the Mac Mini that right now I will need a few days break before I can can listen to the Mac again. I figured (assumed) that a dedicated network transport will pretty much better the Mac Mini and be comparable or better than what I heard with Marantz player as transport. Eyeing Auralic G1, Lumin D2 and Lumin U1 Mini as candidates (I need wifi capability), will any of these be comparable or better than let’s say a decent CD transport feeding the Chord Qutest? For example a Cambridge CXC, or a used high end player?
I can go back to spinning CDs, but figured I don’t want to give up on streaming just yet.
What are your thoughts - Auralic G1, Lumin D2, Lumin U1 Mini, or a dedicated CD transport for high quality playback. Forget convenience, let’s talk purely sound quality...thanks!

System:
Rogue RP-1, Rogue ST-100, Martin Logan Montis, Chord Qutest dac. 
128x128audphile1
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
4,768 posts
 
Update...
The Aries G-1 has about 48hrs of play time by now. I’ve been running it round the clock non-stop. 
Initially it sounded a bit “new” but is evolving nicely. At this point I am running the Lightning DS with Qobuz and the HDD with my AIFF CD rips plugged into the rear of the Auralic. The Auralic sits on my wifi network. 
I am pleasantly surprised so far with both the build quality and the sonics of this streamer - my expectations were exceeded and not by a small margin. There is that silent black background that I wasn’t able to achieve with the Mac Mini, better dynamics, better resolution and separation of instruments, more space around individual instruments and singers, wider and deeper soundstage. 
I plan to run it in some more and do a listening session over the weekend. 
Next steps are to try the Auralic as a Roon endpoint using my Mac Mini as a Roon core. 
There are few things I’m not in love with but they’re all related to Lightning DS interface and have nothing to do with the sound. 
gelle
79 posts
 
@audphile1 . Since your a Roon user, I’m wondering if you would have been better off just getting a Nucleus and connecting you DAC into it and let Roon handle your streaming? 
thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
OP @audphile1 : thank you for coming back to your thread and giving an update to everyone. Not many people do so, as they disappear once they receive nice gents’ feedback and help.

Since you already have Roon, it will be a no brainer to let your Mac Mini handle the Roon Core duties and let your new “toy” handle the streaming duties. Then your issues with the proprietary Auralic streaming protocol will go away.

Enjoy!
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
4,768 posts
 
@gelle I thought about the Nucleus. However, I needed a wifi capability. Didn’t want to run more wires for an access point, EtherRegen, etc.

@thyname I felt like I owe you all an update.
Things I’m not in love with right off the bat...
1 - Lightning DS interface. Decent and would do if I haven’t seen Roon. 2 - Qobuz on Lightning DS...can’t see different versions of the album. Can’t see bitrate until you start playing the album or track. Also the artist and album info is not always available. 3. With the HDD connected to the back of Auralic, missing bunch of album artwork. That was never an issue with Roon. What would it take to incorporate a call to a Discogs API or other source to pull down the metadata for cover art...not much at all. Not sure why Auralic chose not to go down that path. Other than that, no major faults and as I said before, the sound quality is far beyond what I expected. Both the mac mini and the CD player are out of my system now.
One interesting observation - the USB into the Chord Qutest DAC sounds better than via coax digital cable. 
fundsgon
150 posts
 
Decathlon,
i stream from my Moon Mind to my Moon Supernova CD player’s digital input, so whether streaming or playing a CD, the DAC is the same. Source material for streaming is either my laptop (ripped cds) via Ethernet connection, or tidal via Ethernet. I also stream radio paradise and some jazz channels.

the only thing I’m missing is a NAS to replace my laptop as the source for ripped cds. And an MQA compatible dac. And maybe better file management. Don’t forget a linear power supply. All that and more.

streaming has too many nits that need picking for me to get too deeply involved with it. Just call me Dino, I’m okay with it.
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