Does a ripped cd onto a digital format sound better than the cd played on the cdp

melm

in the wires they are analog signals intended to look like square waves. You may call that a digital signal if you like but they are subject to all the problems of transmitting analog signals.

They are digital signals. Because of that, you can transfer substantial amounts of data through a cable and get bit perfect results, every time.  You can't do that with analog because there is always some amount of loss, no matter how slight.

@cleeds

Then how is it that some "digital" cables sound better than others?  Or do you deny that?

Then how is it that some "digital" cables sound better than others? Or do you deny that?

Let me answer that. There might be three reasons.
1. Digital cable injects electrical noise from the source (computer) or this noise is induced from ambient electrical noise (some cables induce more, some less).
2. Cable doesn’t transfer digital data, but music. The difference is timing. Computer data has no timing attached (will always be the same) but some of digital music timing might have effect on D/A converter clock. When this clock is uneven in time (jitter) it produces artifacts (frequencies) not present in original signal.
3. Transfer of any high frequency signal (digital or analog) require characteristic impedance of the cable matching (that in simplification is SQRT(L/C) ). When this impedance is not matched (between source, cable, DAC) reflection from the point of impedance change will appear changing timing of the signal or even completely flipping zeroes and ones.

thats was some serious technical slapdown there. i am always impressed with how much knowledge some of the a goners have.

 as for all of the responses..thanks. i think it is not in my immediate future to convert. seems as if the gains are smaller than the cash outlay at this point.