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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. 
audphile1
mattshere
20 posts
 
@mountainsong Lucky dog!  That looks like a nice piece and to me the perfect bridge of being able to decode the MQA stream from a Node 2(i) and also spin SACD's and CD's.  Could also serve DAC duties for the TV audio.  

How did you manage to get it so quick?  

Cheers
ljgerens
161 posts
 
@mahler123

I don't understand why you have crashes. You probably need to do a clean install of the OS and associated applications. 

I initially used an iMac and a MacBook Pro to wirelessly stream my lossless ripped CDs for over 7 years and switched to a Mac Mini running headless for the last 3 years. With over 10 years of use, I have never had a crash or any issue with any of my Mac computers. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,443 posts
 
@mountainsong 
Could you please clarify...the Aurender, streaming from Qobuz, does not match the sound of your Luxman D-03x? Is the Aurender driving the Luxman on-board dac?
discopants
149 posts
 
+1 For Etherregen,  total game changer in my system streaming from apple TV 4th gen and Spotify premium direct to Lyngdorf TDAI3400.

I am constantly amazed by the SQ of some of the material on you tube.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I am constantly amazed by the SQ of some of the material on you tube.

All audio on YouTube is compressed (data rate approximately to around 126 kbps AAC)

The highest in CD are the redbook pcm releases from "Reference Recordings" their CD’s sound magnificent and are 24-bit/96kHz file said to be a data rate of 4.39mbps !!!. and requires 33 megabytes of storage for a single minute of stereo audio.
But good main stream Readbook 16/44 CD’s like Roger Waters Amused the Death etc etc are nearly as good and still at 1.35mbps!!!!! compared to the youtube 126kbps
https://www.yoursoundmatters.com/stop-listening-to-music-on-youtube/

I think you could be a candidate to listen to early original issue non compressed CD’s.
Not a remastered or even many of the new cd’s, which have nearly all been compressed.
Put in your artist and album and look for mostly all green versions http://dr.loudness-war.info/

Cheers George
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