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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
shakira
148 posts
 
A good Dac and a good Transport 
will always sound better than streaming.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,440 posts
 
“A good Dac and a good Transport
will always sound better than streaming.”

Blanket statement like this has no validity and indicates one’s ‘tunnel vision’ mentality. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Eggs 🥚 ackley! The words always and never should never appear in an audiophile’s pronouncement or conclusion. 🤗
ggc
178 posts
 
Hi Audphile1,
This has been my experience in Computer Audio, 
I invested in digital audio via Mac Mini. I sent it to Mojo Audio where they:
  • Removed Mac Mini’s internal switch-mode power supply (SMPS).
  • Upgraded to external power supply.
  • Installed Internal Power Supply Filter Modules 
  • Installed hard wired DC power cable to connect to power supply
  • Replaced HDDs with SSDs for software and library.
  • Upgraded RAM to the maximum amount. 
  • Optimized OS X 
The external Power Supply is the Mojo Illuminati v3 
I use WyWires Platinum USB and The Uptone ISO Regen re-clocker
I am connected to a Wadia S7i.Dac. Audirvana through WiFi. AIFF

When I received the upgraded Mac Mini back it sounded the best that it has ever sounded, however I found it still lacked in overall performance for the same reasons you and others have identified. The best music presentation I get from my set up is playing Redbook CDs from the Wadia S7i CDP/ transport to Rogue Audio Hera 2 preamp. 

A couple of interesting points -
1. I confided in a well respected audio manufacturer / professional,  of my findings and he told/schooled me - there is no streamer/ computer audio on the market today that is going to best a well designed CDP. The technology is just not there. Yet. 
2. The absolute closest I ever got the Mac Mini to sound as good as the Wadia is when I placed a Stage 3 Kraken Power Chord on the external power supply. I knew it would make a substantial difference, but did not expect that it would enhance its performance the way it did. Everything improved, Soundstage, imaging, details... That said, as impressive the change was, the Wadia is still better. 

I hope this helps, Good Luck
porscheracer
132 posts
 
George,

The 24/96 "Reference Recordings" that you mention are not CDs. That's just marketing bullcrap. 

Why do you think it is better to convert from analog to 24/96 and then to 16/44.1 than to convert analog to 16/44.1? The only reason they do that is because they use "Peak Extend" in the conversion process so they can effectively gain some bits back, up to about 20. They are not real bits though. It is just a method to extend dynamic range to what you get with 20 bits.

So yes, if you have an HDCD compatible player, the "Reference Recordings" CDs can sound better. But, as the link I provided in my previous posts shows, if you don't have an HDCD compatible player, the results are not so good.


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