CD transport vs.streaming

As ericgeer says: I can testify that an SACD with the GeerFab Audio D.BOB device sounds better than streaming or red book CD.

“Is there even a way to stream DSD? Download, yes, but streaming?”

@ericgeer

The major advantage with DSD downloads, once downloaded; one can ‘stream’ DSD file without the need of any additional hardware. The whole point of streaming is to eliminate a disc player.

As clever as it sounds, I am trying to understand the ‘need’ for a device like D.BOB for someone who already owns a SACD and Universal players. I would appreciate some clarification, thank you!

lalitk,

The D.BOB is a device which connects to your universal player or SACD player and uses it as a transport for your SACDs. It remarkably improves the sound which you get from the player alone.

I replaced my CD player of 15 years with a new DAC and CD transport last year.  Both units use vacuum tubes and the CD transport can upsample to DSD through either an I2s cable or 3 BNC cables going into the DAC.  I thought my old CD player sounded pretty good but this new system blew me away. I hear low level detail, imaging and a soundstage rivaling analog now.  Then I added a Roon based music server, ripped my CDs to FLAC files and got a Qobuz subscription.  After putting a FMC (optical) line in the ethernet path I find streaming equivalent to playing my CD FLAC files.  Downloaded DSD files still have an edge over CD and streaming.  They sound smoother and have the largest soundstage of all but it is not a great difference.

I have three sources- vinyl, CD and streaming.  I rarely use the CD Transport now.  If I had it to do over I might not have gotten the CD Transport but at the time I didn't know anything about music servers and streaming when I got the new DAC and transport.  Plus I still would have had to hear and compare a music server to the Transport for myself on my system to be satisfied.  Evenso, I prefer to keep the transport maybe because of nostalgia or just to be able to spin discs occasionally.  I am not even ready to give up vinyl but I don't play vinyl nearly as often these days.