Vote Your Ranking -If you have an opinion on this digital subject

I do all 4 er 5 er 6...

*1 - Vinyl / turntable

1 - SACD player is so analogue, it is always my first choice

2 - Redbook CD is still, for me, the 2nd best

3 - 24/96 or better usually approaches my Redbook CD player, but not always

4 - As long as I have clean rip, software has to be perfect and the log without errors

(think 3 & 4 can sometimes switch positions with the same recording)

2 - always last, still pretty good, but definitely last, (never seems as clean)

that was fun... friends I have had over always want to know all of the above and the ubiquitous Vinyl comparison as well, so I set this comparison up a few years back. Ironically even with the pops and sometimes crackles most of the people I have over, even though they hear the vinyl problems, like what a lot of them describe as the smoother sound of the turntable.

2 with the proper streamer- Lumin u1

proper DAC - Denafrips 

a decent cable between the two- audioquest diamond usb 

Assuming the same master/mix

1, 3, and, 4 should sound identical and the best.

2 potentially the worst but it could also sound the same.

They should all sound better than vinyl.

1, 4, 3 and 2

I do not understand why people find it such a hassle to walk on over to a high quality cd transport or player and insert a good old fashion cd. To me, all this hi res this and that is not needed and just complicates things. At some point, it does not matter the resolution, as a human is not going to hear the difference. Maybe if you have Bat-Like hearing you will detect any significant difference.. Most here are older and surely have some hearing loss as it Is part of the aging process. Also, what disturbs me about the whole streaming thing is the Fact that you do not really own anything. Owning something, in my opinion, requires not only the ability to listen, but also the ability to touch and see what you own. So, for me, streaming this or that will remain as a tool to find or discover new music both current and old. Lastly, I do not like having to pay a premium every month just to listen to something. Over many years, you could have saved all that money to actually purchase a hard copy of what you like. To me, being surrounded by actual physical copies (lp’s, cd’s, cassette tapes, etc..) is part of the lifestyle and decor of being an audiophile...maybe I’m old, who knows...I cannot envision a listening environment without my physical media at my finger tips, as I find it comforting to gaze at what I’ve ammased over my many many years of collecting. The last time I checked, a digital file or download has not increased in value and is deemed pretty worthless. However, some of my physical copies of music have done nothing but go up in value. Take a look at what some lp's are going for on ebay and discogs.....