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Ripping CD Optimally

Hello,

I no longer listen to CD, but I have a substantial CD collection (few hundreds). I want to sell or give away those CDs. But before, I want to rip it so I can play in from Roon or other software.

I'm sure number of people did that in the last decade and l'm hoping I can benefit from some experience and lesson learned from this community. More specifically, I'm looking for advices on 3 aspects:

1) Audio Format

I want to keep the maximum AQ but I know digitalize a CD will not create quality, so I doubt DSD 1024 would make sense. What format/container would be the best to preserve the CD quality?

2) Ripping Software

There are many out there all of them claiming to be the top/no. 1. Does paying for one worth the price or a free / open source is equally good? I'm on macOS.

3) External CD (and DVD) reader

There are plenty on amazon on the 25-40$ (CAD) price range. Anyone have good, or bad experience to share with those? Any brand or model to consider or avoid?

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I hope this questions belong to this topic. If not kindly point me toward the right one.

 

Papyneau

papyneau
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,866 posts
 

Dbpoweramp to lossless compressed flac format and any good quality cd drive and you are good to go.

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,505 posts
 

1. flac. or wav

2.  dBpoweramp is top o the iist of "most worth it" to me.

3. I've used mostly cheap ones. They often perform better than OEM.

That said, Pioneers are nice.

sandstone
358 posts
 

flac or wav.

DBPoweramp CD Ripper  Free (still?), tried and true, full Accurate Rip verification.

If you already have a PC or Mac with built-in  DVD/CD Drive, use it.  or buy and install the internal drive.  Typically SATA, 16x or 24X.  Cheap and equal to quality of any other rip. 

ghdprentice
6,445 posts
 

I have been moving along as technology progressed. Ripping, a great idea in 2005. A waste of time in 2022. Put your efforts and money into streaming. For $14.99 you will get access to all your CDs and a few hundred thousand more. I have 2,000 CDs in racks acting as diffusers. I have gigabytes on my network and on my PC. None of them used. I stream, or occasionally listen to vinyl.


Streaming, CDs, stored files, and vinyl can sound the same at all levels of investment today.

 

leadcrew's avatar
leadcrew
45 posts
 

Does anyone have familiarity with Melco Audio products?  Specifically their D100 optical drive for CD ripping?

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