Gapless


Which of the following is gapless playback dependent on?

1. streamer/renderer - assume it is

2. The DAC

3. the digital files. I typically play FLAC files ripped from CDs

I play around with a lot of equipment from about 5-10 years old and gapless might be a moot point now but a short time ago it was not.

My current digital setup is a Krell Connect streamer connected to a Wadia D321 DAC.

I can get gapless with only files connected to the USB jack in the back, but not files fetched with upnp. The Krell is supposed to support gapless playback.

Any thoughts on why the Krell would support gapless via the USB jack but not upnp?

Is it correct to assume that modern (last 3 years) streamers support gapless no problem with ripped FLAC files that are local/USB or via upnp?

zerofox

@clearthinker Normal CDs and CD players like we have been accustomed to. Some albums don’t have any gap/silence between tracks, like live recordings and some studio albums, but nevertheless the track is still known and displayed.

Someone else can share what is the alternative and its merits in full, but as I understand it tiny splices of silence are deliberately introduced between tracks.

I have recently learnt that some CD players these days do not offer gapless, and indeed being gapless is marketed as a feature. As if its a new technology? Blah.

Thanks @noske.  So gapless seems to be a useless technology that requires another technology to enable its normal use.  If that is a feature, it certainly isn't a useful one.

@clearthinker What is gapless playback?

Normal CDs and CD players like we have been accustomed to.

So gapless seems to be a useless technology

No, it the only technology that everyone has ever used for CD playback.

Until recently - some (most?? - only going on what I’ve been told) new CD players don’t have it and if you don’t realize it when buying you may be in for an unpleasant surprise should you wish to listen to some Pink Floyd seamlessly - there may be artificial gaps in between tracks.  

But this is something of a deflection from the thread which is about streamers.

As I read it, gapless is not supported by streamers and they want it. I am happy to be corrected - I do not use streaming. May or may not also be an issue in other contexts as well.

 

I have a ton of live music and when the renderer does not support gapless it really stinks as it inserts silence between every “track”. If one never listens to live recordings then it likely does not matter. Far from useless and critical for me at least. 

Thanks again @noske

I am going to retire hurt from this thread and go and put on an LP.  They mostly have gaps, except for Sergeant Pepper and Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.

All record players play gaps if there are gaps and no gaps if there are none.  Let's not take a step backwards.