Why Purchase A CD Player or Transport ?


I am 100% invested in vinyl, but want to improve my digital equipment chain.

Once I’ve upgraded my streaming equipment, why purchase a quality CD/SACD transport?

Is there a large enough subset of music that sounds better via optical media?

vonhelmholtz

My streaming usually sounds better than CDs, or the same if in the same resolution. But Qobuz has half a million high resolution albums. I would take the money you were going to invest in a CD player and upgrade your streamer… or DAC… or preamp. Whatever your weakest link is. I am giving away all my CDs.

With a good streamer and DAC streaming can match or exceed the quality of vinyl.

Also. Once streaming is at a real audiophile level, and with millions of albums at your disposal… at least for me, the focus changed from laser focus on the very best recordings of a very few artists to a vastly expanding array of recordings and genera of music… something not sounding good… move on. There are thousands of incredibly well recorded, high resolution albums available. I also found all sorts of albums I did not know about from artists I love… no extra charge.

 

The more thoughtfully applied funds dedicated to as few components in your system the better it will sound… the more captivating, musical and rewarding. I recommend concentrate on the essential components. CDs are simply computer files on a optical disk… as opposed to located on a disk drive, server, or streamed. Don’t waste money on a optical disk reader and DAC in a box.

i got a $20 CD player and a host of hand-me-down DVD players. i run em thru a bad ass tube dac. sounds good. sometimes, for funzies, i run em thru a reverse RIAA into a tube phono. they sounds damn good that way too. bu straight into my preamp is a lil harsh. punchy as hell but harsh. 

Another +vote for CD/SACD players sounding Damn good. Mine do.

 

Happy Listening!

“Why go to a fine restaurant when you can just stick something in the microwave? Why go to the park and fly a kite, when you can just pop a pill?”
 

Cosmo Kramer

I just bought an Audiolab 6000CDT last year and I probably use it 20-25% of the time. I have many CD’s and LP’s that aren’t on any streaming services. 
 

You ever hear of “ The Incredible Broadside Brass Bed Band? LOL, I didn’t think so😁