2. digital
  3. 1200161112

Why use CD Transport instead of computer source

I have been seeking a new digital front end setup and would like some advice on what solution will produce the highest quality digital playback.

My current plan is to add a Slim Devices Transporter possibly mated to an external DAC, after evaluating the Transporter on its own to determine the quality of the internal DAC (which I understand is quite high).

Why would I consider a CD Transport and DAC as an alternative to a computer based source such as this? If I am using EAC to get bit-perfect rips of my CDs and I encode them in a lossless format like FLAC, there doesnt seem like there could be any benefit to using a CD Transport, in fact, the computer based source should be better if the rips are done bit-perfect.

Any comments on why there is still a high end market for CD transports given the availability of top computer based sources like the Slim Transporter?
superquant
tonyptony
617 posts
 
I hate to pile on, but IME Mike and Hamburg are right. I have a didgital modified (by BOLDER) SB3 feeding my DAC, but also an old Proceed PDT-3. Back in its day the Proceed was one of the best transports out there, and it's still quite competitive, IMO. When I want to listen to my music at its best I use my transport. The SB3 is really good, but it is juuusssst not quite as good as a dedicated transport. I do use a linear supply with it, BTW.
hobby
40 posts
 
Using a Squeezebox 3 connected to the digital input of my Cary 306 SACD player does not at any means sound as good as when I ust the Cary as a CD transport. I have not yet tried the Transporter.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
ncarv
983 posts
 
Are you guys comparing a transport to files on your hard drive, OR to music sent to the Squeezebox from the internet, from Rhapsody or some other source?
superquant OP
3 posts
 
What about use of a SD Transporter coupled with a high end external DAC such as Esoteric D-05? One could use the clock from the DAC to feed the Transporter.

In addition, one advantage of a player such as Transporter is that it can play the new high resolution file formats that are being released (24/96+)

Its really unclear why there should be superior performance from a CD transport if using a high end DAC external to the network music player.
nilthepill
842 posts
 
In theory computer source sounds right compared to Transport ( never mind the software sources-Hard drive vs CD, I would think not everything is understood s to how is signal quality in the source and reproduction thereof via conventional DAC. A lot more work needs to be done to get it right, just like from the current SOA Transport/DAC combo.
More to discover