Mobile Fidelity 24k CDs

@stuartk

Thanks for your kind words. Not sure I can speak about CD-R, I probably haven’t bought one in ten years. I hardly ever play my CDs.

I sure can say that the Audio Research Reference CD9SE CD player / DAC… is unbelievably synergistic with a setup with an AudioResearch REF preamp and amp. Hugely synergistic. While it has been discontinued because the transport manufacturer stopped making the transports (I am sure ARC has some for repairs). I would go out and find one on the used market. I am so thankful my dealer brought one over and twisted my arm into listening to it (I was happy with my player / DAC… $18K)… 30 seconds l ordered one.

“It comes down to the mastering of the recording. ”

+1, @larryi nailed it. I had much better luck with XRCD’s and Hybrid SACD’s from Acoustic Sounds label Analog Productions. 
https://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=results&categoryid=8&LabelID=507

I am strangely on total agreement with jasonborne on this one, don't waste your money on 24k CDs, standard 16bit 44.1hz are hard to beat. 

I have several I bought cheaper on eBay, including Aja. Those cases are the Devil's own invention!

@jayctoy : For all the vaunted claims of digital over analog I still treasure and enjoy listening to my LP collection. Nostalgia maybe? I still seek and buy particular used LP'S. Unfortunately prices are rising on those!