If I rip all my CD's to flac files do I still need a CD transport?


I'm in the process of ripping all my CDs to .flac files with Exact Audio Copy. If I see a verified rip with no errors, is there any point in considering upgrading my CD player? Would I be better investing is a quality streamer and DAC?

markcasazza

All of my CDs, about 1k, have been ripped to FLAC files, and reside on my server. I stream Tidal, but mostly listen to my CDs and I still buy CDs. I have  a Cambridge CXC transport, but it doesn't see much action. As of now, I have no plans on getting rid of NY CDs.

@markcasazza , Get a high quality drive such as the Pioneer BDR-S13U-X and install it in your PC for ripping CDs. Don't skimp on the quality of the drive. 

https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Computer/Computer+Drives/BDR-S13U-X 

Rip CDs, put files in NAS and sell CDs to fund other hifi purchases!!

(You need a good SACD player though if you have a significant collection of SACDs, of course...) 

 

I have not used a Streamer or been demo'd one in use in own my System, but have used my owned CDT>DAC Source in Systems that have Vinyl, CD and a Streamed Source.  

I have come to viewpoint based on my limited experiences of all the above Sources, that the Streamer as a device is excellent, especially for the user interface and the opportunities to be able to experience musical encounters of various types of genre at the touch of button.

In these limited experiences of a Streamer Device being used in a system that I am familiar with.

The Streamer Experiences that are much lesser in number than any other Sources encountered and experienced in use, have resulted in a outcome that  I am yet to discover a Streamer Device that impresses sonically in the same way a Vinyl or CD Source can. 

I would suggest the OP keeps their CD Collection, there might be a time arrive, where a different CD Source is tried out.

A discovery that is made, could be the sonic offered from the use of a CD Source, has made the bigger impression and is proving to be the one that has the most attraction. 

+1, @designsfx

Don’t give up on CD’s if you own a decent CD player. I made a great choice of buying Aurender ACS100 few years back. I still buy CD’s, rips them for easy access or play them on my ‘tube’ CD player when mood strikes. The ACS100 has expandable storage, superb file management app that allows you to manage the library of your rips, edit metadata, album art all from the iPad. Not to mention, a very capable streamer with a robust app.

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/10630

Any optical drive that rips 100% with Exact Audio Copy is the same as any other one. You don't need a fancy drive as long as you are getting good rips as EAC reports.

Try Roon as the front end software...also happens to stream Tidal and Qobuz.  You can use a PC/Mac as a front end and server and stream to a streamer or raspberry pi (or another PC, but might not sound as good if the PC is a busy one).  

Don't fall for the need to buy fancy digital reproduction gear until you learn about digital audio yourself.  There are a lot of spend-a-lot belief systems out there that aren't backed up by science or engineering. I do believe in good DACs and I suggest that the streamer should be separate from the DAC (most likely connected via USB or SPDIF) so that you can have separate upgrade paths for them. 

Oh, and BTW, keep the transport.  You can hook that up to your DAC too. 10 years from now you'll have some nostalgia with it.