CDP's being dumped for hard drive driven units?


I may be mistaken but the past few weeks (months?) it seems some darn nice cdp's have appeared in the classifieds, at prices that are more and more attractive. Is it a sign of the economy, or are more 'philes moving to a hard drive music server? I don't know the answer, probably no one does but is this a trend noticed by others?
farmdoc
Farmdoc
well, 6 out of 10 responses agree hard drive based music equals or surpasses compact disc levels.... so I'd not say the responses are all over the place at all.

I will say I think there's far more to it than what you are asking for here.

Albeit even a few dozen hits here wouldn't protray an accurate view. Go over to the pc audiophile web site and ask there. Still it's doubtful an accurate indicator will be revealed.

Music servers per se are not the only way to utilize hard drive music ssystems or even optimize them IMO. they're merely for those seeking plug and play solutions that have the money to acquire them. I'd be suprised if manufacturered 'ready rolled' music servers indeed did surpass the MAC or PC music generated systems.

Personal confuser use does involve a learning curve but is cheaper with more flexibility. in my own case I feel I've attained another level of performance and ease of use for sure, and it's not limited to merely my own system that I account for this with... I've heard much more expensive gear than my own with which to make that claim.

Change is a tuff thing for many people too. Never mind the results may yield a better level of performance. Add to this the current level of investment in CDs & their CDP too, and another obstacle is represented. Namely, the economic hurdle represented as the current investment on hand.

If i had six or eight grand wrapped up in a CDP, my ego would likely prevent me from even investigating for a good long while some other path. I'd sure hate to find out that a notebook/laptop, network drive and a DAC could either equal or improve upon my mega buck player. Especially if I was satisfied with what I was getting already.

I do feel it's going to become more than a 'niche' market and very soon. Around here however, the largest key will be the performance level of it, or so I would hope.
I have replaced the CDP with a Logitech Duet hooked up to an Altman DAC and the sound is very good (very close to my Modwright modified CDP). The convenience of having all the music at my finger tips is incomparable. The key is getting a good DAC with good jitter control if you are going the computer route.
I bought an SACD player last year. No music server for me in the distant future.
The future of hi-rez music is downloads or DVDs with data files. Either way, PC playback is what you will need, and why not? This is not like CD "replacing" LP. It's the same software format, it's just the storage medium and/or distribution method that's different.

Ir recently dawned on me why PC audio is such a no-brainer. Think of this: say you can download a favorite artist's new album or you can purchase that exact same software burned via mass production manufacturing onto a silver disc. At best, the latter is as good as the former.

Dodgealum: strictly speaking, those people who are ripping their collections to hard drive should not be selling or even giving away their CDs. Illegal and unethical, but widespread, I know.
After a few more modes that aren't on the books, you realize that the playback system can be improved by 1/3 in every piece of audio gear.Mechanical vibration plays a huge part in how sound is resolved and recreated in ones sound room. I feel no need to switch to a computer based system, especially when XRCD are my primary vehicle.I know that my sound is amazing in it's own right and a new format will have to evolve through time.