Resolving CD Transports Crowd Sourcing

@thyname

You got a lot of recommendations here to build a short lists. I am so sorry to say at this point you have to listen, compare and contrast by yourself.

I think everyone would agree that an in home audition of audio components is the ideal scenario. Not always possible to arrange unfortunately. I have found listening impressions from experienced forum members very valuable over the years.

I try to hear as much as I can in person but you can’t hear everything all of the time. I have been made aware of audio components completely unknown to me via forum participation. I discovered my current Abbas DAC via a thread on WBF. I’m grateful for that exposure.

No auditioning was available. DAC is built by order in Ukraine by a very talented one man operation. I’m so glad I took the chance given the dire situation. The DAC is fabulous!

Charles

@wharfy

The sound quality from TIDAL/Aurender is very, very good. But, CDs played through a terrific transport/DAC combination always sounds better.

Saying CD’s always sounds better is bit of a reach. This may very well be your experience with certain recordings but simply not possible across the board. I have heard and compared recordings on both formats and they both can sound stellar to mediocre. Why? Because of provenance and mastering of a recording. They are the key differentiator between us loving or hating a recording, IMHO. 

My system - Aurender N30SA ➡️ Merging Technologies DAC with external power supply and both DAC and N30SA are synchronized by external Merging +clock. 

The sound quality from TIDAL/Aurender is very, very good. But, CDs played through a terrific transport/DAC combination always sounds better.

I may be wrong but I thought that David was clearly referring to his specific listening experience with his own audio system and not making a general proclamation for all.

Charles

@thyname 

"You got a lot of recommendations here to build a short lists. I am so sorry to say at this point you have to listen, compare and contrast by yourself. "

I have a great deal of respect for the cumulative insights and knowledge of the forum members. If I'm going to pay thousands of dollars for a CD transport I can't audition, and possibly not return after purchase, I'm going to ask lots of questions.

You have provided a great deal of valuable info about Jay's CD transport. Did you have an opportunity to audition it in your system before purchase?

Regards,

David

@lalitk 

Definitely is my experience on my audio equipment. You got me thinking with your response how CD remastering and reissues can make absolute statements like "always sound better of CD" anachronistic. For instance, how many "Kind of Blue" remastering reissues are there? I have two on CD, two on records. TIDAL has more than that. I'm sure I can find a reissue on TIDAL that sounds better than the $1.99 copy I purchased at CD World in the early 2000s.

So yes, point taken.

David