I Sold my CD Player!!! Streaming sounds so incredible!!!


Several years ago, was the very first time I had the opportunity to hear a very high end, high quality, streaming audio system.  Once I heard it, I was smitten, and I knew right then and there that this was me all the way!!!  I was absolutely blown away by the handy convenience of the little iPad (or cell phone) used as remotes to control the otherworldly access to a virtual ocean of music via Tidal, Qobuz or downloads.  I immediately recognized this new technology as the future of my own audio system, especially with all the new hi rez stuff out there that was now made available. I gave up vinyl when CD came on the scene (yes, I'm an old guy), and, now, perhaps, it would be finally time to retire my beloved CD player.  Long story short:  What put my streaming audio system over the top, as far as sound quality is concerned, was the assemblage of these core streaming devices-----( #1) A superb DAC, by Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty streaming DAC  (#2)  An outstanding music server, by Roon Nucleus Plus  (#3) An outstanding Audio Switch, by Pakedge Devices   (#4) Excellent Ethernet Cables, by Shunyata Sigma.  I also utilize numerous other tweaks and filters that further purify the streaming audio signal within my room and audio system.  At this juncture in life, I am just mesmerized by the combination of sound quality and convenience that I get through my streaming audio system.  I'm also happy and pleased to report that, I don't miss my old beloved CD player one bit.  Happy listening.              

kennymacc

Good for you. As for me, my vinyl rig, CD rig and streaming rig are all equally satisfying. It sounds like you may have invested way more in the streaming setup than you did in your vinyl and CD one. That being said, nothing beats streaming for discovering new music.

When I bought my Innuos Zen Mk3, I bought a new tablet. I like the Sense app and the new tablet is a lot better than my old tablet.  I mostly stream now.  I will hang on to my Denon DCD-1700NE sacd player, but it doesn't get used much.  Cds that aren't available to stream get ripped with the Innuos.  I rarely play vinyl. It sounds great, but not too convenient. 

@baylinor On the contraire. I invested just as much or more in my CD and vinyl rigs as I did with my streaming rig. However, I’m extremely pleased with the way my rig streams music. I was most pleased to get rid of my vinyl rig over 20 years ago.  And now, I’m most pleased to have replaced my CD’s with streaming. Happy listening.

I had an Ayre C5xe-mp for years and finally traded it in on a Chord Hugo TT 2. I had spent some time looking for a DAC with AES-EBU digital input, and couldn’t find one I could afford or suited me. So I now use my Oppo BVD105d as a transport thru the Chord. Although the Ayre was better on SACD, I don’t own enough SACDs to warrant keeping it just for that. And with streaming being my main method of music, I just don’t listen to CDs as much as I used to. Someday I want to set a storage drive with my CD collection and at that time I will box up the CDs and store them. Also I find that I don’t listen to vinyl as much as I used to either, a couple years ago I broke my arm and playing records became a challenge and I just got into streaming and have become lazy and find sitting in my chair with my iPad is better than hopping up every 15 minutes to cue a record. Even though I still think vinyl still sounds more natural. 

I am happy for you OP. I would never get rid of my CD player as I have collections of various performances that I like. I also like the convenience of putting on a CD. Each to his own.