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Who has found happiness giving up cd player?

My system consists of Amati Anniversario speakers, Boulder 865 integrated amp, and Esoteric X-03 player. I like it. But I want to move to computer based sources. And if I do that, I'd like to go completely computer based, trade in my X-03 while my dealer will still give me full credit for it.

I've explored a lot of options. I know about the options with Mac or PC, through XLR or asynchronous USB or firewire, but I still don't know what to do. Go with something relatively cheap like the Ayre QB-9, and wait for the SOTA to advance? Invest in a dCS dac, upsampler, and clock, and expect to keep that for a long, long time? I like the idea of investing for the long term, but I don't want to end up enjoying my ripped CD's less than through my X-03.

It doesn't help that auditioning opportunities are somewhat limited, especially with my speakers and amp. Or that my dealer is adamant that I won't be happy replacing my X-03 with any computer based source, for redbook.

So my question is, has anyone found happiness replacing a mid range player like mine (or better) with an entirely computer based source? Anyone miss their transports?

Thanks!
Daniel
daniel_a
mingles
796 posts
 
Who has found happiness giving up cd player?
I like Bob_bundus's reply, but it means I have to get up every 15 minutes.

I've been extremely happy with a Mac Mini connected to a DAC using toslink. My laptop serves as a remote via screen sharing. Alternatively, you can use an iPhone to control an Apple TV which connects to a DAC. There's no doubt this is the future.
jdoris
972 posts
 
I'm very happy I made the switch from CD to computer based; hard to say about particular comparisons, but in my experience it is certainly possible to implement computer digital that competes sonically with a good CDP. Additional pluses are convenience and hi rez formats. John
hodu
316 posts
 
You can find happiness, but only *after* you've ripped your entire CD collection. And you'll have peace of mind only after you've backed everything up. If you've got lots and lots of CDs, the process can be not a little daunting -- and exceedingly tedious. And you won't want to do it all a second time. If you've got a thousand CDs and rip, say, 10 each morning before work, you are still looking at more than three months. So, try doing 10 in the morning and 10 more in the evening, and maybe 30 each on Saturdays and Sundays.
And did I say to be sure to back everything up?
Then, though, you'll find happiness. I haven't turned my CDP on in over a year. Holding onto the discs, though. 'cause you never know.
-- Howard
rayooo
70 posts
 
I'd slowly begun a project to move 1000's of CDs to NAS/FLAC.

It became obvious fairly quickly that I was simply transferring crappy sounding recordings from one storage medium to another simply for the convenience of random access.

I've since modified the above plan and am now only moving the few fantastic sounding CDs to NAS/FLAC, and, more importantly I'm beginning to build a 24/96 library on the same NAS.

The dozen or so 24/96 recordings I own sound absolutely spectacular. ..Optical from laptop or PC to DACMagic.

This DACMagic/FLAC/PC thing started out as more of an experiment than anything else. Now I'm in the process of looking for a better DAC, although this little DACMagic is darned good.

I could very happily live with all digital media on NAS. 'having said that, I can't imagine ever having all CDs transferred to NAS, so, I'll need a CD/SACD player probably forever.

I just wish there were more sources for good 24/96 recordings. I'm happily paying more for these.


loomisjohnson
1,941 posts
 
I accept that, for a lot of reasons, computer-based sources are more convenient and usually better sounding, but I just can't make the transistion--it's just feels more visceral and real to hold a tangible disc. Plus I've spent too much of my life hunting down and accumulating my nine gazillion discs--packing 'em away would, i suspect, leave a great big void in my psyche.
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