Is this the END of DAYS for the high end CD player


Seem like this format days are numbered like the cassette and LP. Why would you want to spend 5k or 10k+ for a high-end CD player or DAC combo??

Just trying to see what other audiophile’s thoughts are and where you guys & gals may be planing for the future. Do you stop here at the high end CD player and this format or go completely too digital files?

I'm at a quandary about investing into an expensive CD player setup.
apachef1
I have looked around quite a bit here and on the web (particularly on "Computer Audiophile" for a good succinct article explaining how to get the highest fidelity out of a computer-based system. Can anyone who has already implemented one and/or done the research direct me to a good article that breaks it down? Or can people describe what solutions they have come up with that works? It seems to me that burning your CDs onto a hard drive or music server in AIFF is the way to go (but why is that better than WAV, or is it?) The hard drive then feeds a computer (usually an Apple product) that then feeds a DAC which in turn feeds the preamp. Are so-called music servers better than your basic hard drive and, if so, why? What is the ideal solution for commanding the system (as in, pick out and tell it what song to play next)? Is there any loss of fidelity with the wireless systems, like, say, the Modwright Transporter? And, if you had a Mac Mini, is there any loss of fidelity for it to read off the hard drive wirelessly or is it better to have a direct connection?
Neophyle: There are numerous ways to go with computer audio. My suggestion is go the path of least resistance as you start out and keep it simple. A mistake I made when I started was to complicate the process with multi zones with a NAS (network hard drive) and then an incompatible hard drive among other things. Forget all the wireless stuff for a while.

Start out with a mac mini and two harddrives. I chose OWC (http://www.macsales.com/) for the hard drives due to MAC centric technical service and warranty. A few more bucks but worth it to me. Probably a good place to buy the Mini as well. BTW, I bought mine on Craigslist for $300.

With regards to usb converters, usb cable, digital cables, and DAC... well... that's another thread but I suggest to go cheap at first and live with it for a while.
Neophyle,

I hear you. I'm navigating those same waters and it's taking me time. Fortunately I'm patient!

The Computer Audiophile website is good for this. They've put together a "Computer Audiophile CD Ripping Strategy and Methodology" (found at http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Computer-Audiophile-CD-Ripping-Strategy-and-Methodology), which I'm following to get started.

They also have setup guides (eg: JC River and Windows 7), but I haven't looked into those yet. It's a good place to get going.

BTW, an apparently very easy way to get into computer audio is with a Squeezebox Touch, which allows to stream wirelessly, play hi-rez, listen to internet radio, etc for $300. This is the initial route I'm taking.

I hope this helps.
Is there viability to downloading music in a hi-rez format, burning to a DVD and then playing back on a hi-rez player? I have absolutely no experience in this area, or with computer based audio storage/playback, but I am considering getting started in 2011.
As much as I hate the idea, the CD player is coming to the end of the road. Manufacturers will not put money into R&D if people cease to purchase the physical copies. The hard-core of us that continue to purchase CDs are nowhere near enough to prolong their lifetime - we remain in an ever decreasing minority.

Pretty much sums up my life and my preferences - I'm in a minority of a minority.

Vinyl will inevitably continue as it does not have a technological parallel.