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

The problem is not cache vs laser... Is the quality of the reading system between a high end cd player and a run of the mill DVD player on a computer.

I agree, there is a difference between a high end cd player and computer. Assuming the cd player has a digital in, making a comparison is easy. Not all high end players are worth the money. Having said that, the DAC on esoteric, burmester, dCS, wadia and etc are of high enough quality that when linked to a computer, one would still prefer playing the actual cd.

The difference? Accuracy, texture, spatial presentation, imagine, atmosphere, dynamics..... However, it depends on the player u are using. Burmester 069 is by far the best I have heard. Just go test it out.

I can not vouch for every hi end cd player or transport, only those from burmester, esoteric, dCS, and wadia.... A lot of other high end cd player are not up to the same standard. The difference will also depends on the listener. For example, to untrained ears like my parents , they can't even hear the difference between a 3000 dollar speakers and 30000 dollar speakers. Having said that, u can't easily tell the difference without critically listening and comparing hi end cd player and computer source using the same DAC. Some of the differences are very subtle and may even escape you, that doesn't mean it's not there.

I skiped the whole cd player bit went from vinyl(still using) to a music sever. Down loaded some hd music, best sounding the smithereens do tommy, ripped alot of cds and off you go. Even through the dcs debussy, not vinyl, but getting closer. Oh and as far as the starter of this post suggested the end of the LP, the fact is, Vinly is the only growing sales of music! Not gone away anytime soon.

The end is near. That is why I stopped modding CD transports in 2009. That is why I removed my CD/DVD transport from my rack. Computer audio is finally approaching the best vinyl SQ, and not just hi-res either.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Chadeffect:

Wayneker2176 answered your question much better than I could. I am gradually dipping my toes into computer audio, but am in no hurry. I figure time is on my side here, as there appear to be new digital software and connection breakthroughs fairly often. As the technology matures and standardizes, I may become more interested. For now, guess I'll just have to "make do".

FWIW - my re-worked Esoteric now has 20 2nd generation 32bit AKM DACs/side, fully differential, transformer coupled tube Class A output stage featuring the vintage E182CC tubes and Lundahl audio transformers. It also accepts up to 192KHz/24bit from external digital sources. The interface is Coaxial. I'm pretty happy, "making do". :-)

Hi Wayneker2176,Fplanner2010,

I find it hard to believe you are finding better texture, spacial info and especially dynamics from a CD in real time than by a well set up computer server. But I am sure you hear what you hear.

I have had 2 generations of DCS stacks. Elgar plus up to the Scarlatti stack. Even though with my Scarlatti rig I used the older transport. The addition of the computer was awesome. I dont miss CDs/transport at all.

What is always difficult in these audiophile conversations is to know what people perceive as better. Also maybe any happy coincidence of euphonic attributes in the system can alter an opinion of what is better.

From my perspective after many years of highend CD playback, I found direct from memory via firewire with Amarra from a mac into my DAC to perform beyond anything I have had before. All the qualities you mention are there. Amazing clarity, dynamics,purity, and all the texture that is in the recording is there.(Some recordings I have are direct from the studio. I was in the session. All exported in the digital domain from the DAW. Bounced to stereo Aiffs or WAVS files at the native sample rate)

This talk of CD drives in computers is nonsense. If they could not transfer the data properly none of our computers would work. Obviously all data imported to my HD via CD is in Read until write mode with various software non compressed. Nothing added or taken away. All cables and power supplies are as good as they can reasonably be.

Fplanner2010 you mention the use of coaxial (I assume the jittery s/pdif) which is a consumer digital in/out. Isnt that 75ohm system only capable of 24/96k in stereo if that? I am a bit confused as you mention 24/192. Sorry it has been a while and I have only really used AES/EBU 110 ohm digital ins/outs in the past.