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
It seems like getting computer source perfect and beat hi end cd player is problematic and cumbersome, which completely destroyed the convenience of computer source..... Even if you do everything right... it's still not definite... there are so many things besides bit perfect read that affects sound quality....

Sigh... I have ripped 8000 songs with WAV on iTune over the past 5 years...... it's such a daunting task to start over....

I have read on some forums that even with bit perfect set up/software, you still get different results with different CD/DVD ROM drives... how many different bit perfect copies are there?

If it is at all possible getting bit perfect results.... shouldn't the results be the same with different drives....

"Because that's a much bigger if reading real time from an optical drive in general than with files stored on a computer hard drive".

If reading in real time (1X) doesn't result in bit perfect data comparing with files stored on a computer hard drive.... How is it possible to get bit perfect data in the first place? What I mean is..... if reading/ripping in real time doesn't get perfect bit for bit data..... how is it possible when reading/ripping at multiple speed (4x, 8X, 24X) be any better? It's the same data, if a CD/DVD ROM can't even get it right in the first place in real time..... how can one guarantee ripping from it results in perfect bit for bit information?

Still.... I believe the power supply in a computer is not clean enough for hi end use..... and.... there are so many signal cross talk with all the components in the computer.... hell... even hard drive generate internal noise....

I guess it's one of those thing where people have different school of thoughts... and one can believe in anything with theories to back up their thoughts...

At the end of the day...... I urge all of us to just trust our ears..... I have personally done a blind A/B test....Even if I didn't do every technical aspects right .... I have preference in hi end CD players and hi end dedicated music server...
"It seems like getting computer source perfect and beat hi end cd player is problematic and cumbersome"

No more problematic than choosing the right stylus, turntable, cables and phono preamp, and then adjusting the turntable. This is simpler I think. Manufacturers of computer audio equipment usually provide recommendations, instructions and even some software. Find a simple way to get this from a turntable manufacturer.

"Still.... I believe the power supply in a computer is not clean enough for hi end use"

These are myths. Has little or no effect on it if you use the right technology, either async USB, Firewire or networked audio.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
"how can one guarantee ripping from it results in perfect bit for bit information?"

Simple, just use dbpoweramp on PC with Accurate-Rip enabled or XLD on Mac with Accurate-Rip.

Like I said already, this pretty much guarantees that the dataset and control information in the frames is correct, unless maybe the track you are ripping has never been ripped before.

Once you have this, it will last forever on the right storage media. It will not have read-errors when your CD player gets old, and the disk will not degrade over time (they do). The variability in the pits, which results in jitter in most CD players is no longer an issue.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
No, it is the end of high end vinyl. No, wait, that was 30 years ago.

Priceless! People went ballistic with the "new CD format" that is “much better than any vinyl” just like it happens with the supposedly "new and better computer audio" now.

I mean this here is a an amazing and super-convenient Honda product too, but will it ever replace your car? It sure can, especially if you are so obese that you can't get into your car, but it will take you sevral days getting to your favorite restaurant and then back home. :-) On the bright side, there will be no DUIs. :-)

Best,
Alex