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Are Disc Players Dead?

How important is a disc player anymore? I think that stand alone DAC's have far eclipsed the stand alone disc player in importance over the last 3 years with the rise of server based music.

Only an SACD really needs a disc player anymore. In what instance can you get better sound from a disc player than when you download the music, CD or HiRez, then play it back through a new stand alone DAC with the latest technology?

I really only use my very humble disc player to watch movies that I own now. I download most movies to rent through AppleTV, and if I buy a CD (rare) I download it to the server, where it takes up residence in iTunes for playback in AIFF format.

So, disc players on their deathbed, as DAC move to the top of the digital mountain?

I say yes.
macdadtexas
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Many interesting and thought provoking comments here. I tend to agree with Nglazer here. I just don't have confidence in what's available today and worry that it might be obsolete in the near future. When large ss hard drives become more affordable, when formats become more standardized and easily backwards compatible, and reliability is proven, I'll jump in.
One thing that nobody seemed to mention is that if one wants to move their disc storage to either a server or a cloud, you'll still need a disc player to do it.
abucktwoeighty's avatar
abucktwoeighty
1,079 posts
 
It took me a lifetime to accumulate all of my vinyl, and many years to accumulate the CD's. I'm getting up there in age, and I'm not about to start monkeying around, trial and error, trying to find the best way to use a computer for listening pleasure. It will take me forever to download all of that music, and I don't have the time. It may be the way of the future, and the top of the digital mountain, but I'll stick around down the the lowlands with my antiquated discs. The music is excellent enough for me where I don't need to make such a time consuming change to get a little bit better sound. If I were younger, yeah, I'd be there.
zmanastronomy's avatar
zmanastronomy
738 posts
 
I echo your thoughts Abuck.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Abucktwoeighty, It is not time consuming at all. Instead of putting CD int CDP insert it into computer and play while you rip. Do only disk that you listen to and eventually you'll go thru all of them.
abucktwoeighty's avatar
abucktwoeighty
1,079 posts
 
LP's are another story...
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