downloading music versus cd `s quality

Rockandroller, it's going to be a very good day for you! I'm going to direct you to my latest article at Dagogo.com, on the Eastern Electric Minimax Tube DAC Supreme. While the article showcases the fabulous ability of DACs with socketed opamps to be upgraded by rolling in discrete Opamps (and there are three major players in that regard mentioned in the article), for your purposes the answer to your question lies in the article on the last page, which deals with my Mac Mini and software for upgrading CD sound.

PCM (ripped CD files)can now be sensationally upgraded to not only 192 or 384, but - get ready for it! - can be upgraded to double DSD sound (Note, I am not suggesting that they are the literal equivalent of the original DSD recordings)! Here's the best part, you can do so for under $200! I'm not yanking your chain; I have done this upgrade and now listen from my stock Mac Mini to a double DSD sound quality because I use a software by Signalyst called HQPlayer. I use an app called Splashtop to turn my iPad into a full remote desktop, which controls the HQPlayer software.

It is difficult to overstate the marvelous transformation you will experience by going this route. What will open peoples' eyes, perhaps, is the comment that this cheap change to my stock Mac Mini performed at the level of a twin tower dedicated PC setup running JPLAY on one PC and HQPlayer on the other feeding the same DAC.

You will adore the change; get ready to be freaking out with delight when you do this. Obviously, you will need a DAC capable of double DSD playback, and consider well the Eastern Electric, especially since the discrete opamp rolling pushes the results even further. :) If you wish to PM me to discuss more, feel free.

Obviously, opinions will vary on this topic file playback and upconversion, and I'm not interested in arguing about this.

As Zd stated, yes CDs can sound as good or better ripped and played through a computer based system than through a disc player. I do both.

On your Mac you would need playback software, CDs ripped as AIFF or WAV flies, and a USB DAC. I have found the learning curve for this not to be overly difficult.
There are many threads on AG that help. Also online articles.

CDs are 16bit, 44.1Khz. Often upsampled to 24/192 by a DAC or playback software.

I also like ZD’s suggestion that you start by ripping CDs prior to downloading.

Start by ripping your CDs into Itunes, purchase a budget used DAC that can be upgraded at a later date at little monetary loss, and enjoy. Once you get comfortable you can select better playback software.

Enjoy the quest!

Rockanroller, unfortunately you've been fed a load of hype from some folks who should know better. 1st of all, CDs store the digital information of 16 bits at a sample rate of 44.1KHz. Hi-res is generally considered to be 20+ bits (usually 24) at a sample rate of 48KHz or better, in many cases 96 KHz or 192KHz.

There is also a hi-res format called DSD that is 1 bit with *very* high sampling rates.

If the record companies go back to the master tapes and re-record to one of the hi-res formats this results in a truly hi-res recording. Yes, you can "upsample" CD quality, but you are basically trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear by doing so. Don't fall for the hype.

And, honestly, it isn't so much the bits and sample rate that are most important, it's the mastering. A properly mastered CD can sound absolutely phenomenal. I have CDs that can smoke most hi-res files. But hi-res holds the *possibility* for better quality.

Unfortunately, re-mastering is an expensive proposition and is done properly by a handful in the industry - folks like Bob Ludwig, Michael Bishop, Bernie Grundman, etc.

It really comes down to listening for yourself and seeing if the hi-res is up to snuff for you. You will probably discover certain labels have consistently excellent quality and you can generally rely upon them to give you the real goods. Some of those are Analogue Productions, 2L, Telarc, and AIX. There are others, investigate for yourself...

-RW-

Also, a plug for a label I adore: MA Recordings. The recording engineer/owner travels the world with a magic DAT and 2 microphones. Unique music also, many genres. Regular CDs that sound out of this world. Chesky CDs sound great also.

Rockanroller,

It sounds like you are interested in setting up a computer audio system. I recently converted my system to a primarily computer audio setup and will try to clarify a few things for you. I haven't updated my system profile yet but plan to soon. I don't consider myself an expert yet; just someone who took the plunge into computer and high resolution audio after reading fairly extensively about it. I'm definitely pleased with my decision and the results. Here are a few things I learned along the way that may help you shorten your learning curve:

1. CD is 16bit/ 44.1 KHZ with the '16 bit' being the WORD LENGTH and the '44.1 KHZ' being the SAMPLE RATE. HD (high definition) and HR (high resolution) audio is generally reserved for audio files stored and played back of longer word lengths and higher sample rates (24bit/96khz, 24bit/192khz, etc.).

2. Computer audio is not necessarily the same as high definition or high resolution audio. Ripping all your CDs to a computer will enable the use of computer audio. This is tremendously convenient but the audio quality will be about the same as if played via a CD player, no better and no worse. High resolution audio files, preferably recorded in high resolution , will need to be downloaded to enable computer audio AND high resolution audio.

If you plan to play back through your main audio system, you will also need a good external DAC that is capable of converting high resolution digital files into analog signals. The internal DACs in laptops are not typically capable and, even if they are capable, they're not typically very good.

3. 'Provenance' is critical when choosing which files to download to achieve the best sound quality. Provenance refers to the history of the high resolution file; mainly the distinction between those recorded directly using high resolution equipment and those that are merely transfers from standard definition masters.

The major content providers (record labels) have been rushing to transfer their existing masters (previously used for vinyl record and CD production) to high resolution formats in order to capitalize on the increasing market for high resolution audio downloads. Unfortunately, the resulting files are high resolution in name only.

There are, however, several high resolution download companies that understand the importance of provenance and offer downloads recorded directly as high resolution digital files. Itrax in California and Liaison in Europe are 2 I know of. They don't offer the variety of artists that the major record labels do but the sound quality is excellent.

4. I recommend the use of JRiver Media Center software ($50 for either Apple or Windows versions) for ease of use, megadata and organizational purposes.

5. You may also want to consider a NAS (Network Area Server) and a backup hard drive. The NAS would store all of your CD and downloaded files. The external hard drive would serve as a backup and contain automatic copies of all your music in case of a system crash. I use a 2TB NAS and 2TB backup drive all controlled by my laptop running Jzriver and connected wirelessly via my wi-fi router. This also frees up your laptop storage for other purposes.

In my system, the hi-res files (24bit/92khz FLAC files)sound clearly superior to my ripped CDS; better detail, better dynamics and more of a "in the room" quality.

I hope this helped you a bit,
Tim