Bit perfect copies

I don't think I follow what you're saying - clocking the bits (samples) into the D/A comes well after the reading of the disc, so how does the source (CD vs. CDR) affect the quality at the point of putting it into the DAC? Are you suggesting that a CDR gets read "wrong" despite being bit-perfect where the CD gets read "right"? I also don't understand the concept of "bit phase". Would all these issues go away if the whole CDR was read into RAM before playback began?

I'm very open to the concept that CDRs are somehow inferior to the original CD, though it hasn't been my experience and runs counter to my technical understanding (which undoubtedly could be enhanced). I don't think Stereophile saying CDRs "didn't sound as good" really establishes much as there is an inherent bias there - if it really is possible to make 50 cent copies of CDs that are indistinguishable from the original (using a cheap computer no less), that's not good for Stereophile's business. I'm not saying their viewpoint can't be right, just that it doesn't mean much coming from them.

To answer the original poster's question, I'd use a computer and some easily obtainable freeware or shareware to make the copies. Cheap, easy and effective. -Kirk

Richard - that's an interesting response. Thanks for sharing it with us. While the audio CDR components appear on the surface to be a really convenient way to make copies, I find it's at least as easy and considerably more flexible to make copies on my PC and that's what I would recommend to anyone wanting to make copies. I have never had a single problem with playback of a CDR that I've made this way. Occassionally, I have a problem in the copying process, but that's immediately flagged and I start over. Once made, though, playback has always been flawless - none of the noises you describe. I play them back in either a Sony ES changer or a Sony DVD-S7700 DVD player, digital outputs in both cases.

One of the advantages to this approach too is that you can verify a bit-perfect copy. Once you've done that, the first three of Linn's responses are off the table and you'd be left with the fourth as a possible answer if you continue to have the problem(s).

I use a fairly recent Dell setup for copying and Memorex CDR blanks. -Kirk