I have recently gotten an Empirical Audio system using their external optical drive to read cds into the TuneBank and using a Mac Mini. Previously, I had these same cds or most of them on a Mac Powerbook Pro. Both use Pure Music to play through a Weiss Dac202. The Powerbook with cds read into the memory just cannot compete with the new system. There is much more detail and better dynamics and everything is super secure as you have two back up hds with one out of the system.
I don't care that bits are supposed to be bits, these two renditions of my discs from harddrives sound quite different. I have some HD recording, but until they are much more available and of good performances, I have little or no temptation.
I fully expect that down loads will become more and more dominant, but the technology needs to get much better and what is available needs to get more extensive. At present we are where we were early on with cds-limited availability.
I don't care that bits are supposed to be bits, these two renditions of my discs from harddrives sound quite different. I have some HD recording, but until they are much more available and of good performances, I have little or no temptation.
I fully expect that down loads will become more and more dominant, but the technology needs to get much better and what is available needs to get more extensive. At present we are where we were early on with cds-limited availability.