Why did it take so long

Because the information recovery was never the problem.

These were the problem and still are in many cases: 

1) Jitter in the digital signal, particularly from CD transports

2) Digital filtering technique in the DAC

3) Accuracy in the D/A and signal-to-noise ratio

It not only took many years to wrap our heads around these, it took many new technologies, protocols, techniques, new passive parts and interfaces to improve on them, including:

Low-jitter oscillators

Asynchronous USB interfaces

DSD and MQA

Improved digital filters in D/A chips, Apodizing filters and other custom digital filters

Ethernet - DLNA and RAAT interfaces

Teflon and polystyrene capacitors

Faster logic families for gates and flip-flops

Techniques for more accurate R2R resistor networks

Techniques for lower noise, faster-reacting voltage regulators

Upsampling and hi-res formats

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Nothing to do with luck.  CD tweaks are minimally effective.  Reclockers make a huge difference.  The measurements prove it.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Some evidence that digital still doesn’t retrieve all the information that’s in the “grooves.” Not by a long shot. You’ve come a long way, Baby! But you have a long way to go! 🤠

A. Demagnetizing interconnects, CDs and power cords, e.g., Walker Talisman.

B. Ionizing CDs, interconnects and power cords or Anti Static spray.

C. Applying CD treatments, I.e. Auric Illuminator, Liquid Resolution (RIP), whatever.

D. CD edge beveler/angle cutter.

E. Green Pen for outer edge of CD, Black Pen for inner edge.

F. Silver Rainbow Foil.

G. CD mats such as Marigo.

H. Getting the CD absolutely level during play (as opposed to level of top of chassis).

I. Using a green or turquoise tray instead of black.

J. Isolating the CD player.

K. Freezing or cryoing CDs.

L. Freezing or cryoing the CD player.

This is only evidence that jitter from a CD transport can be reduced with tweaks. Nothing to do with the integrity of the data reads.

The same thing can be done by simply adding a Synchro-Mesh reclocker in the S/PDIF cable. None of these tweaks will have any effect on jitter once you do this. It’s only about reducing jitter.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

I am not in a position to on the latest PS audio digital products, but I do employ Machina Dynamica Promethean Springs (among other MD products), and recently upgraded my Oppo 105 with IEC wire loom (OppoMod) and Linear Power Module (ZeroZone). Those 2 really upped my playback enjoyment.

Again, jitter reducing tweaks, but you are spending your money in the wrong places and getting tiny improvements.  These tweaks are only going to have a minimal effect on jitter.  The way to reduce jitter to 20psec is to put a reclocker like the Synchro-Mesh in the S/PDIF cable.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

A/D is still a mess, so it’s a dog before it even starts to walk through the door.

Nevermind playback.

I agree, but from good studios it’s not as bad as you think. Google Bluecoast recordings in SF.

The problem is the proliferation of cheap "pro" hardware and cheap mixing software that many studios use. If they all recorded analog multi-track and mixed it down analog and then transferred to disk, it would sound like Bluecoast recordings do.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Reducing jitter and improving data reads. What’s the difference?

I'm surprised you are asking this.  The difference is obvious. 

Jitter is the variation in the periodic presentation of data bits or data words over time.

Improving data reads means the ability to read data without errors is improved.

There seems to be a lot of overlap. Besides, scattered background laser light is clearly in the latter camp. So is obtaining absolute level of the disc during play. The Silver Rainbow Foil and the demagnetization we’re not sure.

There is no overlap.  You can get perfect reads, but deliver high jitter.  You can also deliver low jitter with lots of errors in the data.  They are two different aspects.

Those tweaks are only going to have a minimal effect on jitter? That sounds an awful lot like wishful thinking. I would call the effects subtle. Subtle but powerful.

Subtle is right.  The only tweak that I found that actually reduced jitter significantly for a CD is to coat the top surface with a thick rubbery compound to reduce vibration.  I used to do this for customers 12 years ago.  You could also buy rubbery rings you could glue-on, but these were not as effective.  I have tried every thing on the list, so I know the relative level of improvement.  They have minimal effect, period.

Even the anti-vibration coating holds no comparison to the jitter you get with a Synchro-Mesh reclocker after the Transport.  Not even remotely close.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Really? How did you measure the Silver Rainbow Foil? The Green Pen? Demagnetizer? Just curious.

You are not just curious, you want to disprove everything I say here.  I'll respond anyway:

I have the same disk here with and without treatments, including most of these tweaks, but even more important, I have the same disk with the rubberized coating and without. The one that makes the biggest difference. I can easily hear the difference and measure the difference.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Steve, have you experimented with putting the SM device between a streamer ( with s built in DAC) and an external DAC? If so, what was the result?

Yes, the Sonos is such a device and widely used.  See these plots:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154310.0

Steve N.

Empirical Audio