Why Purchase A CD Player or Transport ?

arcticdeth

Awesome collection of Players. The McCormick UDP-1 is very sweet.

How does it sound with Hard Rock/Metal ?

Happy Listening!

I have a project rs2 transport and DAC powered by uni4 and linked i2i.

Playing this and comparing to the same albums on  tidal masters had 3 of us prefering CD.  Made no sense but true 

@dreas 

+10! You made numerous fine points. Can’t we all just enjoy the music we love regardless of what format we have chosen to listen to. None of them are mutually exclusive, one doesn’t invalidate the others. 

I happen to prefer CD listening and it’s fabulous via my Pro-Ject RS2T transport. I do not doubt for a moment  that others derive as much listening enjoyment with streaming or playing vinyl records. It’s all good.

Bill , @grannyring I know that you stream and really love it. I appreciate however you aren’t beating others on the head in evangelist fashion trying to convert them to what “you” do. I like that you can acknowledge that @facten is obviously enjoying great sound quality via his Neodio CD player spinning discs.There are many ways to engage with and appreciate the “gift” of music.

Charles

For most of us the "this or that" approach is due to financial limitations. The total system cost might be $1000.00, or $100,000.00, where the limitations exist, but the components considered are very different. It all has to do with maximizing results with limited funds. All of your posts help those of us that are operating at the upper edge of our financial envelope where trying and selling are not financially efficient. Many of you have amazing systems that you assembled through A/B comparisons. How did you setup such trials? Do you have a special relationship with a dealer, or buy used and sell used, or just don’t have financial limits? So far for me, speakers and my Integrated amp were my only main components that I heard before purchasing. I’ve been able to listen to some cables and trade up with my dealer. Currently looking to trade up with my Sutherland 20/20 phono preamp..but one dealer comes with limitations..my only real trade up option is the Esoteric E-02 Balanced and the next batch isn't scheduled for a couple of months..assuming that the components are available.

I have had very close relationships with three dealers over the last fifty years.
 

My current dealer has been my friend for twenty years. I consider my current system a collaborative effort. We both love my system. He has brought over equipment (like $20K+ components) to see how they sound to evaluate if he wants to carry the line. We have very much the same musical values although he sells to many people with different values.
 

He has lent me a pair of Audio Research 160m mono-blocks ($32K)… for the last eight months, so far (I own a Audio Research 160s) for me to enjoy. He comes over for an afternoon every couple months to take the afternoon off. He has instructions to sell my system and give the proceeds to my partner when I die. 
 

While I have spent thousands of hours researching and doing comparisons of equipment… components, cables, power cords… this got me up to speed to talk with my dealer… who lives this stuff day and night… for decades. We can talk as equals and learn from each other… fantastic to talk to someone with such in depth knowledge…