@richardbrand I made an interesting observation. My streamer and dac can be connected by i2S, which is also recommended by the manufacturer (Metronome technologies) as the best one. However, several dealers recommended SPDIF as the better connection. When I compared a cheap HDMI cable to my more expensive Yamamura SPDIF, the latter was indeed the clear winner in terms of smoothness and details. However, recently I upgraded my preamp to a much better one. Now the difference in cable is hardly audible. Maybe the Yamamura is still a little smoother, but I need to listen side by side. Several times I assumed I was listening to the SPDIF connection and then it appeared to be the i2S. I guess it must somehow be the effect of the better preamp.
My CD-player stopped working. Does it make sense to invest in a new CD-transport?
My older CD-player stopped working, so I am considering whether I should go now for a new CD transport. Most of the time I stream audio (Qobuz) and I have a many €€€€ streamer and DAC. So no need for a CD transport?
However, though I haven't bought a CD for at least 10 years, some people say that a CD still sounds better than streaming. And I have a huge collection (classical, jazz, blues, pop). I was looking at the front loader Teac PD 505t or the newer model PD 507t (about €1000-1300). Does that make sense? Or just forget about CDs and CD-players, keep or rip some for the good memories when buying them, and donate or sell the rest? What do you think?
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I've owned a now rarely used Marantz CD changer for 30 years or so, and run it into a classic DacMagic that has a fancy power supply and sounds and functions perfectly. I recently bought a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 that sounds great (and it's upgradable), and wanted to take advantage of their proprietary "Nexus" input so I bought their URD CD transport and THAT sounds amazingly good but quickly went out of production. I listen to streaming mostly but also CDs and vinyl because I own a lot of both. |
There are instances where the streamed version is high resolution when the CD is, of course, Redbook. E.g. the 2018 Angela Hewitt Goldbergs, streaming on Presto is 24 bit, 96 kb. Also @theoz57, yes the transmission is compressed but it is a lossless compression, typically FLAC, and hence no loss in fidelity. You could go from a .wav to a .flac and back to .wav and the .wav files would be identical.
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