@mylogic Hope I don’t start another controversy. I find ripped files to sound different. I perceive this difference as better than CD playback. We can all agree that, based on the Red Book Standard, transferred data files are bit perfect compared to each other. Therefore, any perceived difference is due to the playback technology. … back to the original premise, a playback system issue rather than a format issue from the perspective that the files compared to each other are bit perfect. My assumption, and it is only that, an assumption, is that the difference is related to the types of distortion inherent in CD playback (mechanical, electrical) vs file playback (electrical, RF computer noise) and how well the equipment minimized these distortions. My comparison in my system was with my now extinct Linn Unidisc 1.1 and my current Aurender N200. With different equipment, others may have an opposite preference. Note the 1.1 was 2X the price of the N200, so one would assume weighted to favor CD based on cost. All cords, cables, interconnects, and amplification identical.