CD players, Aka transports

[Wised]

Why does anyone buy or sell these anymore? I transferred all my CD's into FLAC files a couple of years ago and keep them all in a single thumb drive. 300+ CDs over 4thousand files. The drive is always on my 851N streamer where they are streamed as high rez audio. What is the use for a separate component when you can clone the CD bit by bit from the CD drive in your computer? Sounds a little counterintuitive to me. Particularly given the prices some of the gadgets cost. Remember, the 30 dollar drive in your computer can make an exact copy of your disc........
BTW many of those really old CDs are simply awful and nothing will make them sound better. You can find much better versions and recordings on Tidal and stream the straight from your streamer or at even higher rez from your computer.

[radio times]

A lot of peep's still like the physical form of a CD, but when I get some hi fi I will put 'em on a thumb drive or the like, and keep 'em for my bedroom mid fi player. The variety of music on the combined cd/dab/internet sources means I don't need to pay for Tidal etc just yet.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Wised

Why does anyone buy or sell these anymore?

Wised.......Not everyone thinks like you or comes to the same conclusions with respect to sound quality of CD's and SACD's versus streaming or hard drive playback. Despite what the audio media has been pushing down everyone's throats for years, the CD is not dead.

I am spinning a Gary Stadler CD at this moment and enjoying it tremendously, that despite that fact that I can also play it from my music server or stream it if I wish. CD's are wonderful. Quite obviously high-end manufacturers like Esoteric, DCS, Acoustic Research, McIntosh, Bryston, Simaudio, Luxman, and quite a few others continue to develop high-end CD players and transports that are selling well, so plenty of audio enthusiasts still find great value in spinning discs on premium players. Then there is the occasion when friends stop by with CD's they want to hear on my sound system. It is a pleasure to be able to accommodate those requests. I spin CD's in the Mark Levinson sound system in my Lexus, too. Fabulous car audio, especially with CD's.

If you see no advantage or use for spinning CD's, fine. Enjoy your sound system in whatever configuration you deem satisfactory. That certainly doesn't mean those who choose to enjoy CD's and SACD's should be looking to follow your example. To each there own.

[bart]

Dan, I agree.
I enjoy streaming a lot.
But silver discs are cherished by myself as well as my better half.
Fuss free and simply good sounding.
For those nights where we don't want to operate any computer, iPhone or iPad...

[Cohibaman]

Good posts Dan & Bart!

[bart]

Thank you.

They can be beautiful too...

[Audioraven]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Wised.......Not everyone thinks like you or comes to the same conclusions with respect to sound quality of CD's and SACD's versus streaming or hard drive playback. Despite what the audio media has been pushing down everyone's throats for years, the CD is not dead.

I am spinning a Gary Stadler CD at this moment and enjoying it tremendously, that despite that fact that I can also play it from my music server or stream it if I wish. CD's are wonderful. Quite obviously high-end manufacturers like Esoteric, DCS, Acoustic Research, McIntosh, Bryston, Simaudio, Luxman, and quite a few others continue to develop high-end CD players and transports that are selling well, so plenty of audio enthusiasts still find great value in spinning discs on premium players. Then there is the occasion when friends stop by with CD's they want to hear on my sound system. It is a pleasure to be able to accommodate those requests. I spin CD's in the Mark Levinson sound system in my Lexus, too. Fabulous car audio, especially with CD's.

If you see no advantage or use for spinning CD's, fine. Enjoy your sound system in whatever configuration you deem satisfactory. That certainly doesn't mean those who choose to enjoy CD's and SACD's should be looking to follow your example. To each there own.

[Mikado463]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Wised.......Not everyone thinks like you or comes to the same conclusions with respect to sound quality of CD's and SACD's versus streaming or hard drive playback. Despite what the audio media has been pushing down everyone's throats for years, the CD is not dead.

I am spinning a Gary Stadler CD at this moment and enjoying it tremendously, that despite that fact that I can also play it from my music server or stream it if I wish. CD's are wonderful. Quite obviously high-end manufacturers like Esoteric, DCS, Acoustic Research, McIntosh, Bryston, Simaudio, Luxman, and quite a few others continue to develop high-end CD players and transports that are selling well, so plenty of audio enthusiasts still find great value in spinning discs on premium players. Then there is the occasion when friends stop by with CD's they want to hear on my sound system. It is a pleasure to be able to accommodate those requests. I spin CD's in the Mark Levinson sound system in my Lexus, too. Fabulous car audio, especially with CD's.

If you see no advantage or use for spinning CD's, fine. Enjoy your sound system in whatever configuration you deem satisfactory. That certainly doesn't mean those who choose to enjoy CD's and SACD's should be looking to follow your example. To each there own.

x2 !!

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by bart

Thank you.

They can be beautiful too...

Bart.......That T+A CD player is gorgeous. I'll bet it sounds fabulous.

[Wised]

My point is simple the only part of a cd player that is subject to audio advantage is the anlog component, otherwise its bits and zeros
If you can copy that data perfectly with a 30 dollar device spending lots of zeros to do so is kind of besides the point. Vinyl I can understand its a different animal altogheter. But digital data is digital data. It doesnt get better or worse. As long its the same 1's and zeros. Same thing is true for special HDMI cables or anything ysig or transferring digital media 500 dollar digital cables work just as well as 35 dollar ones from walmart, they either have the bandwidth and work or they dont.