Are you still playing CDs after, comp based syst?

I just set up my new music server this week (Naim NDS Server/DAC, Uniti ripper, Qnap NAS) so I have begun to rip my CD collection. This is going to take quite a bit of effort, particularly, the editing of metadata. In addition to ease of accessing and browsing my collection, I am looking forward to buying high resolution downloads.

But, in terms of the sonic quality of CD play vs. CD ripped to a server, I think I like my current CD player a little bit more (Naim CD555). The CD playback has a little bit more weight and fullness and does not have quite as much of an artificial hardness or edge to the sound. I know this is not exactly a direct comparison because the DAC in the server is different from that of my CD player, even if it is the same brand, but I expect that there should be a lot of similarity.

Don't get me wrong, I like the sound and I am excited about high rez download capability, but, I am not hearing superior sound from the server vs. the cd player where both are top of the line models from the same company.

Mitch,

I would not guess about others, but, my experience mirrors yours. I like the sound of my CD player, but, I find much more pleasure in the music using the server--it is so much easier to locate and sample long-forgotten purchases, and I enjoy putting together playlists that are hours long with just a few minutes of scrolling through my collection.

In the two weeks I've had the server, I have managed to load almost 600 albums, so I have a LONG way to go. The tedious task of loading albums and editing the metadata is the big ergonomic downside to the server.