Are you still playing CDs after, comp based syst?

It sounds like a lot of folk are settling for a computer based system and extolling its virtues, proclaiming the death of CDPs.

It's only when I read reviews like this: http://www.stereotimes.com/ (on the Laufer Teknik Memory Player 64) that I realize said folk are settling for less.
Granted, present day PC audio might be better than some, or most, CDPs out there, but there is still a long way to go.

It seems there is much more to jitter than thought and what arrives at the DAC is far from perfect and the DAC can't reconstruct what is already riddled with jitter due to a host of things. Even standard memory players can't make whole what is damaged to begin with.

Reading data, transmitting data, and converting data is not all there is to it, or so the designer of the Laufer MP would have you believe. Jitter is introduced at each and every step you can imagine. There is no perfect signal that is captured so when jitter laden data enters the DAC, no matter the pedigree, it remains there when outputted.

At least that is what I got from the review. The price of the unit is right up there where I can't afford it but those who have heard it swear by it (so says the reviewer) . Does anyone here know of or have heard this player and is the article correct?

It seems that some kind of reconstructing of the data has to be done AFTER going through a DAC. If this is so, then all bets are off and folk here are merely settling for something incrementally better.

All the best,
Nonoise

Neal, I think you hit the nail on the head. My PC rig was basic, at best, but it still bested my CDP in terms of clarity, detail, ambience and extension at both ends. It wasn't until I tried some old Mapleshade ICs I had that now, the CDP bested my iMac in every way you could think of. That warmth you mentioned was the missing ingredient.

It could very well be some form of jitter, for all I know, but it's full bodied, rich, and tonally loaded along with all the positive attributes I get from my iMac. There is no loss of detail, ambience or clarity but just the opposite: a more fully depicted rendering.

I get it that folk get a certain amount of satisfaction from mastering PC audio. It's like repairing a car and enjoying the ride. There is a romantic aspect to it all, not to mention the convenience. But all the PC rigs I've heard at audio shows had that missing warmth you mentioned, to some degree. Exacting, they were. Almost, but not quite hyper, and a bit unnaturally in-your-face. Only the MSB set up had me on the opening notes, and it was a CDP set up I was listening to. Exorbitantly expensive but still a CDP.

All the best,
Nonoise

No need to gloat.

There is no vindication here, just another aspect to be considered.

All things in good time.

All the best,
Nonoise

Could have fooled me.

I had fun as well when it came to the convenience of perusing my collection. Fast and easy became the norm. It was only when I swapped out some ICs that I came to the conclusion that all bets were off as far as sound quality: the difference was that big.

Being a cheapie, I 'retreated' back to my CDP and my old ways, Ol' fart that I am.

Better PC audio is just around the corner and when it comes, I'll be among the first to adopt. Check out Sarjans review of the ASUS DAC/Headphone/Preamp
http://6moons.com/audioreviews/asus/1.html

Yes, that ASUS. And pay attention to his remarks at the end of his review. ASUS has the means and market reach to finally come up with a dedicated laptop music server and keep the cost down, if only they listen.....

I recall a member here who wanted to see if there were enough feedback and willingness to seek out a maker of laptops for the same purpose. After reading Sarjans review, I feel it's just a matter of time.

All the best,
Nonoise

Pettyofficer.

You are too pessimistic. Plain and simple. High quality music will always be around as it's not that difficult to maintain high standards be it with CDs, laptops, etc.

Someone will hit the nail on the head, format wise, and all will be well.

All the best,
Nonoise

Pettyofficer, you can't keep playing both sides against the middle. The bits and pieces that comprise really good audio playback are already out there. Standardization will follow once one of the major players takes a first step. Others will follow.

The 6moons review of the ASUS product and Srajans take on what could be done tell me that it's just a matter of time. There are no monolithic masters out there dictating to others what will be done. They are competing for our dollars and once one of them figures "us" out, the rest will be history.

These major players tend to eat each other, not us. Yes, they want our dollars but they covet each others markets more and that is what they have their sights on.

As I said earlier, all of this will not stop the research and tinkering that propels audio. Markets aside, it will be done because it can be done by those of us who desire better music/sound.

When companies like ASUS make a serious audio product, they don't need nor seek Microsofts or Apples permission. They simply do it. If what they make makes a serious enough dent in the market, others will heed the trend.

I'm content to wait.

All the best,
Nonoise

Bifwynne, I concur wholeheartedly. My CDP is my only method of listening.

It's all a matter of if and when something better this way comes.

I think we're all just seeing this from different perspectives.

All the best,
Nonoise

Pettyofficer,

This is too much despair for me.

I quit. I will go the way of others who have met you and left this topic of discussion.

All the best,
Nonoise