Best CD

We've got the lower end Pioneer mega-changer and did a spread sheet by both type(jazz,blues,roll-n-roll, etc) and alphabetical with the corresponding slot number. I can grab any CD I want out of it in seconds. And guests can scan our collection and pick something out. Best thing is no jewel boxes scattered around or shelving to store CDs just a file box with all the liner notes in alphbetical order. I did just get a burner so I can copy stuff for the cars and travel since that seems to be where/when CDs disappear.

Of course we did the "library" sheet when orginally loading the changer and setting up our sets.

If I ever build a system of your caliber I really think the mega-changer stays and I'll add a single transport.

My other thoughts is have you called one of the modifiers like Wright mods and see what they can do?

Mdomnick,

Not to be pushing the idea of going the computer/hard drive route, but there are many lossless compression formats (or uncompressed wav's, for that matter) that allow you to output bit-accurate copies of whatever's on your cd to your dac. Can definitely fit into any audiophile system. Considering the costs of storage these days, I think it's definitely something Murphthelab may want to look into. He's already got the dac, and there tonnes of options out there, including some kind of distributed audio setup that would allow for playback on any of his three (?) systems without having to run back and forth with CD's. Also makes boucing from one cd or track to another pretty seamless, not that I've heard any mega changers...

Deke

Deke,

It seems in high end audio, especially with the level of gear Murph is using great care is taken to keep the signal path as clean as possible to minimize distortion and any external noise from entering the line and being processed along with the audio. I also have read and am trying to learn more about the importance of a quality transport feeding an external DAC (an area I am trying to better within my own stereo).

As good as some of the sound cards are for PCs (I am very happy with my Extigy) I don't see how a computer feeding a DAC could sound as good as a quality transport. Not just from the conversion of the data to a format a PC can read (as you stated there are some very acceptable ways of storing audio on a hard drive) but the quality of circuits used by sound card manufacturers, the noise emitted by the processor, hard drive…etc, the jitter control from sound card to DAC and the probable length of cable needed from PC to DAC would offer a significant hump to over come (also relating to length of cable, the sound card would have to put out a signal powerful enough to effectively transverse that much copper (don’t know if fiber would provide a solution here)). I won't start the Microsoft bashing, but don't get me started on Media Player. Version 9 is cool, but still has issues (although it does decode HDCD).

With that in mind, I made my comment about the level of gear being used, roughly $10K, being too good for a computer as a transport. I plan on hooking up my PC to my DAC some day over fiber, but I highly doubt it will get much use.

Matt

Changers are great when coupled with a good DAC and de-jitter unit. I use a Sony ES 300 disc changer into a Perpetual P1/P3 combo and on into my SF Line 3. It all works quite well and gives me rapid access to loads of music.

The Sony changer has a 2-way remote so that all the disc information is available at my finger tips. I can spend hours randomly scanning and selecting music with the remote. For single play my DVP-S7700 serves as an additional input to the P1/P3. Also, with the Sony you can get the Nirvis S-link-e to drive several changers from a computer for mega-automation.