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Best Way to Upgrade Digital

I have over 3K CD's and I am building a new system & not sure what is the best way to set up my digital.  Should I get A DAC & CD Ripper or a CD/SACD?  I'm leaning towards a CD Ripper with a DAC, given the number of CD's I have it will make it easier to play them & store tehm.  I have an old Benchmark DAC1, should I use this with a ripper?  Or get a new DAC? Do I need to update my Benchmark DAC?  Or should I just get a CD/SACD?  Trying to keep cost under $1,200 if possible.  Technology is changing so rapidly, that I don't want to spend lots of $$ for something that may be absolete or wothless in a couple of years.  Any suggestions?? I do own a Blunode Streamer, sounds ok, hoping the CD's will sound better.   
nyrican

Showing 2 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,671 posts
 
Keeping your CDs is of course fine. Liking the ritual to play, or copying them to a hard drive. The pursuit is for enjoyment in any way you choose. But make no mistake about it, there is no similarity between vinyl and CD discs. CDs have a set maximum fidelity as @jw944ts points out. Vinyl and streaming offer significantly greater sound quality. 
ghdprentice
7,671 posts
 
I ripped my 2,000 CDs over a period of years. Then upgraded my streamer and no longer listen to my CDs or ripped CDs. Copying files from a CD allows them to be streamed (ripping). So, this is basically making them available to a streamer. So if you buy a CP player, you are taking away funds that could go to a streamer. With good equipment there is no difference between a CD, ripped CD file on a server or local storage, or streamed from a service like Qobuz. Actually Qobuz frequently sounds better and costs about what the purchase of a single CD per month, $14.99), while your library goes nearly to infinite.


So, if you understand the term sunk cost… that is your CD collection. Mine is now used for wall sound dampening. So, instead of investing more in a transport, better to invest in the highest quality streamer. Which of course requires an appropriate DAC, but then so does a CD transport.
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