2. digital
  3. 170382-3203

CD Alternative

At present I have around 1200 CD's which are played on a Cal Audio/Benchmark DAC 1.  I am looking for some guidance regarding the potential use of high res streaming or ripping and having a server.  I have no idea which option/equipment to pursue or if there is another option to consider.  This all started when I recently went to audition speakers with a few CD's but discovered this was the old fashioned way and instead used a "Roon Streamer" I think.   Secondly the Cal Audio is about 25+ years old and the DAC 1 is 16 yrs old.  Thanks in advance for your responses as I am absolutely confused with the digital path to take. 
xagwell

Showing 2 responses by georgehifi

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
bigtwin
I have a $500 Audiolab 6000CDT transport and my Hegel 590 has a first class DAC built in. The first CD I ever bought was Ry Cooder’s Bop Till You Drop around 1982. I still listen to CDs about 50% of the time I spend with music, which is about 2 hours every evening. Despite what anyone else may say, I can’t hear the difference between my CD or vinyl collections.
The vinyl was very similar in DR with the earlier CD’s, only the last re-issue got compressed in 2014, and these are usually also the streamed/downable ones.

https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list/year?artist=Ry+Cooder&album=Bop+Till+You+Drop

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

xagwell OP



jasonbourne52
The streaming listener has no way of knowing the provenance of a particular recording. Many from the streaming services have been remastered - altered - from the originals. More compression, boosted bass ... if this doesn’t bother you, then go ahead and stream away!
Jason is correct here, just look how compressed the later release’s are which are usually the streamed and downloaded ones.

Just rip all your cd’s at no more than 4 x speed to a HD and then store them away.
https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list/year?artist=Traveling+Wilburys

Or do as I do, just keep playing your CD’s, and get the the releases that have the least compression from the Dynamic Range website I just linked to above.
Cheers George
More to discover