Coping in an Age of Uncertainty

I think modified universal players are a great solution to the current "age of uncertainity". They offer great performance on DVD-A and SACD (if you are into that), and the mods really make the redbook performance outstanding, in my experience.

It's funny, I have been on the Hi-Rez bandwagon now for about 2 solid years. I have amassed about 150 SACD's and a handful of other Hi-Rez format discs. I can even be found at several points on this very thread saying GO! SACD GO! -- I think I am going to get off this ride though -- the vast majority of the SACD's I purchased were hybrids, and new music to me. But lately, I have made some comparisons between recently remastered redbook CD's and their SACD counterparts. I tell you, it is a really close call -- the quality of recent redbook remasters on decent equipmetn is so close to SACD that I would rather buy the redbook remaster because it is easier to find, costs a lot less, and sounds just as good.

Now, pure DSD recordings are incredible, and SACD's on a half way decent machine get you a level of sonic performance you would have to spend a lot more on a dedicated redbook CDP to acheive -- but, I think, if you can afford a pretty nice dedicated redbook CDP, you will get better quality from redbook CD's comparable to SACD. I think that is the direction I am going.

Not at all. I'm not saying it is the best sound there could ever be or anything like that. But in my most recent CDP history this set up bested my old Sony XA777ES and my old McItnosh MCD 205 changer. But the musicality is only part of the equation here. Because of how iTunes allows me virtually instantaneous access to my whole collection of music (plus), it has forced me to call many of my priorities into question. I do still value a high end presentation of the music I love, and I did audition some very good DAC's before I settled on the Prima MK II SE. But, the accessibility is really a revolution.

I have gone hard drive. I use a Mac laptop running iTunes, and a 500 GB hard-drive. WIth a high speed internet connection I get about 300+ radio stations and have about 600 CD's ripped onto my hardrive. I run this through an Audio Aero Prima DAC (which serves as a DAC and my preamp -- a nice tube preamp at that). and I am in heaven. This has totally revolutionized the way I listen to music as I now have my entire CD collection at my fingetipps--a scroll and click away. My CD's are in the attic! Best sound and access I have had in a long time and I am listening to music in my collection I haven't listened to in years.

I agree with Drubin. When I tried to get my stereo in my car, I hurt my back. Then I tried the iPod and my back did not hurt at all. I sure like having almost my entire music collection on the road with me in my car. It is foolish to compare an iPod with a thoughfully assembled home stereo. Each has it place.