Your CD player doesn’t have a digital input so cannot be used as a DAC for streaming. As @ghdprentice mentioned, it’s best to get a dedicated streamer for best sound. The DAC8 has both AES/EBU an SPDIF inputs (no USB) so you’d need a streamer that has at least one of those outputs and then the CD2 can be plugged into the other and you should be good. You’ll be very glad you made the effort to start streaming — I’ve never enjoyed audio more with the ability to find incredible new music on almost a daily basis. Goodonya!
DAC vs CD Player for cd playback with computer audio - Help old timer out
Getting back into the game after along time away. So much has changed!
I think I want to stick with Audio Research for a number of reasons, nostalgic and otherwise.
I want to play CDs and also to play files from my computer. Streaming would be nice. How would that work out with the following setups?
1. If I have a CD player is it POSSIBLE that I could use the DAC in THAT CD Player to play my computer audio? For example an Audio Research CD 8 from 2008.
2. Can I use a CD transport (like the Audio Research CD2 from 2002) with an Audio Research DAC 8 (from 2012) AND run computer audio into that DAC?
Which option makes more sense for CDs and Computer audio? How about CDs, computer audio AND streaming?
I have a headache just writing all of this out.
Thanks in advance!