Digital Path to Complete my System

Having been a Vinyl Die Hard for most on my time with a Audio System. Where through out that time I did not rest on laurels or knock before having an in front of experience. I travelled many miles and met with many, whilst seeking out experiences that would lead me to the place my Vinyl Source is at today.

In relation to Digital, I have not too long ago, added a CD Source into my system, and attempted to learn about what Streaming Data could offer as a Source to be used, where the devices experienced have been up to £6K in value.

Additional to the seeking out Streaming experiences, I have become familiarised with a Selection of CDP's and CDT's used for CD replays along with a wider ranger of DAC's used with all the above methods to produce a Digital Signal.

Firstly I have not been impressed with Streamed Source Material to the place where I believe it is a Parity with both CD and Vinyl Sources. Recent experiences had resulted in my being impressed very much to the point I have a liking for Streamed Data, and can see a place for it to be used, but not as the go to Source where sound quality is the concern.

My experiences have left me with the view, after having limited encounters with CD Sources up to a Value of £5K, is that CDP's used standalone in my experiences had. Have been mainly second to CDT's, where sound quality is being assessed. There are a couple of exceptions where the Standalone CDP in a particular system have been a Parity in the impression made when compared to alternate equipment used for CD replays.

DAC's are in my assessments of ones experienced in demo's, are as different as Phonostages in how they can influence the end sound.

I am familiar with both SS and Valve DAC designs, I am also familiar with DIY produced to Branded with a Maximum Value of approx' £3K.   

There are DAC's experienced and I have assessed as being very intrusive, pushing the end sound hard in ones face, over revealing of details and not very coherent across the frequencies.

There are the Anti Thesis to the above, where the assessment is the DAC is a Slouch, and creates a end sound where one can sink into the listening seat and have 40 winks if wanted. Again seemingly rolled off in the expansion of the frequencies, maybe a little too biased towards the Bass, not being coherent across the frequencies. 

As always there is the in between and demo's where the coherence across the frequencies is attractive, where the end sound can tweak ones listening posture to the point they are edge of seat or relaxed in the seat.

To achieve my ideal balance of detail retrieval and being extremely impressed by the end sound, especially in Parity to the Vinyl Source, a CDT with a Bespoke Built Valve DAC was the route I took.

My suggestion is to be extremely ruthless in ones evaluation of a DAC, where if it does not impress abandon the model with immediacy.

The Digital Section of Forums is filled up with posts about short term satisfaction, with DACs being made known to be up for exchange.

The Honeymoon periods being very short lived and the DAC has stated farting in the Bed 🤣.        

@jmrrobbie1 Stated " I will be mostly streaming but use my CD player about 20 % of the time...open to ripping my 2000+ CD collection into a data bank....pros/cons of this...I have no idea? I have come to embrace the simplicity of the streaming path,,,simple, easy, choice at the push of a button. Looking at different options - can not believe some of the cost/price points...wow?? "

Firstly referencing my own experiences had in this area, and reining then in to ones had using my own system.

With the DAC that is now in use, CD is used much more than the Vinyl Source, the End Sound is extremely enjoyable. When doing A/B comparisons of same Albums on CD vs Vinyl, it was the DAC in use now that created the condition that when either medium was able to play on for a short period of time, there was not a want developing to put on the other.

CD today has proved a excellent Source and one that keeps the Cartridge from use, meaning longer periods are now to be had before concerning oneself about costly replacements.

There is enough evidence on the Forum and others to suggest ripped CD's into FLAC or WAV files will be as good as CD, even if replayed from a particular type if set up for a Laptop or PC.   

I have embraced the concept of Streaming as a Source for the same points you have raised, as well as the ease of attaining access to a Vast Library of Recordings.

The part I have difficulty with is the idea of Hiring the Music, I never used Record or CD Libraries when I was able to easily walk into a Local Library and do this.

The other part I have difficulty with is the remuneration to the individuals producing the music content. For some half a million down loads are required to remunerate the artist to the same level 100 Hard Medium Sales will generate.

For that reason I attempt to buy Five Albums per Year from New Artists whether from Kick Starter or their Merch' Sales Portals, last resort to buy the usual on line methods, even though this is the most user friendly if a quality issue is discovered and a return of item is wanted to occur. 

My experiences had can't visualise where there is a Streaming Source to be found at monies within your Budget that will be Parity with a well thought out CD Source or Vinyl Source.

Recently an individual I know who has very nice Vinyl Source, who has invested numerous years of their time developing a Streaming Source, and are of the View there is not a betterment to be had in relation in how close they perceived it had advanced toward being Parity with the Vinyl Source. After hearing a Visitors brought along recently released to the Market CDT > DAC in their own system, as well as the CDT > System owners DAC, has now as good as abandoned the Streaming Source as the main Source and replaced it with CD as the Source. 

I can only recommend that a home trial is sought when the final shortlist is assembled. 

@deep_333 Once more an individual touting the idea a Particular Source Material is ubiquitous in how all who experience the should accept it.

Individuals are Individuals - Their Preferences are their preferences - What is ones attraction is another's repellent.

Your claim that " The 24bit Hires studio master is the highest quality medium available, when available ". Is in no way a recommendation that will have all who encounter it used as Source Material, will want to continue listening to it in place of of other familiar Source Mediums.