Does the quality of a digital signal matter?
I recently heard a demonstration where a CD player was played with and without being supported with three Nordost Sort Kones. The difference was audible to me, but did not blow me away.
I was discussing the Sort Kones with a friend of mine that is an electrical engineer and also a musical audio guy. It was his opinion that these items could certain make an improvement in an analogue signal, but shouldn't do anything for a digital signal. He said that as long as the component receiving the digital signal can recognize a 1 or 0 then the signal is successful. It's a pass/fail situation and doesn't rely on levels of quality.
An example that he gave me was that we think nothing of using a cheap CDRW drive to duplicate a CD with no worry about the quality being reduced. If the signal isn't read in full an error is reported so we know that the entire signal has been sent.
I believe he said that it's possible to show that a more expensive digital cable is better than another, but the end product doesn't change.
There was a test done with HDMI cables that tested cables of different prices. The only difference in picture quality was noted when a cable was defective and there was an obvious problem on the display.
I realize that the most use analogue signals, but for those of us that use a receiver for our D/A, does the CD players quality matter? Any thoughts?
I was discussing the Sort Kones with a friend of mine that is an electrical engineer and also a musical audio guy. It was his opinion that these items could certain make an improvement in an analogue signal, but shouldn't do anything for a digital signal. He said that as long as the component receiving the digital signal can recognize a 1 or 0 then the signal is successful. It's a pass/fail situation and doesn't rely on levels of quality.
An example that he gave me was that we think nothing of using a cheap CDRW drive to duplicate a CD with no worry about the quality being reduced. If the signal isn't read in full an error is reported so we know that the entire signal has been sent.
I believe he said that it's possible to show that a more expensive digital cable is better than another, but the end product doesn't change.
There was a test done with HDMI cables that tested cables of different prices. The only difference in picture quality was noted when a cable was defective and there was an obvious problem on the display.
I realize that the most use analogue signals, but for those of us that use a receiver for our D/A, does the CD players quality matter? Any thoughts?
Showing 8 responses by jea48
It's not just 0s and 1s.....page 54 |
I believe he said that it's possible to show that a more expensive digital cable is better than another, but the end product doesn't change. Disagree.... A digital cable can and will make a difference. http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/digitalcables_e.html http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/digitalcables_e.html Not all transports sound a like. An example..... http://www.stereophile.com/features/368/index8.html# Entire text: http://www.stereophile.com/features/368/index.html |
I picked up an SACD player from a friend today to borrow for a few days. We'll see how much difference there is once I get a copies of a single album in both formats. It'll probably be Nora Jones since I already have the CD and know it's a quality recording.Apples and oranges...... I suggest you compare the two players just using the CDs you have now. You should be able to hear a difference between the two players. Post back your findings. . |
Mceljo, Before you run out and buy an SACD player you might want to start another thread. Like which do you prefer to listen to more, multi channel SACD or Red book 2 channel CDs? Which gets played more often? Which do you have more of? CDs or SACDs? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> An example that he gave me was that we think nothing of using a cheap CDRW drive to duplicate a CD with no worry about the quality being reduced. If the signal isn't read in full an error is reported so we know that the entire signal has been sent. Mceljo, Not to open up another can worms, but there is differences in sound heard from a blank CDR burned on a home computer and one burned on a stand alone CDR recorder. And yes even when using "Exact Copy". |
Since the CD copy should normally be a bit perfect copy (you can confirm this easily using a computer), you may want to invest in a better CD player or DAC. What you are experiencing are differences in sound quality due to small differences in the media disc such as weight, color, coating, central hole alignment, balance of the disc etc. - normally a good player will be immune to such differences - it should read the bits correctly without affecting the built in DAC and low jitter clock:it should result in identical sound. I knew when I posted it,... I would get that answer.... All I can say to you is, have you tried it? I suggest you try it for yourself. I have a couple of dealers in my area that said the same thing as you. In both cases I proved them wrong on their own systems. In fact the more revealing the system the easier it is to hear the difference. My experience the "Exact copy" from a home PC lacks the body and fullness as a copy made on a decent stand alone CDR recorder..... A couple of key things to listen for is Female vocals, and piano. The manufacture of the blank CDR will also make a difference. |