2. digital
  3. 190994-85501

I Sold my CD Player!!! Streaming sounds so incredible!!!

Several years ago, was the very first time I had the opportunity to hear a very high end, high quality, streaming audio system.  Once I heard it, I was smitten, and I knew right then and there that this was me all the way!!!  I was absolutely blown away by the handy convenience of the little iPad (or cell phone) used as remotes to control the otherworldly access to a virtual ocean of music via Tidal, Qobuz or downloads.  I immediately recognized this new technology as the future of my own audio system, especially with all the new hi rez stuff out there that was now made available. I gave up vinyl when CD came on the scene (yes, I'm an old guy), and, now, perhaps, it would be finally time to retire my beloved CD player.  Long story short:  What put my streaming audio system over the top, as far as sound quality is concerned, was the assemblage of these core streaming devices-----( #1) A superb DAC, by Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty streaming DAC  (#2)  An outstanding music server, by Roon Nucleus Plus  (#3) An outstanding Audio Switch, by Pakedge Devices   (#4) Excellent Ethernet Cables, by Shunyata Sigma.  I also utilize numerous other tweaks and filters that further purify the streaming audio signal within my room and audio system.  At this juncture in life, I am just mesmerized by the combination of sound quality and convenience that I get through my streaming audio system.  I'm also happy and pleased to report that, I don't miss my old beloved CD player one bit.  Happy listening.              

kennymacc

Showing 2 responses by ossicle2brain

ossicle2brain's avatar
ossicle2brain
130 posts
 

I find the same thing as fpomposo.  On my Eversolo A8 the ripped CDs on the internal SSD - in my case FLAC - sound markedly better than anything from Tidal and Qobuz,  even the high res stuff, and even the downloads.  There is more substance and depth with the local rip.   And I agree with the technical reasons he stated as reasons for it to be so.  And vinyl sounds even better still.  

I'm surprised at this though

"When I listen to a CD at WAV resolution it’s anywhere from 500 to 800 megabytes of data, if you stream the same album it is going through lots of compression algorithms and you are downloading maybe 50 to 80 megabytes.".

....it seems like others would have seen this also.  Seems too obvious.  I'll have to compare the file sizes of downloads to the ripped if possible.  

 

ossicle2brain's avatar
ossicle2brain
130 posts
 

@fpomposo  ......I've found the same thing.   I have the Eversolo A8.  The ripped CDs on the SSD is the best digital I've heard yet and better sounding than any streaming. So easy now to access the music. And I also found that WAVE sounds better than FLAC on that unit which is controversial but I certainly hear a difference.  After ripping all my hundreds of CDs to FLAC.  Arrrrggghh.

But now with these SSDs we don't even need a CD player.  I use a laptop that has a DVD/CD drive and rip to a thumb drive using dBpoweramp.  The quality of the CD player isn't a factor anymore.  

Streaming is easier than dealing with the physical discs but with them ripped it's now so much easier.  Gotta love technology.  

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