Is this the END of DAYS for the high end CD player

This talk of CD drives in computers is nonsense. If they could not transfer the data properly none of our computers would work.

So you really believe that transferring data correctly is the only requirement for "perfect audio quality"? Every CD player has C1 and C2 error correction built-in. This said, with a brand new clean CD, there are no errors coming even from a boom-box CD drive. But why it does not sound as good as a high-end transport then? Is it only clocking? Is it only jitter?

Fplanner2010 you mention the use of coaxial (I assume the jittery s/pdif) which is a consumer digital in/out. Isnt that 75ohm system only capable of 24/96k in stereo if that? I am a bit confused as you mention 24/192. Sorry it has been a while and I have only really used AES/EBU 110 ohm digital ins/outs in the past.

The "jittery" S/PDIF in Fplanner2010 NWO-M is used in a non-jittery way. :-) And no, it is not limited to 96/24; it is 192/24.

Best,
Alex Peychev

You must jump through a few hoops in order to get the SQ that you need to beat your CD player. That's right not just match, but BEAT.

And same applies to a CD transport; you must jump through a few hoops in order to BEAT any computer audio currently available.

3) playback using Foobar with Kernel Streaming on PC or Amarra/Pure Music/Ayrewave on a Mac. Playback from memory and SSD is even better

IMO, the J. River Media Center with ASIO4ALL (on Win 7, 64bit) offers better audio quality compared to Foobar with KS and any Apple-based playback. Playing from memory makes things even worse.

Best,
Alex Peychev

No, it is the end of high end vinyl. No, wait, that was 30 years ago.

Priceless! People went ballistic with the "new CD format" that is “much better than any vinyl” just like it happens with the supposedly "new and better computer audio" now.

I mean this here is a an amazing and super-convenient Honda product too, but will it ever replace your car? It sure can, especially if you are so obese that you can't get into your car, but it will take you sevral days getting to your favorite restaurant and then back home. :-) On the bright side, there will be no DUIs. :-)

Best,
Alex

Wayneker2176,

I completely agree; it is very hard to approach the audio quality of a good disc transport with computer audio (Mac or PC). There are so many reasons why.

I went through almost everything you can imagine in order to match the quality of my highly upgraded Esoteric VRDS-NEO transport with computer audio. It wasn't until very recently to get satisfactory results. But as close as I could ever get a computer to sound to the VRDS, it still lacks the naturalness and top-end refinement of the VRDS. The difference is subtle (to a point where not many can hear it on a blind A-B test) but it is still there.

While others change software and hardware hoping to hear improvement, I change software and hardware hoping to get as close to the VRDS-NEO as possible. What I've learned during this journey is how easy one can get confused with computer audio; real is real, artificial is artificial. :-)

Best,
Alex Peychev