Looking to improve CD playback

Yes, I will continue to explore the streamer market. I do rip CDs to a Mac Mini as a dedicated streamer playing AIFF files via Pure Music and appreciate the convenience this approach provides. I also can't help to believe that a true streamer having a better power supply and digital output device wouldn't be an improvement. I am familiar with Cocktail Audio and have briefly looked into their products. Never owned one. I am not in a hurry regarding purchase of a streamer as I am considering other approaches towards betterment of my main system. The CXC will likely one day end up in my secondary  'hand-me-down' system.

Mesch I think you would be happy with the Cambridge transport and AudioMirror Tubador , Vlad is a good guy to deal with. Take your time until your more familiar with servers and streamers which i view basically as computer parts in a box , 
Though once you’ve heard your CDs ripped on a good one along with the convenience of using a server / streamer it’s easy to forget about transports all together.
Initially I listened to a one off home built server and immediately wanted one though months have past and I’ve stopped asking .

For now I purchased a Cocktail Audio x50 server , a Black Friday in store demo model which turned out a pretty good performance beyond its selling price .
Cocktail Audio ?  never heard of them however check out member shkong78 he’s been using Cocktail Audio servers for years .

I should ad that any server I am interested in would not need to have an internal DAC. I am about to purchase a Mirror Audio Tubadour DAC. 

In-shore, I very much appreciate your input. I am no longer waisting my time looking for a transport as I have purchased a Cambridge CXC transport knowing there are better ones however not at the price that I paid.

I have researched the server market and will likely purchase one in the future.  Looking for one that retails at $2000, is user friendly, can rip CDs, and accept  AIFF or WAV files from a hard drive. Which server did you listen to? 

Mike I’m here to tell you stop wasting your time looking for a transport to use , myself having a budget of 6-7 grand to replace my CEC transport in 2018 I listen to a server at 1/4 my budget that eclipsed the performance of the CEC transport.

You need to experience your favourite CDs ripped to a quality server, member Geoffkait brings up the inherent problems player designs at any price will never solve . 

As an update, I have decided to purchase the basic version of the Mirror Audio DAC w/o the I2S output. Should i purchase a digital input using I2S I will have that added, likely with other mods to it.
I remain looking for a transport.

I intensionally directed my query toward CD playback via transport to maintain focus and because I often like simply select a disc and play it the old fashion way. I stream music using computer. I rip my CDs to computer and playback via PureMusic as AIFF files into a Audiophilleo/PurePower USB/SPDIF converter to my BDA-1 DAC. When the time comes that I identify a file playback system that I find affordable and accommodating to my thought processing I will incorporate one into my system. In the meantime ...

Thanks to all who have helped, and remain seeking additional advise, Mike

Pengun What is a good DVD/CD burner to purchase? My explorations seem to indicate that many do not hold up well.

Get a nice DVD burner. Cheap and there's nothing better for ripping CDs. ;)

The best transport is no transport.  I suggest a different route, but it may take some work.  Rip your CDs.  Ultimately, better SQ and unbelievable convenience.

Hope to hear additional thoughts from those experienced with/ interested in, my quest. Leaving for a backcountry excursion with my son. Will get back to all after the 16th. Thanks!

Rodge, Thanks for the heads-up on the Sparkler. They have two options for player/transport, the 503 and the 507. I will keep Sparkler on my radar. Interested in the transport version. I remain inyerested in the Tubadour for it tube output stage.

Nobody has figured out how to stop scattered laser light from entering the photodetector. Actually, it’s worse than that. Nobody is aware the scattered light is even a problem. Nor has anyone figured out how to completely stabilize the CD 💿 whilst spinning. Not counting your friend and humble narrator, of course. 🤗 Yes, I know what you’re thinking, doesn’t the Reed Solomon Error Correction fix all of that stuff?

Anyone in the DC metro area who wants to hear just what is possible with CD playback check out BWS Consulting.

Look into the Sparkler Audio S503 "Spiral" CD player. It can be purchased as a transport or a complete 1 box solution. I have owned mine since early this year and like the naturalness of the sound. I have owned a number of 1 box and transport/dac combos. The last combo, highly modified 47 Labs Flatfish and ANK 2.1b Sig Dac was north of $8k. The $1700.00 S503 is close and IMHO an outstanding solution for redbook playback. Here is a review from John Richardson of Part-time Audiophile done back in August of this year...

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2019/08/11/sparkler-audio-spiral-ether-review/
http://sparkler-audio.com/portfolio/S503_en.html
Bought mine here...http://charneyaudio.com/sparkler.html
Hope you find a satisfying set up,
R

It's hard to decide what to do first when we have to shop on the internet.I feel your pain:)Best of luck to you!

unsound,
nothing at all shabby about the sound direct from those Arcam players, or even from my old Denon 2910 ... but it's all relative ... and as with everything in this wonderful and sometimes crazy hobby ... everything matters as you move up the SQ food/supply chain.

Jtcf, thanks for your thoughts on the CXC and the Tubadour. Wether I purchase a transport 1st or not I am truly interested in the Tubadour DAC. As of now it seems to be what I am looking for. I do have to admit that I would be purchasing it 'space unheard'.  

Unsound, I do consider my Arcam player to be very good. Just can't help thinking that a dedicated CD transport wouldn't be the best approach. I am amazed at what I get from the Arcam via DVD playback from my 2 channel system. 

Heck, I didn’t think the sound direct from those Arcam players was too shabby.

I have a Cambridge CXC transport which works smoothly and quietly.I haven't compared it to another though so that may not be helpful at all:)It only has one coax input.The only thing that's not good about it is the remote.It's meant to operate several other Cambridge products so the buttons for the transport are all down at the bottom in a small section.
I'm still loving the Tubadour after almost six months with it.It's very sensitive/responsive to tube and cable changes.It definitely sounds it's best with a good shielded pc.The other day I pulled out some old cables from my accessory box and swapped in a Gabriel Gold Revelation ic cable for the digital cable.It shouldn't have worked well at all but holy cow!Everything just came to life is the only way I can describe it.Crystal clear and "real".
Possibly one of the other types of connections would more easily transmit this quality of sound?I have no experience with them though.

Jazzman, I very much appreciate your encouragement to not underestimate the role of transport. It is most likely that my DVD player used as transport is the weakest link for Cd playback, not the BDA-1. Thus, I am thinking towards the purchase of a CD only transport prior to purchasing a new DAC.

The question then becomes 'which one'? 

I'm just saying not to underestimate the role of the transport.
I also like the idea of controlling your variables and changing only one variable at a time. I know from experience just how good the BDA-1 is.  My suspicion is that when it comes to spinning discs, that your transport is currently the weaker link in your chain.  All things being equal,  DVD transports tend to introduce more jitter than dedicated Redbook CD transports. That is why so many high-end players are limited to doing Redbook CD only.  In my personal experience, the uptick in SQ feeding the BDA-1 from the BCD-1 was no where near as great as the SQ differential the BCD-1by itself had over the Denon 2910 / BDA-1 combo.

Jazzman, yes the transport matters. I probably should go that route 1st. Always a debate. I am going to take my time with this.

Given the quality of the BDA-1, I could purchase a transport 1st.
Then swap out the DAC later.

Given I have the DV137 I could purchase the DAC 1st and purchase transport later.

Seems your experience would suggest the transport should be 1st.

mesch,
I have a BDA-1, and it is a fine DAC (I now have mine in my second system).  I also have a Bryston BCD-1 CD player.  Some years ago before I got into streaming, at the same time that I auditioned the BCD-1, I also auditioned the BDA-1.  Both at the dealer and and with a borrowed BDA-1, I experimented with a number of  lesser CD players and DVD players, including my own Denon 2910 DVD/SACD universal player hooked up to the BDA-1. It was no contest, even thought the BDA-1 was the technically superior DAC to the similar DAC built into the BCD-1, in terms of SQ, the BCD-1 just simply outperformed any of the combos I compared it to.  I came into the shop thinking about buying a good DAC, but wound up buying the BCD-1 instead.  When it came to spinning plain vanilla Redbook CD's the BCD-1 with it's rock solid Redbook CD only transport was the clear winner.  So the transport really matters.  A couple years later after Bluesound integrated streaming from Tidal I picked up both an original Bluesound Node and a BDA-1 to go with it.  It was and still is a very good combo, but couldn't quite match the BCD-1.  It was only after I started using a Melco N1A as my NAS (effectively as my CD transport) that I was able to approach the BCD-1 level of performance.   

Dan, I am sure your Arcam/DAC combination sounds great. As does my Arcam/DAC. I am just looking to maximize what I am getting from my CD collection. Also thinking now is the time to replace the BDA-1 while it will still provide me ~$700 on the used market, as I believe it remains a very good DAC. It just might be that I reconsider the I2S connection. 

Auxinput, I was concerned about there not being a standard for the HDMI I2S connection. I will consult with vendors regarding pin use. Given that the I2S input and other upgrades can be installed at a later date by Mirror Audio I am considering the purchase of the basic unit 1st and make decisions on upgrades after getting accustomed to the new DAC. It may be possible that Mirror Audio can configure the pin output to compliment a transport of choice. I will get to an understanding of this prior to making a purchase. Thanks!

George, Thanks for your support for my 'subjective' approach. Also the Holo Spring DACs are of interest to me as I have read reviews. Thinking the Tubador may better fit my budget. I am pretty sold on the R2R Multibit approach. Also looking to add tubes to the output stage which will drive my tube preamp.

Geoffkait, I will do my best to isolate the transport with consideration of routing internally generated vibrations and shielding from external ones.

Isolate the CD player. Level the CD while spinning. Stabilize the CD itself. Get rid of scattered laser light. You’ll be light years ahead of everybody on your block.

mesch OP
I am motivated by the thinking that use of a NOS R2R DAC with CD playback might prove best

You are correct in thinking this, try to listen to an R2R Holo Spring Level2 or 3 dac, you can switch on the fly between it’s NOS and OS modes. (And it does DSD if your into that stuff.)
https://www.stereophile.com/content/holoaudio-spring-kitsun%C3%A9-tuned-edition-level-3-da-processor

And R2R Ladder Multibit is the best way to convert 16/44 24/96 or DXD all PCM and CD.

Cheers George

i2s over HDMI is not an industry standard.  There are several vendors that use HDMI cable to transfer i2s, but that doesn't mean that any transport can be connected to any DAC using HDMI/i2s. 

For example, both Wyred4Sound and PS Audio have solutions that transfer i2s over an HDMI cable.  However, the pin configurations are completely different, which means that you cannot just connect a PS Audio transport to a Wyred4Sound DAC using i2 over HDMI.

Some companies also transfer i2s over an RJ45 cable (same as ethernet).  Their pin configurations may be different as well.

If you're really interested, I would check with the vendors on those products and ask them about their i2s/HDMI pin configurations to see if they are compatible.

You can always upgrade to different digital COAX cables and that will have a significant improvement as well.

I recently acquired an outboard DAC to use with my Arcam DV 139. I bought a Benchmark DAC 1 Pre for $500, and it just sounds killer.

It's all the DAC I'll ever need. Like you, I was wanting I2S, but wanting to spend less than it would take to get one. I'm very happy with the DAC 1.

Best of luck, regards,
Dan

Thanks for the quick response lowrider. Yes, I figured that given HDMI was designed to transfer audio and video that all cables within were not needed. This would require that the same pins in transport and DAC be used for the digital data. I wonder how standard is this? I agree that there are likely benefits from separating power from audio data, as with USB, however there must be benefits to the removal of SPDIF/I2S conversion at the DAC. Not sure how that works from the transport. As I understand it, I2S is the way a digital signal is handled within the DAC process, 

I am one who tries to gain knowledge regarding the 'objective' aspects of putting together an audio system understanding full well that one must ultimately make and adhere to 'subjective' decisions toward that goal. Given that, I am motivated by the thinking that use of a NOS R2R DAC with CD playback might prove best and wanting a tube output stage in the DAC. Just wondering how much 'icing on the cake' is provided by I2S.     

I2S output via HDMI is the I2S format using an HDMI cable as opposed to a dedicated I2S cable. Same quality signal, some of the pins in the HDMI cable aren’t used. This is different than the HDMI format.
I2S is superior IME, the reason may be that power is separated from data. I had a PS Audio setup and preferred I2S.