Music from ripped CDs (server)

No sound quality downside with ripping if done correctly at proper resolution.

More upside in general playing ripped files with most streamers compared to CD players that must always optically read often defective or damaged CDs in real time. Some do that much better than others. The difference is the CD is typically read in real time as the music plays whereas ripping software can take as long as needed to get a good copy of the data off the CD.

Ripping a damaged or defective CD correctly may take longer than a good quality CD as it rereads segments with read errors as needed until good, but once ripped you are good to go.

The DAC used in either case, either onboard with either CD player or streamer or separate, will then largely determine the sound quality of the source that feeds the amplifier upstream.

It can be better. Sometimes it can be worse. Depends on just about everything.

If you rip to a lossless codec such as Flac you won’t be able to tell the difference. 

flrun

OOps meant  Oppo/Modwright 105

Why would you automatically suspect that ripped CDs sound worse than the CD itself? I ripped my CD collection of several thousand CDs starting well over 10 years ago and was never able to tell a difference in sound quality between the two formats. Remember, the CD itself was made from a digital file that was saved on a hard drive. 

That said, one does want to pay attention to the system to which you save your ripped CDs and use for playback. You want good equipment and an eye toward minimizing interference issues. I have my collection on a Linux PC in a separate room that runs the server program. It connects by ethernet to the player. 

And, once ripped and well-tagged, it should be easier and faster to find what you're looking for in your collection than just browsing through a bunch of CD cases. 

Berner,

I assume you mean you modded your Oppo with a linear power supply? Did you upgrade the fuse? Are you using DLNA?

I would imagine that you would be using DLNA for both the Oppo and music server, unless you used a hdmi. At any rate if you ripped your CDs to Flac the music server should sound just as good. Assuming; DLNA, Flac, linear ps, etc.

I recently had a discussion with someone about this ( He may chime in ), I have a Oppo unmodded but use a Intel Nuc and Plex connected to my preamp as a music server.
He explained that if I modded my Oppo with a linear power supply and upgraded the fuse the sound quality would surpass my Nuc music server.
If I got a linear power supply for my Intel Nuc and a good high quality hdmi cable it might equal the Oppo.

It had been a long time but I played some music from my Oppo ( Still unmodded ) using DLNA and I did notice a improvement in sound quality.
At this point I will probably mod my Oppo and use my Nuc music server primarily, but switch between the two. It is hard to give up Plex when it has the interface for browsing and playing music, Play lists, etc. To me the Nuc using hdmi sounds pretty good and I always have the option of getting a linear ps and good hdmi cable for it.

As far as the type of music server I believe you are referring to someone else will have input on that.

Will