Used Rega Planet or Apollo vs. affordable PC audio


I am just starting out on this, and I have spec'd out a system that I am thinking about buying - iTunes running ALC to an Airport Express, then optical thru a Van Den Hul Opticoupler to a MF V-DAC. I am curious if anyone thinks the sound will beat a used Rega Apollo/Planet, or a used Rotel RCC-1055; that's right, I like changers. Sorry. Also thinking about adding a Monarchy DIP Classic to the signal path later on. Current amp is a 15 year old Yami, running B&W 685s and a HSU VTF-1. Thanks.
realremo

Showing 5 responses by realremo

Learsfool has a point. I know audiophiles who prefer CDs and vinyl just because of the media aspect - handing the case/cover, seeing the cover art, the liner notes, etc. I am not one of these types of folks. We have two diametrically opposite opinions in this thread, I wonder if anyone else will come in and clarify one side or another.
I doubt I will purchase a single-CD player, my listening habits just don't support the single-disc thing.
OK - so...back to the OP - which system do you think would sound better? We have one vote for and one against the Rega...

And regarding the fate of physical media - until a good solution for lossless downloads is implemented, for a broad range of genres, I will continue buying CDs, ripping them to WAV/AIFF/ALC, and letting the CD gather dust in storage. I expect the record companies would fight lossless downloads tooth and nail, if they knew what was good for them.
My litmus test for purchasing the CD vs. purchasing 256 .mp3 on iTunes is - if I like 2 or more tracks on the CD. If that is the case, I figure I might grow to like some of the other tracks, this has been the case in the past.
Another thing about buy the CD and ripping it for PC audio - if, in 5-6 years, your hard drive goes t!ts up and you lose 50GB of music, you can get it all back. If the files are simply downloads, the lossless version may not be so readily available.
think catastrophic flood or lightning storm that sends electrical surge spikes thru anything and everything plugged into a wall. Its happened to my sister and a friend of mine (separate occasions). I think having the CD is the ultimate back-up, but I still do have a ton of download-based 128 and 256 .mp3's files in my library. I wish I could get them upgraded, but its not possible. I can definitely tell the diff between 128, 256, and lossless, when played in sequence, but picking them out in a blind test - haven't tried yet.
Fire BAD!

I have everything at 320 mp3, chose mp3 because most newer cd changers can read it. dunno if they can read 320 kbps tho! I don't think as many changers can read .m4a (.aac), have you burned your .aac files to a disk and played it in a player? Doesn't matter for me until I get something new, my Yami changer is from 1993, so I am iPod based until I figure something out.