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CD Alternative

At present I have around 1200 CD's which are played on a Cal Audio/Benchmark DAC 1.  I am looking for some guidance regarding the potential use of high res streaming or ripping and having a server.  I have no idea which option/equipment to pursue or if there is another option to consider.  This all started when I recently went to audition speakers with a few CD's but discovered this was the old fashioned way and instead used a "Roon Streamer" I think.   Secondly the Cal Audio is about 25+ years old and the DAC 1 is 16 yrs old.  Thanks in advance for your responses as I am absolutely confused with the digital path to take. 
xagwell
jafant
18,896 posts
 
xagwell
Another +vote for keep playing your CDs. Possibly on a newer/recent CD player.

Happy Listening!
mahler123
3,076 posts
 
OP

if you want to continue to play your CDs, and you are trying to decide between a new CD player and a streamer, then don’t get a streamer.  If you don’t want to rip your CDs, and are content to listen to the same CDs as streamed over the Internet, get a streamer.  At the risk of overstating the obvious, you won’t be able to buy a shiny new streamer AND listen to your CDs without having a way to get the CDs read with some sort of disc spinner 
xagwell OP
131 posts
 
Some great responses/suggestions!  I have stayed with the Cal Audio/BenchMark combo because it is a carousel and of course is convenient and sounds great.  It was also in a hard wired  6 zone "whole house" system which allowed me to play it from anywhere.  This was long before streaming.  I since replaced the hard-wire with Sonos but that is not hi res.  The CD player is part of my two channel system in my designated music room.  I listen to vinyl 95% of the time which also made it easy to age my digital source combine that with golf season when I barely listen to anything!  I no longer need a carousel and would consider a player upgrade and/or employing someone to rip my collection and get a server as well.  I was always impressed with the Esoteric line of players but don't know how current that product is.  I know nothing about servers though. 
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
Besides the Esoteric, take a look at the current Luxman models.  They're very good also.
blkwrxwgn
240 posts
 
Ignore the CD vs Streaming debate, it's an age-old "my generation's version is better" conversation.  Then you have people now buying up reel to reel players to get a more "reel" experience (sorry for the pun).

Streaming is almost a lifestyle change, I never listen to a full album anymore when streaming, if I want to listen to a full album I usually go to vinyl but when I want to stream music it's usually because I want to jump around and listen to multiple types or artists.  I've made playlists for different times of the day or moods, I've also learned a lot about the music I love because of Roon, which is one of the coolest platforms ever for music.

I would say get yourself a Qobuz and Roon subscriptions and a simple streamer like a bluesound node and a new DAC.  Use the transport you have and plug that and the streamer into the new DAC and start experimenting.  

If you like streaming then you've got it but I would look at it as an addition to what you have and not a replacement.

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