Of course, although perhaps a bit less there. For example, I suspect few would argue for a better server than the Taiko, and MSB, Weiss or Lampi for the best DACAs there are with digital replay setups.
Of course, although perhaps a bit less there. For example, I suspect few would argue for a better server than the Taiko, and MSB, Weiss or Lampi for the best DACAs there are with digital replay setups.
Of course, although perhaps a bit less there. For example, I suspect few would argue for a better server than the Taiko, and MSB, Weiss or Lampi for the best DAC
Of course, although perhaps a bit less there. For example, I suspect few would argue for a better server than the Taiko, and MSB, Weiss or Lampi for the best DAC
Perhaps, although IME Audio Note products are a niche product with limited appeal. That is a marketplace opinion, not a comment on sound quality. The Fifth Element is certainly pricey enough to be considered the "best"I have been told that the Audio Note "fifth element" is the best sounding DAC. My friend, Chris Bryant, was involved with the review for Hifi Critic.
I would immediately add the DCS Vivaldi , the WADAX Reference and the Metronome Kalista DAC and CD transport. I am sure that with some more thought I will be able to add a few more candidates.Of course, although perhaps a bit less there. For example, I suspect few would argue for a better server than the Taiko, and MSB, Weiss or Lampi for the best DAC
True, but still likely a smaller group than for highest level LP playback. However my knowledge base is not extensive enough to be sure of thatI would immediately add the DCS Vivaldi , the WADAX Reference and the Metronome Kalista DAC and CD transport. I am sure that with some more thought I will be able to add a few more candidates.
I think there are two important questions being asked here (omitting the query on disc transport for now), and one question that wasn’t asked.Did you donate your compact discs to the Salvation Army or use them for target practice, or do you still have them on your shelf?
What are the advantages, if any, of playing compact discs, rather than streaming the exact same title and recording through a streamer + DAC?
If you still have and play compact discs, what CD transport do you use?
I agree with this post and I must add than artists earn nothing with streaming (I speak about classical music ) and it's s a big problem for the future of music.I think there are two important questions being asked here (omitting the query on disc transport for now), and one question that wasn’t asked.
1. Do you place value in owning physical media, or are you more comfortable renting your media via a streaming service? While I am aware of the various arguments for a streaming service (price, convenience, variety, etc) I personally am not a fan. First of all, a real concern of mine in the current world we live in - censorship. What if the powers that be that are censoring Dr Seuss (not interested in a political discussion here, just using the example for context…) turn their ire to, say, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith or Dire Straits? Those titles can disappear from streaming services in an instant when pressure is brought to bear, and there’s nothing the customer can do about it. You may be thinking “That will never happen” - I hope you’re right, but I will back-up (pun) my hope with physical media. Second, fidelity. What guarantee do we have that these streaming services won’t one day decide that plain old mp3 encoding is “good enough”? Seriously, if the vast majority of their subscribers are deemed to be earbud/Alexa/sound bar aficionados, why would they continue to waste bandwidth on lossless streaming? Third, price. I know these services offer a value now, but I also remember when Photobucket was a great value - right up until they demanded a $400 ransom to keep current with their services.
2. Does physical digital sound better than streaming. I have limited experience with streaming (a couple free trials), but I have no qualms with the current sound quality of the services I have tried. I may be branded a bit of a hypocrite here, because while I place great value in my physical media, I do rip it all to a hard drive in lossless FLAC to listen on my system(s). The convenience is undeniable, and I still own the physical media for future needs. I have also purchased a few albums from HD Tracks, and while not physical media per se, I do at least feel that I “own” the music, with my digital downloads/backups. As for the sound quality? I have never been able to discern a difference between FLAC (transferred correctly, of course) and the actual CD. The real wild card here is SACD/DVDA. The rips I have done, and others I have heard, have never matched the presentation of the actual disc - the discs in the high-res formats sound substantially better, to my ears.
The question that wasn’t asked - do CDs sound better than vinyl? Maybe someone can start a thread to discuss this issue, as I don’t think this question has ever come up before
I‘m quite new here and I must say, you all have a nice forum -
To answer the question if CD sounds better then vinyl we should open a new thread as this will start a big discussion.
Nice observation Al.Or perhaps not anymore. Lately the digital vs. vinyl debate did not seem to draw the same passions as it used to in the past.
Or perhaps not anymore. Lately the digital vs. vinyl debate did not seem to draw the same passions as it used to in the past.
Al, i know what you are going to say about the subject, you know what i am going to say, we all know what David and Peter think, and Francisco will finish his argument with a quote from a book by F.Toole ! Why even dance the old dance again !Nice observation Al.
Not sure if it’s evidence of some growing maturation and acceptance of a growing more respectful take on the world of differences between us (and or our wisdom in just letting a few of the sleeping dogs lay) or if it’s just of a group tiring of another inevitable groundhog’s day scenario of subjective thoughts and the repetitive senseless wordy brutality of it all ... perhaps there are just some questions that we should not pose ourselves or indeed ask of others
Al, i know what you are going to say about the subject, you know what i am going to say, we all know what David and Peter think, and Francisco will finish his argument with a quote from a book by F.Toole ! Why even dance the old dance again !
LolAl, i know what you are going to say about the subject, you know what i am going to say, we all know what David and Peter think, and Francisco will finish his argument with a quote from a book by F.Toole ! Why even dance the old dance again !
Will someone step forward to declare the “Beyond” DACs? Perhaps this target keeps moving.
... you got tricks for making computers sound good too?
Sure does.
The memory retention problem that degrade sound quality affects also file playback with computers, media players and streamers.
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