Have your say & ask the experts

fatboyslimfast:

The main point again, is that even the best CD players are correcting data errors using guessing algorithms (once the CD player has past that byte of data, it has to move on to the next, else you would hear a gap in the sound), whereas the likes of iTunes etc can re-read the byte until it is happy that it has read it correctly.

This is why when ripping audio from a CD, you will only be able to do it at around 14-speed, instead of the 50-speed that the CDROM is capable of.

This error-free stream provided by the hard disk is the main reason why it can sound better - the DAC or soundcard has a far better stream of data to work with.

And yes, the likes of Naim and Linn are now selling high-definition audio (24bit/96KHz or above) from their website. I think Linn even offer a couple of free sampler tracks.

Hope this helps...

Yes I understand that (see previous post by prof hat), and yor other points make good sense which is why it seems illogical to run a CDP in real time....I gues therefore with more time for error correction, less money eeds to be spent on the transport, and more could be spent on the DAC. Wonder how cheap a CD6SE would be with a 10 dollar servo fitted inside it might have been.

EDIT: I've read most of the "spinnning Disc" thread, except the Mac vs PC parts as thats coke vs pepsi debate and not relevant; and one thing I have noticed is that my cheapo sony walkman CDP of about 6 yrs old spins at varying speeds as it plays, sometimes even stopping. Therefore it must be buffering, therefore it could have mpre time to correct errors to the same ability that EAC or Itunes can. Anyway, its academc, as clearly it is possiible to have an identical digital output from a PC as it is from the servo unit of a CDP. It seems to em therefore it comes down to ease of use and frankly a PC wins hands down, though I do like owning CD's. Rather worryingly, I am going to give some serious thought to selling my Cyrus, ad replacing it with a laptop which I cold use for a multitude of other things too. Right time to go and find and equivalent quality DAC....

SteveR750:

Rather worryingly, I am going to give some serious thought to selling my Cyrus, ad replacing it with a laptop which I cold use for a multitude of other things too. Right time to go and find and equivalent quality DAC....

 To the dark side he comes.

method man,

 can i ask, do you think your adm's are as good/better than a mid priced system, as i've read in many other places?

and do you find them bass light at all? and is the dac in the adm's one of ok or good quality? and are they fussy about positioning near to walls etc?

seriously considering these but struggling to get to hear a pair near to me...

micky0179:

method man,

 can i ask, do you think your adm's are as good/better than a mid priced system, as i've read in many other places?

and do you find them bass light at all? and is the dac in the adm's one of ok or good quality? and are they fussy about positioning near to walls etc?

seriously considering these but struggling to get to hear a pair near to me...

Can i steer you towards this ?   http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/272669.aspx

Hi,

Lets just clarify something about lossless and CDs. I have only started reading up on this but this is what i thought I understood. Please correct me if I am wrong...

 CDs contain digital information (ones and zeroes)

Lossless files on a computer contain the EXACT SAME digital information (ones and zeroes). (This may or may not be compressed)

CD players contain an onboard DAC that converts this digital information into an analogue signal for your amp. 

A separate DAC does the same thing (only it cant read CDs)

So therefore, Digital Data (On a CD or Computer) sent digitally (optical cable etc.) to the same DAC will sound exactly the same!!?

lambconor:

So therefore, Digital Data (On a CD or Computer) sent digitally (optical cable etc.) to the same DAC will sound exactly the same!!?

 

Well, from what people are saying on here about how CD players have to error correct 'on the fly' and computers dont. maybe not.

method man:

lambconor:

So therefore, Digital Data (On a CD or Computer) sent digitally (optical cable etc.) to the same DAC will sound exactly the same!!?

 

 

Well, from what people are saying on here about how CD players have to error correct 'on the fly' and computers dont. maybe not.

For whatever reason, I now have a CD player that I 'click' with and no doubt a significant part of that is the 'same manufacturer synergy' going on with the amp too. For this reason I did a U-turn and decided not to give up on 'traditional' CD replay.

I have also not discarded the DAC either, It has many enjoyable uses apart from just playing lossless CD rips. (iTunes downloads, internet radio, Freeview radio, BBC iPlayer, youtube, sound from DVD etc.)

I could probably find a better/more expensive DAC that would outperform my CD player and then. further down the road. find an even better CD player that will out-perform the even better DAC.. and so on... ad-infinitum.

I would end up (maybe) being able to announce two things here eventually..

(a) Which means of replaying CD files is ultimately superior.

(b) That I had become bankrupt.

This is part of the reason I am looking into getting the naimuniti. CD player and lossless streaming. downloads, internet+freeview radio, sound from DVD/Blu-ray etc etc, (FM + DAB too) all sharing the same box and the same DAC. No 'this vs that' but just whatever takes my fancy. Maybe a bit of vinyl now & then.

chebby:

For whatever reason, I now have a CD player that I 'click' with and no doubt a significant part of that is the 'same manufacturer synergy' going on with the amp too. For this reason I did a U-turn and decided not to give up on 'traditional' CD replay.

I have also not discarded the DAC either, It has many enjoyable uses apart from just playing lossless CD rips. (iTunes downloads, internet radio, Freeview radio, BBC iPlayer, youtube, sound from DVD etc.)

I could probably find a better/more expensive DAC that would outperform my CD player and then. further down the road. find an even better CD player that will out-perform the even better DAC.. and so on... ad-infinitum.

I would end up (maybe) being able to announce two things here eventually..

(a) Which means of replaying CD files is ultimately superior.

(b) That I had become bankrupt.

This is part of the reason I am looking into getting the naimuniti. CD player and lossless streaming. downloads, internet+freeview radio, sound from DVD/Blu-ray etc etc, (FM + DAB too) all sharing the same box and the same DAC. No 'this vs that' but just whatever takes my fancy. Maybe a bit of vinyl now & then.

Which is fine if you like the sound of ther Nait 5i stuff, I don't so this isnt an option!

 JD - what CD player are you comparing your PC too? Giuven the Cyrus's supposed superior disc reading performance, am I really going to hear any benefit by ditching the real time CD6SE for a potentially more accurate PC, but losing what must be a pretty tasty DAC in the CD6SE for somehitng that simply isn't as good - I can't beleive that a DACmagic is as competent as the onboard DAC in the Cyrus....so, the obvious question is, what are the obvious mid range DAC's worth looking at assuming a price limit of around £500.....more searching in the dark side it is then.

SteveR750:

JD - what CD player are you comparing your PC too? Given the Cyrus's supposed superior disc reading performance, am I really going to hear any benefit by ditching the real time CD6SE for a potentially more accurate PC, but losing what must be a pretty tasty DAC in the CD6SE for somehitng that simply isn't as good - I can't beleive that a DACmagic is as competent as the onboard DAC in the Cyrus....so, the obvious question is, what are the obvious mid range DAC's worth looking at assuming a price limit of around £500.....more searching in the dark side it is then.

Well I'm trying to organise a dealer demo as we speak type oops yes!

Wish I'd known this before I'd spent soooo much money on the Cyrus, makes me wonder when it will be the norm to offer a free laptop with every new CD player to counteract the whole lossless "movement" as its potentially a lot cheaper and of course I cant send and receive emails on my Cyrus....

On the issue of the Primare, does this mean then the WHF review of the CD6SEis a little tongue in cheek:

"....Quite simply this player is astonishing. Not astonishing for the price, you understand, but astonishing: full stop. In its areas of strength – timing, dynamics and punch – this player is comparable with the very best machines around, regardless of price. We  should repeat that: regardless of price...."

vs

"However, if you fancy a sonic workhorse with a chilled-out sound, try this. And not comparing this stolid Swedish import with another unflappable Swede hasn’t been easy. Okay then: the CD21 is the Sven-Goran Eriksson of CD players."

It's a rhetorical question, as I know the answer having read WHF for many years