Not sure if that was a off the cuff ‘cheap shot’ (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Amendment) aimed at me Bob? Hopefully not. Forums are about people, experiences, opinions and yes the occasional act of “mental gymnastics”. I’ve shared an experience – if you read carefully – of a couple of folks that were disappointed going down the server / streamer pathway and resolved that for Red Book they achieved better quality spinning a disc in their CDP’s. That experience sits comfortably with my own observations when ripped CD’s are replayed via various hardware and software to the DAC on my K-03 player. I’ve suggested that one possible conclusion of these experiences may be whilst reference music servers and streamers are less expensive then reference CD players – they don’t sound better for Red Book – yet. Why would that bug you?
I’ve often pondered the question that Mike raised at the outset, have we ever stopped to think about what "computer audio" really means? Did we completely miss the KISS principle when it comes to digital? What reasons might exist to explain why Mike, myself and others mentioned above noticed music playing with greater ease and quieter backgrounds via a transport? Do you have any considered thoughts on that?
Ralph,
First question, have you personally streamed Tidal through a good Dac in your personal, well known system? If yes, please share your experience. I am only sharing my personal experience which is only what I can be sure about. Not what "others" have done or prefer.
I can bring up stories from 20+ people that would choose streaming Tidal over playing Cd's, as well as 20+ audiophiles that prefer spinning cd's over streaming Tidal. For the people that prefer streaming Tidal and enjoy music better that is the way that is the best way for them and visa versa.
What bugs me is not you personally, but anyone that states that because "someone else" did something or a "friend of a friend" did something that it makes it better. It's interesting to me if someone has personally experienced something and then concludes that in their comparisons it worked out better for them.
Sorry, I just can't subscribe to something is "better" as Bud/Blue Fox states there are too many variables to make any definitive statements. And it's all subjective anyway.
I don't have any real thoughts on any comparisons between transports, digital servers, vinyl or R2R. My own experience is that they all sound great to me. Sometimes my listening mood dictates which I prefer to listen to, but I don't think one is better than the other. Each source is a little different, but whichever source I choose to listen to usually sounds pretty good to me.
Back to Mike's original question, again for me personally, CDP's are not "more simple" to use vs. picking up my Ipad and hitting play on the Aurender. Both CDP's and servers or depending on my mood, putting on a tape or vinyl seem just as simple. The backgrounds on all of the mentioned sources are plenty black and have a natural flow, cd's don't sound any better to me than the digital audio/server set up. Again, nothing more than my personal experiences and observations.
....
