CD Transport - budget in the order of £1500
The Perfectwave Transport but it would have to be an ex-demo or similar as they are $3K new. These are one of the new breed transports with solid state buffer memory, it works similarly to a rip with error correction on.
Thanks. Googling took me here < http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/psaudio7/perfectwave.html > where I found the most easy to understand explanation of why CD audio is not just 0s ans 1s that I have ever read.
Thanks for the link, ifor. It is a very apprehensible article indeed.
It may also explain why sometimes a CDP works better than a CDT+DAC: the use of I²S instead of SPDIF. So you might consider the combination of the PerfectWave Transport + PW DAC. The only other DAC I know of, with a I²S input, is the Wired4Sound DAC2; so PWT + W4S DAC2 might also work.
The Perfectwave Transport but it would have to be an ex-demo or similar as they are $3K new. These are one of the new breed transports with solid state buffer memory, it works similarly to a rip with error correction on.
Thanks. Googling took me here < http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/psaudio7/perfectwave.html > where I found the most easy to understand explanation of why CD audio is not just 0s ans 1s that I have ever read.
Thanks for the link, ifor. It is a very apprehensible article indeed.
It may also explain why sometimes a CDP works better than a CDT+DAC: the use of I²S instead of SPDIF. So you might consider the combination of the PerfectWave Transport + PW DAC. The only other DAC I know of, with a I²S input, is the Wired4Sound DAC2; so PWT + W4S DAC2 might also work.
I agree.....what an interesting explanation.
For me, it lays out the logical argument for getting a perfect rip (if possible), storing it, and then streaming it with a device that has no moving parts and which has the jitter / clocking problms sorted out, all in one neat box.
And it explains why the OP wants a CDT. there is basically two ways to approach getting the data. He already has the computer version which is doing streaming duties, and he thinks better fidelity can be achieved with the CD route. In my experience of demoing, I actually found the all in one cd player route worked best for me.
I actually use the PS Audio PWT and DAC II linked via I2S cable in one of my systems. IMO it outperforms many one-box and even two-box systems. The only reason I didn't recommend it earlier was because the PWT is beyond the requested budget.
The only reason I didn't recommend it earlier was because the PWT is beyond the requested budget.
It is rather, but it's interesting to learn about.
Do consider a streamer like the Cyrus Stream X2 to feed the DAC with FLAC or other lossless format. You can keep an old drive as a transport in case you want to use it.
Advantages are:
* Sound quality at least as good as CD - see http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/index.php/internet-audio/391-cyrus-stream-x....
* Ability to play higher resolution formats (CD is 44kHz/16 bit; 192kHz/24 bit is current top end for streaming)
* Access to whole CD collection from a smartphone/ tablet/ dedicated remote with better display information (eg track titles)
* CD collection available in multiple rooms (plus remote access via internet is possible)
The downside is:
* Computer (+ NAS drive required) to rip CD collection
* It's time consuming if you have lots of CDs
In due course. I've ripped everything to ALAC already and stream from iTunes (see sig). I want to get the streaming as good as I can without a dedicated streamer first; that's why a better DAC is first on the list of purchases.
Source 1) "Inspired" Manticore Mantra turntable c/w Rega RB 301 arm, Goldring 1042 MM Cartridge, Graham Slee Reflex M phono stage, Graham Slee CuSat 50 interconnect
Source 2) Cyrus CD8 SE CD player
Source 3) iTunes (ALAC), iMac, Devolo Homeplugs, Apple TV3, Toslink, Arcam rDAC
Source 4) Technics SL-7 linear tracking turntable.
Roksan Kandy L3 amp, Spendor A5 speakers.
Other rooms: more Airport Expresses and Homeplugs with Denon AV system and Denon Mini system.