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is it worth buying cd's?
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keyboard_arrow_downChemrat
45
Mar 18, 2018
CDs are what I buy, typically, and I rip them to FLAC. I usually rip with a dedicated Linux PC but sometimes use MediaMonkey on my Windows machines. I do purchase high-res downloads also, but they are mostly available for music that I already own. Some of the best sound I have heard is from Blu-ray master recording discs. I back up to physical discs in several redundant places for my downloaded tunes. All of these sources can be good, but none is guaranteed to be good. Even downloaded music can be flawed- see the Stereophile comparisons of music from different online sites. Results seem to be random- most of the time, everything is great. On the other hand, occasionally one site or another with sell a defective file in a particular resolution and format.
Asheikm
2537
Mar 2, 2018
I like CDs and prefer buying them over compressed formats. However, physical storage is a problem. So I first check to see if I can buy the music I want in a lossless format (typically flac). If yes, i buy the download version, if not, I buy the CD. The first place I check is Bandcamp.
An advantage of buying downloads is that the music is stored on the vendors servers. So I would still have access to my music even if something unfortunate happens to my physical drives.
ridhuankim
669
Feb 27, 2018
I would recommend buying CDs.
And maYbe someine here can explain what I had experimented in the pastbecausethat was the reason supporting CDs over FLAC.
I bought IlDivo CD for few bucks and wanted to see if I make FLAC if it would sound exactly the same.
I hooked up my Sony DVD player to Peachtree DAC via optical or coaxial cable. Also connected my laptop to my DAC via usb and play the CD from internal optical drive. Listened to the songs.
Then I converted my CD to FLAC. Laptop connected to my DAC via usb. Listened to the songs.
I can note the differences at some high frequencies and instruments.
repeatedly noticible.
It all goes through same DAC and same AMP.
So I tried with different softwares to convert to FLAC but results were the same.
I thought Lossless FLAC would be able to provide the same CD audio but it did not.
Can anyone pount out what I might have done wrong or if you experience the same?
I bought IlDivo CD for few bucks and wanted to see if I make FLAC if it would sound exactly the same.
I hooked up my Sony DVD player to Peachtree DAC via optical or coaxial cable. Also connected my laptop to my DAC via usb and play the CD from internal optical drive. Listened to the songs.
Then I converted my CD to FLAC. Laptop connected to my DAC via usb. Listened to the songs.
I can note the differences at some high frequencies and instruments.
repeatedly noticible.
It all goes through same DAC and same AMP.
So I tried with different softwares to convert to FLAC but results were the same.
I thought Lossless FLAC would be able to provide the same CD audio but it did not.
Can anyone pount out what I might have done wrong or if you experience the same?
REVMAD
107
Mar 26, 2018
Yes and Audio through pc get complicated because of various manufacturers and motherboard types that said most mid range motherboard and gaming boards have measures to limited noise introduced into audio, gigabyte, msi and Asus use separate circuit to help protect audio from electrical noise.
rastus
1391
Feb 27, 2018
NAS,,, Just say'n... your music cloud... and it is friendly, you don't have to geek to use it; RAID 5 - Seagate IronWolf
https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS418play
& family reunions;) B-Days, weddings, graduations, first steps , the other priceless things.
https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS418play
& family reunions;) B-Days, weddings, graduations, first steps , the other priceless things.
rastus
1391
Mar 2, 2018
WD Reds are good as well, I installed and then sold systems used to make heads to both, and just biased towards Seagate's Engineering acumen. Still selling some head stuff, not the biz it used to be. Not like the new head biz;)
Saw the QNAP, not sure if that model was out when we were hunting, looks like a well thought-out friendy unit, remote - nice.
We are finally there at home with a NAS after stupidly losing stuff. I tell everyone I know to do this, not CD's, not HDD's sitting on shelves and especially not stick flash. My travel external "flash" drive is an Intel 730 480GB in a case for biz stuff, movies and music. Not RAID of course but the 730 line was built like a rock, Micron is inside.
I am really liking the hybrid idea of what they are doing in some new players, having an SSD as a buffer and only spinning up a lower cost big 4TB HDD when needed, a short pause only if you were adding something new to the playlist. It would add to the SSD buffer while you were pushing buttons. Get rid of USB streaming issues, why I bought a Korg MR-2000S, though I still want a new audio optical cable standard. Keep your music etc. still in the RAID NAS bank though.
Audio link rant here: https://www.massdrop.com/talk/2212/talk/1850347?utm_source=linkshare&referer=HBCVS7
Saw the QNAP, not sure if that model was out when we were hunting, looks like a well thought-out friendy unit, remote - nice.
We are finally there at home with a NAS after stupidly losing stuff. I tell everyone I know to do this, not CD's, not HDD's sitting on shelves and especially not stick flash. My travel external "flash" drive is an Intel 730 480GB in a case for biz stuff, movies and music. Not RAID of course but the 730 line was built like a rock, Micron is inside.
I am really liking the hybrid idea of what they are doing in some new players, having an SSD as a buffer and only spinning up a lower cost big 4TB HDD when needed, a short pause only if you were adding something new to the playlist. It would add to the SSD buffer while you were pushing buttons. Get rid of USB streaming issues, why I bought a Korg MR-2000S, though I still want a new audio optical cable standard. Keep your music etc. still in the RAID NAS bank though.
Audio link rant here: https://www.massdrop.com/talk/2212/talk/1850347?utm_source=linkshare&referer=HBCVS7
mayorblurps
499
Mar 2, 2018
rastusI actually may end up adding a SSD for that specific reason, if the 451 will allow it. I went with the QNAP because I found a hell of a deal on it and it natively runs Plex. Before when I'd stream from my laptop on the coffee table 5 feet away to my plasma via Chromecast, I'd have issues with buffering. With the NAS it streams like a dream!
The Synology models I was looking at had some reviews about transcoding issues and Plex(?) and the QNAP software seemed to me more in depth. The huge thing I learned is that although I'm computer savvy, the NAS software is a whole different beast. I'm learning as I go, literally. I've gotten the most important stuff moved to the NAS, still with backup on a regular WD passport until I can get another 8tb Red and set up RAID.
Next step: rip all my CDs to FLAC and 320mp3 and store on the NAS.
Next step: rip all my CDs to FLAC and 320mp3 and store on the NAS.
cspirou
220
Feb 27, 2018
If I'm paying for music I want physical media. Paying for downloads always feels artificial.
If you have lossless files like FLAC or ALAC then there is no difference. CD is better then MP3 for sure, but when you get to 320kbps then the differences get hard to notice. I wasn't really able to tell until I got an HD600 and a pretty good amp and DAC.
If you have lossless files like FLAC or ALAC then there is no difference. CD is better then MP3 for sure, but when you get to 320kbps then the differences get hard to notice. I wasn't really able to tell until I got an HD600 and a pretty good amp and DAC.
tbjs
484
Feb 18, 2018
I was into hifi through the late 80s, 90s and early 00s. And I got educated in computers by playing around with them. And I used iTunes quite a bit when I got my first iPod. But then I was devastated when my laptop borked at the same time my iPod was getting its battery replaced.
So I never took the time to redo my collection. Now, about 8 years later is all this technology and I'm just absolutely swimming. I'm trying to catch up, reading as much as I can. Is there any one place I can go to relearn and learn how to have high quality music on the go??
And if anyone has any tips on whether to store music on a phone, DAP, tablet, PC, laptop and then how to get the best at my desk AND on the go, I'd love help.
So I never took the time to redo my collection. Now, about 8 years later is all this technology and I'm just absolutely swimming. I'm trying to catch up, reading as much as I can. Is there any one place I can go to relearn and learn how to have high quality music on the go??
And if anyone has any tips on whether to store music on a phone, DAP, tablet, PC, laptop and then how to get the best at my desk AND on the go, I'd love help.
ridhuankim
669
Mar 13, 2018
I was on the edge whether to buy Fiio X5 III but alk the reviews complained about the laggy performance.
So I ordered Q5 instead.
I enjoyed my FIIO X5 II which I sold, it had no performance issues which was awesome.
Blaidd
6
Mar 13, 2018
I have a similar set of headphones. I will chip in my opinions.
1. Flac is a great file format. It is losslessly compressed, let's you store about as much metadata as you might like, and works on just about every player. For a computer run system, I would definitely play them with JRiver.
For running the headphones, a reasonably priced option are DACs and amps from Schiit. I use the Bifrost DAC and the Lyr amp.
1. Flac is a great file format. It is losslessly compressed, let's you store about as much metadata as you might like, and works on just about every player. For a computer run system, I would definitely play them with JRiver.
For running the headphones, a reasonably priced option are DACs and amps from Schiit. I use the Bifrost DAC and the Lyr amp.
NeverPaySticker
8
Feb 16, 2018
I have about doubled my cd collection lately by just going to the 2nd hand stores and browsing the racks they have there. Admittedly, I mostly just buy music I couldn’t afford in the eighties. ha. At @$1-2 a CD it’s the way to go, plus you own the whole cd for the price you’d pay for one digital single. As for the sound, it depends on the mix.. some are a really great listen, while others have that sterile feel to them.
luckybaer
100
Feb 15, 2018
I like getting CDs. I can rip them as lossless, lossy, .mp3, FLAC, ALAC, Apple Lossless, whatever. It puts me in control. Plus, if I do my research (using the DR DB: http://dr.loudness-war.info/) I can usually find CDs that are mastered well enough to meet the needs of my less-than-golden ears. Nothing annoys me more than not doing my research, buying a CD on eBay, and ending up with some hot-mastered, loudness war, POS CD.
Another plus to CDs is that you can find 'em for pretty cheap at used stores, thrift shops, eBay, and even Amazon. Just my $0.02 USD.
Another plus to CDs is that you can find 'em for pretty cheap at used stores, thrift shops, eBay, and even Amazon. Just my $0.02 USD.
speecher
6
Feb 13, 2018
I still use my Marantz CD63mkii which is 20 years old. I get CDs from thrift stores for $1 or $2 dollars and have around 500 total since the beginning (The Cars was my first).
Lekoguy
45
Feb 11, 2018
On the whole, I find the most satisfying sound from CDs. When they first came out they were panned as sounding "sterile." Recording techniques have advanced by light-years and that is no longer the case.
Truly fine players are still being made and play multiple formats. The soundstage is marvelous with up to date equipment. I like to have some "tube warmth" added in the listening chain, whether through speakers or cans.
I think that one's preference in listening habits and musical tastes are a very important considerations. I am a classical music lover. We tend to consider music in larger chunks, rather than three minute segments. Personally, I can't imagine downloading a compressed file of the Beethoven 9 Symphonies.
So, for me, a CD collection is the way to go.
Truly fine players are still being made and play multiple formats. The soundstage is marvelous with up to date equipment. I like to have some "tube warmth" added in the listening chain, whether through speakers or cans.
I think that one's preference in listening habits and musical tastes are a very important considerations. I am a classical music lover. We tend to consider music in larger chunks, rather than three minute segments. Personally, I can't imagine downloading a compressed file of the Beethoven 9 Symphonies.
So, for me, a CD collection is the way to go.
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Dose cd's have better sound quality and detail then apple music and his brothers?