4 CDP's

[anm]

thanks for the invite Ajay. I would really like to whenever I get a chance to come to chd.

@Asit
I think Ayon is making wonderful products.I only ruled out the CDP because of the colour!I am looking for a brushed aluminium finish.Ayon is only Black!
In fact,another dream system would be
an Ayon CD1 + Ayon Spirit 2 Amp +Vienna Acoustic Bach Grand speakers.
An all Viennese waltz.
Playing Mozart,Beethoven,Schubert,Haydn and Strauss!
Paradise for 400K!
50K outta that is for CD's
20K for IC's/Cables
10K for a Rack
Spirit II : Ayon Audio
CD-1s : Ayon Audio
Vienna Acoustics - high end speakers and loudspeakers for your home theatre
@squarewave
It takes me less than 1 minute to find any of my 400 + CD'S.But I only take out 1 CD at a time and immediately after play,it goes back into it's cover and it's fixed place on the glass enclosed shelf.
And I have big,designated shelfs for Rock,Jazz (1 each) and Western Classical (3).Even in my youth,high on cheap rum (every evening!) I could find any of my 700-800 odd tapes pretty fast!
@Suri
If you are still hungering for CD's,for you,I can dig deep into the Rhythm House gold mine and discover some real gold nuggets at the prices of 'lead'.
@anm
Dilli door nahin hai!I can easily accomodate 3 audiophiles for a night of music,Singha beer and fusion (propreitary recipes) cuisine.Any Saturday.Consider that an invitation

 

[anm]

Suri - last time I missed it. This time I would not like to

Hey suri,

When the time comes, I'll let you know

 

[anm]

are they cd quality or low bit rate mp3? Has anyone tried?

The last bastion falls!
Beatles music at last comes to iTunes - CNN.com
Will today officially be remembered as the d'day of CD's/CDP's and the b'day of Downloaded Music/Dac's?

 

[square_wave]

@ajay,

With USB DACs becoming extremely capable now, you will be seeing very friendly HDD based music servers getting popular among audiophiles. Unlike vinyl, there is nothing special about cd discs (compared to a lossless digital file sitting on a HDD). The only reason why cds will be there for some more time will be due to internet and pc penetration conditions among the masses.

Vinyl will outlive cds eventually.

 

[ajay124]

The Beatles for some mysterious reason are the BIG boys of 20th century pop.The copyright holders of their music would love to make them the BIG boys of 21st century pop.Until now Paul,Yoko and Co.had resisted the lure of downloaded music.Ostensibly they held out,because they did not believe that downloaded music,would do their catalogue of music(?) justice.But possibly they might have been holding out for a bigger slice of the pie.
I don't want much.I just want more.
But the critics of downloaded music had this ammunition...Hey!The Beatles are not happy with the quality of downloaded music!
In the weeks to come Apple and the media will go ballistic about how the Beatles have established new records for music downloaded from iTunes.
The Lonely Hearts Club Band anyone?

 

[malvai]

@ajay,

With USB DACs becoming extremely capable now, you will be seeing very friendly HDD based music servers getting popular among audiophiles. Unlike vinyl, there is nothing special about cd discs (compared to a lossless digital file sitting on a HDD). The only reason why cds will be there for some more time will be due to internet and pc penetration conditions among the masses.

Vinyl will outlive cds eventually.[/QUOTE]

Bang on!

The redbook format wil eventually pass on and only Vinyl and HD tracks for PC will be the benchmark of audiophile grade sound.

In fact this is one reason why I am holding out on my CDP upgrade.... Somewhere deep down I am not convinced about spending $2000-5000 on a CDP.... Now i am searching for a good DAC and pair it with a macbook or something....

 

[ajay124]

@manav
As much as I like the Mac book,I am not sure that I would want it atop my audio rack.I still prefer the simplicity of cdp/pre/power/speakers.For me,bringing a Mac into the mix,would visually make the set up look like a computer with an audio system attached to it:sad:
And I am still not convinced that a MacDac would be able to beat a good cdp.Since I have already invested in cd's and am happy with the sound,it really does not matter to me which way the world is heading.I would be happy if the world starts phasing out cdp's.Perhaps then we will get the Esoterics,Accuphases and Meridians under five figures inr

 

[malvai]

@manav
As much as I like the Mac book,I am not sure that I would want it atop my audio rack.I still prefer the simplicity of cdp/pre/power/speakers.For me,bringing a Mac into the mix,would visually make the set up look like a computer with an audio system attached to it:sad:
And I am still not convinced that a MacDac would be able to beat a good cdp.Since I have already invested in cd's and am happy with the sound,it really does not matter to me which way the world is heading.I would be happy if the world starts phasing out cdp's.Perhaps then we will get the Esoterics,Accuphases and Meridians under five figures inr

Bro,some of the DAC's in the $2-3k range, when paired with a macbook, can easily outdo many a CDP upto the $5k range.... If one keeps an open mind one can really get a future ready gizmo! I too started thinking on these lines with a great amount of reluctance, but the more i explore it, the more I feel that this is the right direction ... however, that's what I feel... no one else need subsrcribe to it...

 

[ajay124]

SPECIFICALLY which interconnect would one use for transferring data from the Macbook to the Dac.The 3.5mm Jack to 2 RCA, that I am aware off, are very mediocre quality.Can anybody suggest a good IC?I have asked this question several times before,but received no answer:sad:
Would a USB connection work as efficiently as my Transparent Audio IC?Once I am satisfied with the Interconnect,I may consider a Dac.
In recent months I have started paying a disproportionately high amount of attention to IC's and speaker cables,but I feel this attention brings worthwhile rewards.

 

[iaudio]

Ajay, I guess it would be usb cable from macbook to a usb dac and then you can use your Trasnparent audio IC from dac to Pre amp.

 

[ajay124]

Ajay, I guess it would be usb cable from macbook to a usb dac and then you can use your Trasnparent audio IC from dac to Pre amp.

The CD's which I have ripped on iTunes are Apple lossless files,with a bit rate varying from 700 to 1000 kpbs.What I would like to know is,will the USB cable transfer this data to the Dac,as effectively as the Transparent IC transfers data from the CDP to the Pre Amp.
With a Mac Dac set up,I would be adding two new variables to the mix.
ONE The USB cable.I do not think this cable would have the insulation and build quality of a Transparent,Kimber,VDH or Cardas balanced or single ended IC.Unless one of these companies is also making a USB cable.The USB cable which Apple or the Dac manufacturer may provide would be a cheap,generic Walwart.
TWO The environment of the Mac.The internal electronics of the Mac would be geared towards computer functions.They would not have even an iota of the isolation,insulation or the internal build quality of an Arcam or a Bryston cdp.These CDP's would be having good quality point to point wiring,dedicated power supplies,and hand picked electronics.The Mac would probably have the cheapest,mass market stuff inside.Would not the internal environment of a Mac,pass on a lot of noise and interference into the Dac?I am just feeling my way through with these doubts.I have no idea how valid these doubts actually are.

 

[malvai]

SPECIFICALLY which interconnect would one use for transferring data from the Macbook to the Dac.The 3.5mm Jack to 2 RCA, that I am aware off, are very mediocre quality.Can anybody suggest a good IC?I have asked this question several times before,but received no answer:sad:
Would a USB connection work as efficiently as my Transparent Audio IC?Once I am satisfied with the Interconnect,I may consider a Dac.In recent months I have started paying a disproportionately high amount of attention to IC's and speaker cables,but I feel this attention brings worthwhile rewards.

Bro that's like saying once i get a good shoestring, i'll consider a shoe!

but, more seriously, there are many options out there, - Locus designs does good 'IC's' for DACs, there are great spdif converters, many USB interfaces like M2Tech.... But all these are just accessories that one plays with once one finalises a DAC.

 

[iaudio]

The CD's which I have ripped on iTunes are Apple lossless files,with a bit rate varying from 700 to 1000 kpbs.What I would like to know is,will the USB cable transfer this data to the Dac,as effectively as the Transparent IC transfers data from the CDP to the Pre Amp.
With a Mac Dac set up,I would be adding two new variables to the mix.
ONE The USB cable.I do not think this cable would have the insulation and build quality of a Transparent,Kimber,VDH or Cardas balanced or single ended IC.Unless one of these companies is also making a USB cable.The USB cable which Apple or the Dac manufacturer may provide would be a cheap,generic Walwart.
TWO The environment of the Mac.The internal electronics of the Mac would be geared towards computer functions.They would not have even an iota of the isolation,insulation or the internal build quality of an Arcam or a Bryston cdp.These CDP's would be having good quality point to point wiring,dedicated power supplies,and hand picked electronics.The Mac would probably have the cheapest,mass market stuff inside.Would not the internal environment of a Mac,pass on a lot of noise and interference into the Dac?I am just feeling my way through with these doubts.I have no idea how valid these doubts actually are.

Ajay, in case you are not already aware of this site,

Computer Audiophile | High-End Audiophile Music Servers

And here's a thread with a similar query

Best USB cable to use between computer and dac? | Computer Audiophile

 

[ajay124]

Bro that's like saying once i get a good shoestring, i'll consider a shoe!

but, more seriously, there are many options out there, - Locus designs does good 'IC's' for DACs, there are great spdif converters, many USB interfaces like M2Tech.... But all these are just accessories that one plays with once one finalises a DAC.

I am not buying any shoestrings at the moment.I just want to establish that a good shoestring exists,which would do justice to the shoe I may eventually buy.Imagine spending 100K on a Dac,and then not having a decent medium for transfering data from the hard disk to the Dac.
Most of the posts I have read on the forum,mention various LO/MID/HI-FI Dac's, but do not convincingly explain how this option is better than a CDP.One thing which is very clear is that setting up a Hard Disk/Dac/Amplifier interface is not as simple as it seems.If you try it for a few days,you may find yourself quickly making your way back to the good old simplicity of a CDP.
Here is one gentleman who seems to be lost in this jantar mantar
Music from PC/Server via DAC doesn't sound as good as from CD Player | Computer Audiophile
Dosen't seem like he has music on his mind anymore.He seems to have too many x's and y's to take care off.

 

[hifiashok]

the Sooloos seems xlnt as a CDP/HTPC replacement (though expensive).

saw (and heard) it @Sound & Vision, Delhi.

 

[suri]

Here is one gentleman who seems to be lost in this jantar mantar
Music from PC/Server via DAC doesn't sound as good as from CD Player | Computer Audiophile
Dosen't seem like he has music on his mind anymore.He seems to have too many x's and y's to take care off.

i have had 3 desktops, i powerbook, 2 macbooks, and two windows laptops die in harness - the only one that is still doing duty is a toshiba (4 years now)-

not yet had a cdp dying on me -

so, i would think that till computer manufacturers give a 7 year warranty....?

 

[ajay124]

i have had 3 desktops, i powerbook, 2 macbooks, and two windows laptops die in harness - the only one that is still doing duty is a toshiba (4 years now)-

not yet had a cdp dying on me -

so, i would think that till computer manufacturers give a 7 year warranty....?

Bryston gives a transferable,replacement warranty of 20 years from the date of manufacture
My Dell PC,currently in the custody of my 4.5 year old daughter(who surfs You Tube for cartoons,far better than I can),has almost given up the ghost after 2 years.
When I rang up Dell they offered me a one year AMC for 18000/- as the only option.I politely told them to Go To 'Dell'!

 

[hifiashok]

I hav been using my PC for in excess of 10 yrs. It is my PC in office, so extensively used. It is just an assembled PC. As a matter of fact its keyboard is even older, and its original PC still alive too (the orig P1 chip). I run Win'98 on it.

..............where is the wood when you want to touch it!?!

 

[suri]

I hav been using my PC for in excess of 10 yrs. It is my PC in office, so extensively used. It is just an assembled PC. As a matter of fact its keyboard is even older, and its original PC still alive too (the orig P1 chip). I run Win'98 on it.

..............where is the wood when you want to touch it!?!

i keep a piece of wood near me - all the time -

in the car - beneath the seat - and each time i venture forth - i say - "Touch Wood" - three times.

yeah, but apart from our infirmities -

do you use that PC for music duties?

 

[ajay124]

@hifiashok
Just noticed your GK 2 location.Practically neighbours with Sound of Music.
Have you heard the Meridian CDP's there.Models?Price?
Also,more about the Sooloos.Does it work independently of the computer?Can you rip cd's directly on to the Sooloos.What output options are there for connecting to the Amp.Balanced?Single Ended?Price?
I remember using it during an audition at Sound Of Music.Very nice interface.But I was focusing on Vienna Acoustic speakers then.Did not inquire about Meridian.