CD Transport with AirPlay - Any suggestions

[sachinchavan 15865]

Hi friends,

I recently acquired a Ruark R2 MK4 all in one speaker for my study room. While I can listen to other sources (FM/Internet radio, Spotify, Apple Music, USB) via BT, WiFi and Line In, I need to be able to play my largish collection of CDs directly on it (not via ripping).

I’ve connected an AirPort Express to the R2 via line in so I can AirPlay Apple Music lossless to it and it sounds great. Now I am looking for something that can play my CDs and AirPlay the digital output to the AirPort Express (and therefore the R2 speaker). I don’t want to do this using the laptop and CD drive (too cumbersome). Hence looking for a nifty solution in the form of CD transport which can simply AirPlay the output. Note that the R2 doesn’t have an optical in (apart from the USB which can only read a USB drive), hence a CD transport with coaxial/optical out won’t be useful. I need one which is connected to WiFi and can AirPlay. I also don’t want to invest in a CD player, which I could connect with the R2 via Line In directly, because a CD player with DAC better than the AirPort Express’s would cost significantly in my understanding (correct me if am wrong).

Any solutions you could suggest within a reasonable (upto Rs 20k) price? Anything higher would be an overkill for the use case and rest of the rig. Should be robust transport though that reads CDs easily, even old ones.

 

[jai1611]

The Shanling et3 does what you described but at a higher price point. It's worth checking if they have a cheaper model with similar feature set

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

The Shanling et3 does what you described but at a higher price point. It's worth checking if they have a cheaper model with similar feature set

Apt solution, though above 60k (when available). Didn’t find anything else/cheaper on their website.

 

[reignofchaos]

There isn't anything cheaper than shanling et3 that does this. Either extend your budget or buy two devices.

 

[arj]

Hi friends,

I recently acquired a Ruark R2 MK4 all in one speaker for my study room. While I can listen to other sources (FM/Internet radio, Spotify, Apple Music, USB) via BT, WiFi and Line In, I need to be able to play my largish collection of CDs directly on it (not via ripping).

I’ve connected an AirPort Express to the R2 via line in so I can AirPlay Apple Music lossless to it and it sounds great. Now I am looking for something that can play my CDs and AirPlay the digital output to the AirPort Express (and therefore the R2 speaker). I don’t want to do this using the laptop and CD drive (too cumbersome). Hence looking for a nifty solution in the form of CD transport which can simply AirPlay the output. Note that the R2 doesn’t have an optical in (apart from the USB which can only read a USB drive), hence a CD transport with coaxial/optical out won’t be useful. I need one which is connected to WiFi and can AirPlay. I also don’t want to invest in a CD player, which I could connect with the R2 via Line In directly, because a CD player with DAC better than the AirPort Express’s would cost significantly in my understanding (correct me if am wrong).

Any solutions you could suggest within a reasonable (upto Rs 20k) price? Anything higher would be an overkill for the use case and rest of the rig. Should be robust transport though that reads CDs easily, even old ones.

Does not airplaying a CD lose the purpose of a CD play in terms of resolution and make it as resolving as a stream ?
Perhaps using the 3.5mm stereo jack cable from a portable CD player would give you better sound.

 

[reignofchaos]

Does not airplaying a CD lose the purpose of a CD play in terms of resolution and make it as resolving as a stream ?
Perhaps using the 3.5mm stereo jack cable from a portable CD player would give you better sound.

I think what he means is the reverse - the CDP acts as an airplay receiver so that he can stream songs from his phone when not playing CDs. This is what the Shanling ET3 allows.

 

[arj]

I think what he means is the reverse - the CDP acts as an airplay receiver so that he can stream songs from his phone when not playing CDs. This is what the Shanling ET3 allows.

I am going by this

I’ve connected an AirPort Express to the R2 via line in so I can AirPlay Apple Music lossless to it and it sounds great. Now I am looking for something that can play my CDs and AirPlay the digital output to the AirPort Express (and therefore the R2 speaker).

 

[reignofchaos]

Ah I don't think such a device exists. Easiest is to buy a BT transmitter with rca inputs and connect it to the cd player inputs. Any 10-15k cd player will work alongside a 2-3k bluetooth transmitter. Don't ask me about quality

 

[arj]

Or Maybe we have not understood the real problem statement..since from what I could understand , you lose a lot more than you gain

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Does not airplaying a CD lose the purpose of a CD play in terms of resolution and make it as resolving as a stream ?
Perhaps using the 3.5mm stereo jack cable from a portable CD player would give you better sound.

Arjun, Airplay to AirPort Express happens at CD resolution, so I don't think there'd be a loss. (Let me know if I am wrong). As I said, line in from portable CD player would mean using its DAC, which I am not sure would be as good at the one in the AirPort Express (or the Ruark R2 itself).

Of course, if I don't find a solution of the kind I am looking for, I shall dedicate a CD player via line in. Hopefully I might get preowned one with decent DAC in my budget.

I think what he means is the reverse - the CDP acts as an airplay receiver so that he can stream songs from his phone when not playing CDs. This is what the Shanling ET3 allows.

No, this isn't what I mean. @arj got my query right. I can even today AirPlay from the mobile to the Ruark Speaker via the AirPort Express (AE). I don't need a CD transport for that. It is to play my CDs and listen to lossless on the speaker, via AirPlay from CD Transport to the AE. And yes, the Shanling ET3 can do this, but its costlier than what I spent on this AIO speaker, so I am looking for CD transport with Wifi transmission (Airplay specifically)... I cannot understand why that cannot be made under Rs 20k, except that there's no demand for this peculiar use case.

 

[arj]

Arjun, Airplay to AirPort Express happens at CD resolution, so I don't think there'd be a loss. (Let me know if I am wrong). As I said, line in from portable CD player would mean using its DAC, which I am not sure would be as good at the one in the AirPort Express (or the Ruark R2 itself).

From what I understood while streaming can be equivalent to CD there are several latency causes which happen an experts can weigh in.
Airport express specifically does have this issue and when it was first launched , serious users recommended a PLL reclocking for the same.
I have had 1 in the past and used a monarchy reclocker as well which in those days was better than streaming direct from a mac to an airport express. No idea of Ruark but considering newer chips, it might be better.

You are right that in the end you are going to be using the CDPs dac . you could consider a CD ripper to convert all your CDs into rips will be cheaper

Check this out in the US amazon.. Plays via bluetooth/USB and also rips and USB might be better than streaming ? no idea on SQ !! but you will end up with a digital version as well
Shanling also has one using phillips transport but more expensive.