Quote:

beeman458 said:

twn2 wrote:
 
As I said, I use a DAC now,.....
 
Rip lossless to your HDD and line out to your DAC.  If you worried about bits and bytes, use bit perfect such as "Exact Audio Copy."
 
???
 
Then you'll know why I don't want to spend times on sound cards.
 
I currently have another thread running as I'm trying to find out, learn if you will, if an separate DAC is worth the effort.
 
???

Click to expand...

Well, you don't get my point. Do you know what's the difference between your BD player and, for instance, a $1000 Marantz CDP? The problem is never in how you rip the file. If the quality in the CDP has already been bad, there is no way to recover this.
 
 
For the second part, if getting a separate DAC is worth the effort or not, well, this depends what DAC you get. I don't know where is your thread, so let me state here. If you are confused, just go to an audio store near you if there is, and listen for some good DAC. The answer is, if you get a really good DAC, then all sound cards are just trash.
 
Since you use the ASUS STX, to say the truth, I think even the audiofire2 phone out can beat it (although I usually use AF2 as my digital out put, because the analog out of the AF2 is not that good to me compare to my DAC). If you want to climb to the top of computer systems, then throughout all sound cards and try to get some really good DAC. After you have a good DAC, you will find that the CDP in your computer totally sucks, so that's why I want a CDP in this thread. This is simple, you keep finding the bottleneck in your system and keep upgrade, and it seems that you are several steps behind me.

twn2 wrote:
 
Well, you don't get my point.
 
Agreeing with you, I guess I don't.
 
Do you know what's the difference between your BD player and, for instance, a $1000 Marantz CDP?
 
Be nice.  I have a thousand dollar dedicated player (Adcom), the AVR is Marantz but it was for home living room use as opposed to headphone use.  Currently the system is disassembled and has been moved to the retirement home.  What's a BD player?  Are you trying to say a Blu-ray disk player?
 
The problem is never in how you rip the file. If the quality in the CDP has already been bad, there is no way to recover this.
 
But we're writing about ones and zeros?  You rip the ones and zeros in a lossless format (1.41Mbps, 16-bit/44.1kHz) and then the DAC comes into play as it's streamed off the HDD to the headphone amp.
 
???
 
I don't know where is your thread,
 
If you are confused, just go to an audio store near you if there is, and listen for some good DAC. The answer is, if you get a really good DAC, then all sound cards are just trash.
 
For the most part, all the audio shops worth a Tinker's Damn have closed.  I have a vinyl shop around the corner selling $6,000.00 transports but no DAC's.  I'm sure they'd be happy to sell me a $55k vinyl system.  And the next closest shop is a shop some twenty miles away and they're into Home Theater as opposed to headphones.  From there, I'm reduced to BestBuy and I don't hold out hope for them.  So, here am I.
 
What's missing in all the conversation is, right this moment, how good the sound is that I'm listening to.  And that might be where the confusion is as I'm hearing "great" sound with a dead quiet floor and excellent (sweet) highs.  Yes, there's room for improvement but right this moment, my ears aren't being filled with kr@p.  The point, because of my perspective, I can't identify with what your trying to share with me.  I will have a new headphone amp to play with come this Thursday.
 
???
 
After you have a good DAC, you will find that the CDP in your computer totally sucks, so that's why I want a CDP in this thread. This is simple, you keep finding the bottleneck in your system and keep upgrade, and it seems that you are several steps behind me.
 
If you simply want a CDP, then pick up a Marantz SA8004 and it sounds like you'll be a very happy camper.  Yes, a bit more than your stated budget but worth it if it'll make you happy.  Personally, I think there's something going on with your system that's been missed.
 
???

Quote:

beeman458 said:

twn2 wrote:
 
Well, you don't get my point.
 
Agreeing with you, I guess I don't.
 
Do you know what's the difference between your BD player and, for instance, a $1000 Marantz CDP?
 
Be nice.  I have a thousand dollar dedicated player (Adcom), the AVR is Marantz but it was for home living room use as opposed to headphone use.  Currently the system is disassembled and has been moved to the retirement home.  What's a BD player?  Are you trying to say a Blu-ray disk player?
 
The problem is never in how you rip the file. If the quality in the CDP has already been bad, there is no way to recover this.
 
But we're writing about ones and zeros?  You rip the ones and zeros and then the DAC comes into play as it's streamed off the HDD to the headphone amp.
 
???
 
What's missing in all the conversation is right this moment, how good the sound is that I'm listening to.  And that might be where the confusion is as I'm hearing "great" sound with a dead quiet floor and excellent (sweet) highs.  Yes, there's room for improvement but right this moment, my ears aren't being filled with kr@p.  The point, because of my perspective, I can't identify with what your trying to share with me.
 
???
 
I don't know where is your thread,

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OK, do you think putting the CD to your computer is as good as your CDP? I don't think they will be the same level in the same condition (using the same DAC and amp). And the fact is that, yes, the CDP is much better the computer one.
 
If you want to talk about the scheme of how CDP detect the bits on the CD and process it to the next stage. I think you should first check the google or wiki or even borrow a book to see the difference of the standard on the musical CD and the data CD. They use different scheme, and that's why the musical CDP can do better in music, because they adjust there structure in focusing on the musical CD.
 
Another reason why CDP in computer is bad is that there are too many components in the computer and they generate electromagnetic wave to disturb the CDP in detecting musical CD. These disturbance will be recovered for data CD, but not recoverable for musical CD because of the different scheme. Since in the source stage, the data is loss, you can not expect the DAC can recover anything. Are you satisfied in this answer now?
 
God! Why should I waste so much time on talking this in the thread. I just want a good CDP and all other guys give helpful suggestions to me. I don't know why you are stuck on this issues, this is not important in this thread, ok? If you are so interested in these technique issues, go starting a new thread and ask people why they want to buy an expensive CDP rather than just use their computer.

They use different scheme, and that's why the musical CDP can do better in music, because they adjust there structure in focusing on the musical CD.
 
So, you don't think Pioneer has caught on to these differences yet?
 
???
 
Since in the source stage, the data is loss, you can not expect the DAC can recover anything. Are you satisfied in this answer now?
 
One flaw in your above, the file is ripped lossless.  That's why I suggested "Exact Audio Copy" as it's all ones and zeros and if ripped bit perfect, there's no information loss.
 
???
 
God! Why should I waste so much time on talking this in the thread.
 
I gave you a CDP suggestion and was responding to your comments.  If you find me a waste of time, my apologies.  I now have you on ignore.  Again, my apologies, it won't happen again.

sound like, you're basically asked for a transport suggestion?

A second hand CEC/TEAC or Pioneer Elite (with the stabil platter system) would be very good choice as transport (as long as they are in great condition). Is DVD-A/SACD a consideration or are just interested in a redbook spinner ?  I picked up a Denon 3910 (for 340USD shipped) last winter and although it's not exactly light it's nowhere near as heavy as my dedicated redbook spinner. That being said if you have a very good DAC I would suggest going with a purpose built transport for it, barring that the used DVDP route can be a great way to get a decent result. A lot of mid fi all in ones make for very poor transports...it's tough to outline in a few short sentences suffice to say lighter is generally not better. Think of the CDP like a turntable...you need to minimize vibration as much as possible.
 
Peete.

Take note though servicing those Stable Platter CDPs is a pain as the transport is mounted in such a way that just servicingh the laser head will require some disassembly other than the laser head. It's easy where I am because we have competent techs who aren't paid by the hour, and usually getting parts off eBay is harder than finding a competent tech. But wherever you are and you know how to work on your own gear at home, then this is truly a great player; in any case these transports aren't as prone to breakdowns as the CDM4, which require a new belt and gear every so often.

Quote:

protegemaniac said:

Take note though servicing those Stable Platter CDPs is a pain as the transport is mounted in such a way that just servicingh the laser head will require some disassembly other than the laser head. It's easy where I am because we have competent techs who aren't paid by the hour, and usually getting parts off eBay is harder than finding a competent tech. But wherever you are and you know how to work on your own gear at home, then this is truly a great player; in any case these transports aren't as prone to breakdowns as the CDM4, which require a new belt and gear every so often.

Click to expand...

Good point about the stable platter systems (TEAC/Esoteric/Pioneer Elite)...a good condition unit should last a number of years I would think.
 
Peete.