Delve into the discussion about the significance of a CD player in audiophile setups, especially when paired with an external DAC.
Summary
- External DACs can make CD players sound the same.
- Using a proper CD transport can enhance audio quality significantly.
- Many audiophiles prefer ripping CDs for digital storage and playback on PCs.
Zeeall: CD Players as Transports
If you are using an external DAC then they all sound exactly the same. Its then just a transport, all CDs are read the same and the digital output is the same.
pro-jec-tion: The Rocking Chair Effect
It doesn’t matter, unless you keep your CD player on a rocking chair.
Dumyat367250: Upgrading Transports
I initially used an old Rotel CD player as a transport into my DAC. Finally bought a proper CD transport (2nd hand Audio Note CDT Zero) and it was night and day better. No fancy digital cable, just a homemade coax.
kester76a: Ripping CDs for Playback
To be fair if you’re not using the DAC in a CD player then you’re pretty much just using the CD player for the pleasure of loading it with a disc. I rip my CD/DVD/SACD/DVD-A/HD music formats and store them on disk on a PC. Playback is pretty solid and I’m even warming to some atmos music tracks.
“BougieHole: Just listen to the CD.”