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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2024 12:24:09 GMT -5
It can be scientifically proven that even the first 16/44.1 CDs ever struck are technically superior to the best vinyl system available (even today). And, of course, "the measurers" mistake (as they consistently do) the difference between measurements and sound. In the 1980s, Sony's digital "perfect sound forever" was a bald-faced lie. But now, the best of digital really IS superior in sound quality to vinyl. Really. If you disagree, then you haven't heard a really good digital system. And not only is digital superior, but the cost of a good digital system is but a fraction of the cost of an equivalently good-sounding analog system. But not to taunt the vinyl enthusiasts too much - a cheap vinyl system does still sound better than a cheap digital one. Nevertheless, vinyl is in its final death throes. In another decade, you won't be able to buy a new vinyl record (or a new turntable to play it on). In the meantime, really good digital continues to be less and less expensive. Sic transit gloria mundi. Boom I know this is 2 years gone.... But I had to comment. Sony CD players from the first gen were a single DAC which 'time shared' between left and right channels. And were audibly inferior to most other players at that time. My Magnevox, a Philips CD-1 or whatever, a toploader with 14bit (not a 16bit) DAC and 4x oversampling I suspect would still sound pretty good today. Stereophile loved the FD-1000 Magnevox. A real 'brick' the only problem is that I need a laser / pickup and that is unobtanium I personally wasn't impressed with CDs till I started getting into modern DACs. Currently using a Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) and using a Sony SACD/CD as a transport to the DAC. Oddly the SACD sounds great analog out, but the internal DAC for CDs wasn't that good. Sounds completely different and better as a transport for CDs to a external DAC. |
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Post by leonski on Feb 6, 2024 23:18:40 GMT -5
No mas Cambridge Audio for ME.
I had the CA840 cd player. Included 2 addtional inputs so it could in effect, be used as a DAC.
Only it wouldn't couple with an Apple Airport Express.....And than after spending well north of 1200$ on this player,
And it came with the same internal transport as every other player in the CA line at that time. A Sanyo SF-P101N.
A decent but by no means a 'high end' transport....
CA wanted more money to update the firmware......
My DAC Magic + needs help and CA won't part with a schematic on a legacy product....but WILL take yet more money.
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Post by tropicallutefisk on Feb 7, 2024 6:58:44 GMT -5
I used a Cambridge CXN as a DAC/Streamer for a number of years. I was quite pleased with the sound and initially it was a pretty slick way for me to move from physical media. The reason I moved away from it was my annoyance with the app. Seemed I was constantly having issues with it and Cambridge was no help. After abandoning the CXN, I went with a mac mini and an external DAC. This was fine for a while. I just found it a bit cumbersome because I did enjoy running the system with my phone or iPad. However, it did eliminate all the weird connection and playback issues I experienced with the CXN. I have just discovered Audirvana and this may be the thing that keeps me happy for a while. It allows control from iPhone/iPad, makes it easy to select and play music and I swear it has improved the sound. Still a lot of playing around to do, but so far it seems to the solution I was looking for. All in all though, I don't regret having used the CXN. It was a good way for me to learn more about playback of digital media and to evolve towards something that ticks all my boxes. Before the CXN I knew less than nothing about playing digital music and was restricted to CDs. Hundreds and hundreds of CDs LOL. My wife was quite happy to have my numerous CD racks retired and removed from the living room.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2024 11:06:35 GMT -5
No mas Cambridge Audio for ME. I had the CA840 cd player. Included 2 addtional inputs so it could in effect, be used as a DAC. Only it wouldn't couple with an Apple Airport Express.....And than after spending well north of 1200$ on this player, And it came with the same internal transport as every other player in the CA line at that time. A Sanyo SF-P101N. A decent but by no means a 'high end' transport.... CA wanted more money to update the firmware...... My DAC Magic + needs help and CA won't part with a schematic on a legacy product....but WILL take yet more money. It's the only CA I have and I am aware that I paid for brand name tax, but it is a really nice unit. Mainly picked it because it supports Apple high res and I wanted a full size unit. I do like the front screen too. I need to get off my butt and rip my SACDs to take advantage of DSD playback as well. I'd like to get a nicer CD transport in the future. Been playing with an older car lately and haven't been tinkering with audio stuff. I don't have anything against CA, but they also aren't my go to brand or anything. I doubt I'll buy anything else from them. I wanted a Marantz SACD 30n, but I have issues parting 3K on single toy. My old Oppo DVD player could do firmware updates via disk. You sure you can't do that with your player? Odd that they don't support a way to do a firmware update. Now days, it's just done over the network. I think I've had two updates since I've had mine. |
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Post by leonski on Feb 7, 2024 17:01:56 GMT -5
My 840c is long gone. But updates were thru a serial port. And you needed a Null Modem cable, IIRC. This is 'backwards' with socket on one end. So you needed a computer WITH such a port and the special cable. CA said something about the right version of Windows (not 95, or 98....  ) So, they sent me the update with no warranty. If I bricked it? Too Bad...... Store where I bought it wanted like 30$ for the update! After paying retail for the player! Not thru a disc or any kind of USB port. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2024 18:06:15 GMT -5
My 840c is long gone. But updates were thru a serial port. And you needed a Null Modem cable, IIRC. This is 'backwards' with socket on one end. So you needed a computer WITH such a port and the special cable. CA said something about the right version of Windows (not 95, or 98.... ) So, they sent me the update with no warranty. If I bricked it? Too Bad...... Store where I bought it wanted like 30$ for the update! After paying retail for the player! Not thru a disc or any kind of USB port. That is some annoying old skool stuff. At least today, pretty much everything can be updated if it supports Wi-Fi. network. I can easily update my Yamaha HTR, Yamaha stereo receiver, and CA network streamer. Oddly, I had to force an update on the Yamaha about 6 months ago when Airplay 2 stopped working, but at least I was able to get it updated. Even on older stuff, it if has a USB port, a firmware update should be available that way. |
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Post by leonski on Feb 7, 2024 20:45:15 GMT -5
100%
I don't 'get' needing the weirdness of null modem. I can't think of a computer that even supports a 'serial port' any more with the exception of my 20 year old laptop......
Do windows computers come so-equipped?
Just for example? I've updated the firmware in my CAMERA maybe 4 or more times.....It was issued with something like 1.01 and is now at 3.6 The increase in functionality and
autofocus in particular is quite nice. It'll focus on EYES and follow focus as the subject moves. This would have been IT were I still doing weddings.....
There apparently have been 14 such updates, some of which I of course 'skipped' and were rolled over to the Next.
Camera supports USB 3.0, but the updates are done thru the memory card.....I put the memory card in a reader connected to the computer than put the memory card into the camera
and go to 'update' which is buried in the menu somewhere.....
USB is of course the way to go.....for non-wireless connected devices. Using a computer to put the update on a flash drive than installing the drive to the device is also cool....
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