Just listened to a CD for the first time in years....

Pug · 14 Apr 2008 at 09:41

so, quick (n00bs) question.

If people are saying its not the material, but the playback source thats at fault, would a fair comparison be to rip the CD to MP3, then burn that to a CD-R and play the CD and CD-R back to back?

I would guess the CD-R would have the limitations of the mp3 present in its material, and so would be a fairer comparison?

Guess the follow on question to that is do direct copies (CD - CD-R) sound comparable? i.e. is CD-R equal in sound quality to a pressed CD?

should say i am no way an audiophile to a great extent...

Bes · 14 Apr 2008 at 09:45

Maybe, but it's not really a fair test, as you are converting the CD to MP3, and then back to a CD format.

Pug · 14 Apr 2008 at 10:05

Bes said:
Maybe, but it's not really a fair test, as you are converting the CD to MP3, and then back to a CD format.

well, there should be little loss in the mp3 -> CD-R stage (using good media, slow burn speed) so i think it would be a fairer test of the (lack) of mp3 quality than listening to it through different sources?

Bes · 14 Apr 2008 at 10:15

Yeah I guess it is- was just pointing out that it is not perfect though

AbsenceJam · 14 Apr 2008 at 10:20

When going from MP3>CD you're just decompressing the MP3's - just as you would when playing them back. You could even use the exact same decompressor as your playback software if you wanted to.

Pug · 14 Apr 2008 at 10:29

AbsenceJam said:
When going from MP3>CD you're just decompressing the MP3's - just as you would when playing them back. You could even use the exact same decompressor as your playback software if you wanted to.

so the quality loss would still be evident? (cant add-in data which was lost through compression). As such i reckon' it would be a good test for side-by-side comparisons. just depends on the audio quality (differences) of pressed Vs burnt media.

AbsenceJam · 14 Apr 2008 at 10:35

It's fine as a test and there's no quality difference with a burned CD.
However why go to all that trouble, just ABX MP3 vs. WAV/Lossless on your computer.

Pug · 14 Apr 2008 at 10:42

AbsenceJam said:
It's fine as a test and there's no quality difference with a burned CD.
However why go to all that trouble, just ABX MP3 vs. WAV/Lossless on your computer.

only because people were comparing the quality of their pressed CDs in their expensive CD players, and comparing it to mp3s from a different source. Was just pondering a way to accurately compare an mp3'ified file to a pressed CD, using their HiFi equipment, not their PC.

potentially a pointless aside - just thinking aloud really.

AbsenceJam · 14 Apr 2008 at 10:45

Ah, right.

Bes · 14 Apr 2008 at 11:10

The other thing is, the disc may be subject to 'jitter' when it is burned on a £20 CD drive, instead of pressed on a professional machine.

-Ad- · 14 Apr 2008 at 11:25

MikeHunt79 said:
Hypex modules?

Erm, don't know

Internal pics here:

http://www.audioforum.be/article-393--0-0.html

Also some english: http://www.lyngdorf.com/images/stories/Reviews/sdai-hifi-world.pdf

It's a TACT SDAi 2175 integrated, but is identical to the lyngdorf SDAi2175 integrated, as Mr TACT went off to the USA not long after my amp was built, leaving Mr Lyngdorf with the brand (hence the name change). 200W into 8ohms ain't too bad, and sounds sexy as hell, and really brings out the best of my marantz cd63.