Upgrade CDP or go for a hard- drive based solution?

[Bes]

BES>
Sounds like a good plan. If you haven't already, get yourself EAC (exact audio copy) for archiving to HD.
One point, I can usually cut a CD to HD in under 10 mins. So when I've had friends over who've brought CDs, we've cut them whilst having a coffee and a blather.
Of course I've had to go back once they've left to delete from my HD and avoid infringing on copyright laws...

Of course

How does EAC cope with discs that have copy protection on them? There is nothing more annoying than not being able to listen to a CD I have paid for on my digital device because Sony Music corp or whoever have put 10 layers of copy protection on the disc

 

[squiffy]

After a lot of thought I think the SB+ is the way forward... I love the idea of just being able to pick and choose what I listen to immediately without messing around with finding the disc I want every 10 minutes and so on...

I think for now I will stick with the cd-63, put a new clock in it for relatively little cash, and just keep it as my CDP, as I will still want something I can just stick a CD in if a mate comes around with some discs or whatever.

I also think I really need to finish sorting my cabling/ accoustic situation before I spend on components, as I am not going to fully realise the benefit of any upgrade until I have sorted these.

I suppose after that I will need to sort out the amp, as this will become a major 'bottleneck' with a decent source (SB+) and my 816's (which I think are rather good )

Get the SB. I've not used the CD Player since getting it. I have two multiroom systems, both capable of playing synced music, or independant of each other, and can browse entire music collection easily. CD collection is around 1000 albums so major pain finding the album normally. What's great is you can just add more SB if you want multi-room, no need to mess around except for adding more points in your LAN.

 

[Bes]

BES>
Sounds like a good plan. If you haven't already, get yourself EAC (exact audio copy) for archiving to HD.
One point, I can usually cut a CD to HD in under 10 mins. So when I've had friends over who've brought CDs, we've cut them whilst having a coffee and a blather.
Of course I've had to go back once they've left to delete from my HD and avoid infringing on copyright laws...

Mr_Sukebe:

Are you now happy that it maches your CD transport in terms of musical quality? I just re-read your thread about it on here.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

How does EAC cope with discs that have copy protection on them? There is nothing more annoying than not being able to listen to a CD I have paid for on my digital device because Sony Music corp or whoever have put 10 layers of copy protection on the disc

I've never had a problem cutting any of the 509 CDs that I own. Whilst I've no idea how many had copy protection, I'm assuming that some must have had. The inference being that you won't have a problem.

Ref a comparison between a dedicated CD transport and the SB+.
Out the box, the SB+ was not as good as a the CDT. However, it seems that this was simply that the PSU needed to be run in. A couple of weeks on and the SB+ was on par with the CDT, which I was more than a little surprised at, as the CDT was not standard as it had been given an uprated power cable and internal clocks.

I was so impressed that the CDT was sold the next week, so I have only the SB+. Can't say I miss a CD player at all.

 

[Bes]

I've never had a problem cutting any of the 509 CDs that I own. Whilst I've no idea how many had copy protection, I'm assuming that some must have had. The inference being that you won't have a problem.

Ref a comparison between a dedicated CD transport and the SB+.
Out the box, the SB+ was not as good as a the CDT. However, it seems that this was simply that the PSU needed to be run in. A couple of weeks on and the SB+ was on par with the CDT, which I was more than a little surprised at, as the CDT was not standard as it had been given an uprated power cable and internal clocks.

I was so impressed that the CDT was sold the next week, so I have only the SB+. Can't say I miss a CD player at all.

Ok I think you have pretty much sold it to me now

Handily the company that modifies the SB is about 30 minutes from where I live, so I am gong to see if I can arrange to go there and have a look/ listen

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

I think you'll find that Patrick offers a 30 day money back guarantee.
Hardly seems worth the effort to go over for a listen. Get one in your home for a while and prove it to yourself either way.

 

[ChemicalKicks]

Why do people keep devaluing the importance of the source ???... OK I accept the days of 70% on the source rest on the amp speakers has long gone with digital front ends......but the old adage is still true, rubbish in rubbish out.
If we are to accept other forum members view that the 8000s is a good amp, and the JM's are also capable.... then the system is crying out for a cracking source component. A grands worth of second hand CDP would not be out of place !!! Try a Linn Ikemi....about 1K used or a the older Karik3 for about £400....plus Rega, Roksan and Naim options to your taste.

Any update elsewhere in the system is pointless until the front is max'd out, you have not heard what your current amp and speakers can do yet !!!

Completely agree with you. The set up described is perfectly capable of deliverying a fantastic sound, but will never achive is full potential with a weak CDP.

What came first? The chicken or the egg? In this case the egg. All of the data (so to speak) comes from the CDP, if the CDP dont sound good then it doesnt matter how much you spend on the rest of the system. It's stull going to sound BAD BAD BAD.

Good to see someone pushing local names too. I especially have a thing for REGA and ARCAM.

Anyway in response to the original poster. I myself went for a "juke box" set up but used my PC. I have noticed a consideral drop in sound quality and a consideral change in how I listen to music.

I now have to sit and think for a good 10 mins (oh what shall I listen to) It can actually take away from the experience just jumping from album to album, artist to artist, track to track.

On the other hand no scratched CD's and no more stacks of CD'S on speakers, coffee tables, floor, sofa, TV etc etc etc.

Personal call really.

 

[Bes]

Completely agree with you. The set up described is perfectly capable of deliverying a fantastic sound, but will never achive is full potential with a weak CDP.

What came first? The chicken or the egg? In this case the egg. All of the data (so to speak) comes from the CDP, if the CDP dont sound good then it doesnt matter how much you spend on the rest of the system. It's stull going to sound BAD BAD BAD.

Good to see someone pushing local names too. I especially have a thing for REGA and ARCAM.

Anyway in response to the original poster. I myself went for a "juke box" set up but used my PC. I have noticed a consideral drop in sound quality and a consideral change in how I listen to music.

I now have to sit and think for a good 10 mins (oh what shall I listen to) It can actually take away from the experience just jumping from album to album, artist to artist, track to track.

On the other hand no scratched CD's and no more stacks of CD'S on speakers, coffee tables, floor, sofa, TV etc etc etc.

Personal call really.

Couldn't agree more regarding the source... I know I have a good amp and pair of speakers and am wasting them on a stock CD63 which is why I am changing it.... SB+ seems the way forward for me, as I get really fed up of the piles of discs everywhere.

Oh on the cable side I am gonna get hold of some low smoke zero halogen CAT5 tomorrow and have a go at making some copper core cables- hopefully a nice cheap solution to my ever so slightly overly crashy treble (Makes it tiring on the ears to listen to music for more than a couple of hours at a time right now). I am borrowing some Chord Rumour at the moment which is just plain silly seeing as I have a neutral amp and 'airy', detailed speakers.... Any opinions on whether CAT5 is worth the time and effort? I certainly see people seem pleased with the results over on AVForums

 

[ChemicalKicks]

Couldn't agree more regarding the source... I know I have a good amp and pair of speakers and am wasting them on a stock CD63 which is why I am changing it.... SB+ seems the way forward for me, as I get really fed up of the piles of discs everywhere.

Oh on the cable side I am gonna get hold of some low smoke zero halogen CAT5 tomorrow and have a go at making some copper core cables- hopefully a nice cheap solution to my ever so slightly overly crashy treble (Makes it tiring on the ears to listen to music for more than a couple of hours at a time right now). I am borrowing some Chord Rumour at the moment which is just plain silly seeing as I have a neutral amp and 'airy', detailed speakers.... Any opinions on whether CAT5 is worth the time and effort? I certainly see people seem pleased with the results over on AVForums

Hi Bes,

To be honest you've lost me on this, no experience with DIY HIFI. All I would say is if you have both a little spare cash and some patience why not give it a try.

I would think at the very least your going to notice a distinct new flavour to your sound.

To give something for you to think about though... When I got the 7 month itch on my speaker cable (this might not sound very HIFI) I upgraded from £1.99 copper PER METER (PM) to £8.99 PM Silver speaker cable. I noticed (i.e. only me) a slight tightining of bass and seemed to be able to drive better.

BTW I'm by amping.

Now when I upgraded the RCA from AMP to AMP and CDP from £20 Richersound Jobs to £100 a pair Lyric HiFi my girlfriend noticed a difference.

Again all down to taste and budget.

Enjoy!

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Oh on the cable side I am gonna get hold of some low smoke zero halogen CAT5 tomorrow and have a go at making some copper core cables- hopefully a nice cheap solution to my ever so slightly overly crashy treble (Makes it tiring on the ears to listen to music for more than a couple of hours at a time right now). I am borrowing some Chord Rumour at the moment which is just plain silly seeing as I have a neutral amp and 'airy', detailed speakers.... Any opinions on whether CAT5 is worth the time and effort? I certainly see people seem pleased with the results over on AVForums

For cables, let me put a plug in for a friend of mine. Go have a scan through the Zerogain forums and checkout some comments about cables made by a guy called Zanash. In short, he's an enthusiast who's been fiddling around with cables for a number of years now. Along the way he's tried a variety of materials, some of which are rather good. All my my interconnects are made by him. The last one replaced a really good interconnect that cost as much as a standard SB3.