I hope you live near me so you can show me how that's done. I have no clue...
Home System:
SDA 1C's - Full mod with the help by Dave...
1000 Va Dreadnought- w/ WireWorld Mini-Eclipse cables
WireWorld Mini-Eclipse 7 speaker cables
WireWorld Silver Eclipse IC's
Cambridge Audio Azur 851N - DAC/Streamer
Belles 21A Tube Pre
Belles 350A Reference Amp
BLE-Design 16mm Power Cables
Denon DVD 2900
Barn system:
SDA SRS 2.3's Full mod done by myself
Carver C-1 pre
Carver M1.5t
BluDenso - Bluetooth receiver/DAC
I have read conflicting things about the outcome of doing that. I have some folks who swear by high end rippers and others who say it can be done with just a normal computer and the right software. What are your thoughts?
I hope you live near me so you can show me how that's done. I have no clue...
LOL, I had to enlist my wife to aid in the process. Once you get it down, it's just very repetitious. I only ripped a couple hundred, I'd hate to rip a thousand or so!
SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff
I have read conflicting things about the outcome of doing that. I have some folks who swear by high end rippers and others who say it can be done with just a normal computer and the right software. What are your thoughts?
Joe, I'm not schooled enough to know the difference. I just did a trial of dbpoweramp and ripped to Flac. Playing through my OPPO UDP-203 and PS Audio DAC.
The files sound just about as good as the CD's, it's more about convenience I guess, I listen to CD's when I'm puttering around the house, doing whatever.
If I want to do some Real Listening, I put on an LP.
SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff
Interesting.
When I compare the FLAC files streamed directly from TIDAL in 44.1 format, they don’t really hold a candle to the CDs played from my Denon/PS audio combo. That’s why I was curious about how the files sounded when Ripped. They must be
Somehow better quality than the streamed version.
Interesting.
When I compare the FLAC files streamed directly from TIDAL in 44.1 format, they don’t really hold a candle to the CDs played from my Denon/PS audio combo. That’s why I was curious about how the files sounded when Ripped. They must be
Somehow better quality than the streamed version.
A Streamer of some sort is on the "The List". I'd like to experience what Streaming has to offer.
I'm looking at a Bluesound Node II, then I can do a comparison as well.
SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff
Ripping is easy, but tedious. I have been using iTunes to RIP them to lossless ALAC (Apple's version of FLAC). As far as how they sound that is completely dependent on the player. A PC playing the files is the absolute worst way to play them. With my Lumin they sound superb.
While the CD player does sound good, it is not the equal of the Lumin. Plus, with ripped files you can make playlists of your favorite songs. I have multiple playlists now with a total of over a 1000 different songs. This also contains files I downloaded from HDTracks.
Bud - Silicon Valley
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
No. The Lumin plays the ripped file. The CD sits on the shelf gathering dust.
Bud - Silicon Valley
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
I have read conflicting things about the outcome of doing that. I have some folks who swear by high end rippers and others who say it can be done with just a normal computer and the right software. What are your thoughts?
Joe, I'm not schooled enough to know the difference. I just did a trial of dbpoweramp and ripped to Flac. Playing through my OPPO UDP-203 and PS Audio DAC.
The files sound just about as good as the CD's, it's more about convenience I guess, I listen to CD's when I'm puttering around the house, doing whatever.
If I want to do some Real Listening, I put on an LP.
Joe, I should have said "I'm using the OPPO as a Server into the PS Audio DAC"
SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff
Ripping is easy, but tedious. I have been using iTunes to RIP them to lossless ALAC (Apple's version of FLAC). As far as how they sound that is completely dependent on the player. A PC playing the files is the absolute worst way to play them. With my Lumin they sound superb.
While the CD player does sound good, it is not the equal of the Lumin. Plus, with ripped files you can make playlists of your favorite songs. I have multiple playlists now with a total of over a 1000 different songs. This also contains files I downloaded from HDTracks.
Ok. So where do you live...
Home System:
SDA 1C's - Full mod with the help by Dave...
1000 Va Dreadnought- w/ WireWorld Mini-Eclipse cables
WireWorld Mini-Eclipse 7 speaker cables
WireWorld Silver Eclipse IC's
Cambridge Audio Azur 851N - DAC/Streamer
Belles 21A Tube Pre
Belles 350A Reference Amp
BLE-Design 16mm Power Cables
Denon DVD 2900
Barn system:
SDA SRS 2.3's Full mod done by myself
Carver C-1 pre
Carver M1.5t
BluDenso - Bluetooth receiver/DAC
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
I originally used EAC (Exact Audio Copy) which is a free software but now I just use JRiver. And after a while, and since I have under 400 CD's, plus, since storage is so cheap now days, I started just ripping everything in uncompressed WAV. And I just use my PC's drive. You really don't need anything fancy.
____________________________
2 channel - PS Audio Stellar S300 amp, PS Audio DirectStream DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5 running Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC24, Matrix X-SPDIF 2 USB interface, Blackbird SSD dock with 500 GB Samsung 860 EVO, Tom Tutay modded EE Minimax preamp, Furman Elite 15 Pfi power conditioner, Martin Logan Electromotion ESL speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Kimber 4TC speaker wire, Gabriel Gold Reflection V2 IC's, VH Audio power cords, Wireworld USB and HDMI/I2S cables
Computer - Windows 7/JRiver, Topping D10 DAC, Fostex PMO.4n monitors
The conversion/transforming of CD or Vinyl to actual digital format is pretty simple. CD are already in digital format (101010), so you are just making a copy of a digital file. The format you choose and playback unit is where you will hear differences from the source. The software out there today is on par with one another, If it gives you the option to rip to Flac to Mp3 you are covered. The argument of bit perfect copy is more about fuzzy math since all computer data is transferred bit to bit.
Playback is a different deal, if you are using a computer/NAS or some other storage drive it is not the issues anymore as with most software the part you are using (program/files) are stored in a cache memory. Using a computer comes with other parts that can generate hums and vibrations (fans). I would recommend a storage device that you can connect directly to you playback device or to your network. Storage space is so cheap now days its a no brainer. You can pick up 2-4 TB for under a $100 bucks. I have several devices ranging from 350GB to 4TB some acting as backups to others and others as extra storage space so I don't fill up the main drive with photos/videos or music. Ripping is one of the first mind numbing task that comes with digital storage, but like the old days of Dbase I-IV, someone has to enter in the data. The second step is tagging, the music industry likes to get the last laugh and making you tag your collection of CD's or Vinyl that you have collected over half if not more of your life time is a task for the dedicated audio fan. I just posted a video on this subject, so go check it out if you are a beginner or a long time digital fan that never took the time to tag each and every song you have. Downloaded tracks are nice as most are already tagged properly, but some CD's are not or don't have any info at all on the disk, all you get is track 1,2,3,4..... Classical music is notorious for such things, also Greatest hits CD's play this game. Its a labor of love, but once you done it you will truly enjoy your music on a level that you never dreamed of.
Playback, as with any part of your system what you hear is dependent on the ability of your equipment. Most important fact is this, a good recording will sound good on most systems, a bad recording will sound bad or worst on better gear.
Family Room HT 7.2/i]:
Vizio P55-E1UHD Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Pioneer Elite N-50 Panamax M5300-EX Living room 2ch:
Integra ADM 2.1 Teac EQ MKII Squeezebox Touch Fluance SX Speakers Panamax M5100-EX Upstairs media room:
Vizio D1 32" Pioneer Elite VSX 32 Sony PS4 Squeezebox Touch Polkaudio Rti 6's fronts Polk CSR Center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax M5300-EX Master bedroom:
Vizio VF550M Pioneer Elite VSX 33 Pioneer Elite BDP 80FD Squeezebox Touch Polk audio Monitor 40 II fronts, Rears Dayton B652 Jensen CCS center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax 5100
As recoveryone stated: "Storage space is so cheap now days its a no brainer."
I have a NAS with several bays to add additional HD's... so when I rip my CDs, I keep them in WAV format, uncompressed - the 'full meal deal.' They say that FLAC/AFLAC, (and even WMA to some extent) are great compression formats, but with storage cost per TB so inexpensive, I don't bother, thinking that the 'full snapshot' is the best format, no matter how clever the compression algorithms are.
Now, if/when I need to keep a library of files for mobile devices - phone or ipod type devices, then I'll look more into having a special library of condensed files for those.
I hope you live near me so you can show me how that's done. I have no clue...
LOL, I had to enlist my wife to aid in the process. Once you get it down, it's just very repetitious. I only ripped a couple hundred, I'd hate to rip a thousand or so!
There are some great programs out there and tried a good handful of them to come to understand ez CD convertor was hands down above all that I experimented with. There is a nice formula that does improve sound of standard 16bit 44.1k cds without taking up much more Hard drive space but one would have to do their own homework trial n error to figure that formula out. Some 25k plus albums later I am proud to say all of my ever growing collection is ripped at ear candy levels and when I want to do some serious listening I just play one of those files!😃
Fun Hobby 4 sho.
"if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
*****************************
Some 25k plus albums later I am proud to say all of my ever growing collection is ripped
Where in the world did you find the time to rip 25,000 CDs?
Bud - Silicon Valley
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Mike Reeter
Posts: 3,727
Comments
SDA 1C's - Full mod with the help by Dave...
1000 Va Dreadnought- w/ WireWorld Mini-Eclipse cables
WireWorld Mini-Eclipse 7 speaker cables
WireWorld Silver Eclipse IC's
Cambridge Audio Azur 851N - DAC/Streamer
Belles 21A Tube Pre
Belles 350A Reference Amp
BLE-Design 16mm Power Cables
Denon DVD 2900
Barn system:
SDA SRS 2.3's Full mod done by myself
Carver C-1 pre
Carver M1.5t
BluDenso - Bluetooth receiver/DAC
LOL, I had to enlist my wife to aid in the process. Once you get it down, it's just very repetitious. I only ripped a couple hundred, I'd hate to rip a thousand or so!
Joe, I'm not schooled enough to know the difference. I just did a trial of dbpoweramp and ripped to Flac. Playing through my OPPO UDP-203 and PS Audio DAC.
The files sound just about as good as the CD's, it's more about convenience I guess, I listen to CD's when I'm puttering around the house, doing whatever.
If I want to do some Real Listening, I put on an LP.
When I compare the FLAC files streamed directly from TIDAL in 44.1 format, they don’t really hold a candle to the CDs played from my Denon/PS audio combo. That’s why I was curious about how the files sounded when Ripped. They must be
Somehow better quality than the streamed version.
A Streamer of some sort is on the "The List". I'd like to experience what Streaming has to offer.
I'm looking at a Bluesound Node II, then I can do a comparison as well.
While the CD player does sound good, it is not the equal of the Lumin. Plus, with ripped files you can make playlists of your favorite songs. I have multiple playlists now with a total of over a 1000 different songs. This also contains files I downloaded from HDTracks.
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Joe, I should have said "I'm using the OPPO as a Server into the PS Audio DAC"
Ok. So where do you live...
SDA 1C's - Full mod with the help by Dave...
1000 Va Dreadnought- w/ WireWorld Mini-Eclipse cables
WireWorld Mini-Eclipse 7 speaker cables
WireWorld Silver Eclipse IC's
Cambridge Audio Azur 851N - DAC/Streamer
Belles 21A Tube Pre
Belles 350A Reference Amp
BLE-Design 16mm Power Cables
Denon DVD 2900
Barn system:
SDA SRS 2.3's Full mod done by myself
Carver C-1 pre
Carver M1.5t
BluDenso - Bluetooth receiver/DAC
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
you need a top shelf transport.
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Transport/Dac: L.K.S MH-DA004, Cayin Venus cd-100i, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkI,
Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Organic Audio Organic 2, Analysis Plus Black Mesh Oval 9,
Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme
Interconnects: Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval, Analysis Plus Copper Oval-In Micro,
Gabriel Gold Reckoning
Power Cables by: Cullen Cables, 6sons Audio, Swiss Cables
2 channel - PS Audio Stellar S300 amp, PS Audio DirectStream DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5 running Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC24, Matrix X-SPDIF 2 USB interface, Blackbird SSD dock with 500 GB Samsung 860 EVO, Tom Tutay modded EE Minimax preamp, Furman Elite 15 Pfi power conditioner, Martin Logan Electromotion ESL speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Kimber 4TC speaker wire, Gabriel Gold Reflection V2 IC's, VH Audio power cords, Wireworld USB and HDMI/I2S cables
Computer - Windows 7/JRiver, Topping D10 DAC, Fostex PMO.4n monitors
What's not fun, though, is when you're just starting, and testing out different stuff in your process, and ending up having to re-rip.
I ended up Dynamatting my optical drive and bits of the chassis mostly just because it would vibrate the whole chassis during high speed rips.
Next up for you - maybe digital video library?
LOL, I don't have enough Video content to make that a worthy project.
I've had thoughts of Digitizing my Vinyl collection one day, but then I think "why put all the Analog Sweetness on a Digital File"
Playback is a different deal, if you are using a computer/NAS or some other storage drive it is not the issues anymore as with most software the part you are using (program/files) are stored in a cache memory. Using a computer comes with other parts that can generate hums and vibrations (fans). I would recommend a storage device that you can connect directly to you playback device or to your network. Storage space is so cheap now days its a no brainer. You can pick up 2-4 TB for under a $100 bucks. I have several devices ranging from 350GB to 4TB some acting as backups to others and others as extra storage space so I don't fill up the main drive with photos/videos or music. Ripping is one of the first mind numbing task that comes with digital storage, but like the old days of Dbase I-IV, someone has to enter in the data. The second step is tagging, the music industry likes to get the last laugh and making you tag your collection of CD's or Vinyl that you have collected over half if not more of your life time is a task for the dedicated audio fan. I just posted a video on this subject, so go check it out if you are a beginner or a long time digital fan that never took the time to tag each and every song you have. Downloaded tracks are nice as most are already tagged properly, but some CD's are not or don't have any info at all on the disk, all you get is track 1,2,3,4..... Classical music is notorious for such things, also Greatest hits CD's play this game. Its a labor of love, but once you done it you will truly enjoy your music on a level that you never dreamed of.
Playback, as with any part of your system what you hear is dependent on the ability of your equipment. Most important fact is this, a good recording will sound good on most systems, a bad recording will sound bad or worst on better gear.
Vizio P55-E1UHD Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Pioneer Elite N-50 Panamax M5300-EX
Living room 2ch:
Integra ADM 2.1 Teac EQ MKII Squeezebox Touch Fluance SX Speakers Panamax M5100-EX
Upstairs media room:
Vizio D1 32" Pioneer Elite VSX 32 Sony PS4 Squeezebox Touch Polkaudio Rti 6's fronts Polk CSR Center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax M5300-EX
Master bedroom:
Vizio VF550M Pioneer Elite VSX 33 Pioneer Elite BDP 80FD Squeezebox Touch Polk audio Monitor 40 II fronts, Rears Dayton B652 Jensen CCS center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax 5100
highly overrated.
From a Sonic stand point, quite possibly. From the convenience side, a worthy endeavor.
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
I have a NAS with several bays to add additional HD's... so when I rip my CDs, I keep them in WAV format, uncompressed - the 'full meal deal.' They say that FLAC/AFLAC, (and even WMA to some extent) are great compression formats, but with storage cost per TB so inexpensive, I don't bother, thinking that the 'full snapshot' is the best format, no matter how clever the compression algorithms are.
Now, if/when I need to keep a library of files for mobile devices - phone or ipod type devices, then I'll look more into having a special library of condensed files for those.
CRS+'s (4.1 TL's) - Office
SDA1C's - Famdamly Rm
SDA1C's - Master Bedroom
There are some great programs out there and tried a good handful of them to come to understand ez CD convertor was hands down above all that I experimented with. There is a nice formula that does improve sound of standard 16bit 44.1k cds without taking up much more Hard drive space but one would have to do their own homework trial n error to figure that formula out. Some 25k plus albums later I am proud to say all of my ever growing collection is ripped at ear candy levels and when I want to do some serious listening I just play one of those files!😃
Fun Hobby 4 sho.
*****************************
Where in the world did you find the time to rip 25,000 CDs?
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
I would be Bat $hit Crazy after the first 1000 or so
3.1 - Polk: LSiM703, LSiM706c, PSW125 | PS Audio Quintet | VooDoo-Hubbell IG 8300 | Acoustic Panels, Acoustimac Bass Traps x3
6.1 - Pioneer Elite SC-05 | Pio BDP-51FD | Polk: RTi8, CSi5, F/Xi3, CSi3 | HSU Research VTF-2 MK4 | PS Audio: Quintet, Power Port Classic | DCF124BW x3 SC | Pangea: AC-9SE x2, 14SE, 14 PC | AQ Chocolate x2 HDMI | M850SW | Acoustic Panels, GIK Soffit Traps x4
Maybe 25,000 Songs
3.1 - Polk: LSiM703, LSiM706c, PSW125 | PS Audio Quintet | VooDoo-Hubbell IG 8300 | Acoustic Panels, Acoustimac Bass Traps x3
6.1 - Pioneer Elite SC-05 | Pio BDP-51FD | Polk: RTi8, CSi5, F/Xi3, CSi3 | HSU Research VTF-2 MK4 | PS Audio: Quintet, Power Port Classic | DCF124BW x3 SC | Pangea: AC-9SE x2, 14SE, 14 PC | AQ Chocolate x2 HDMI | M850SW | Acoustic Panels, GIK Soffit Traps x4
3.1 - Polk: LSiM703, LSiM706c, PSW125 | PS Audio Quintet | VooDoo-Hubbell IG 8300 | Acoustic Panels, Acoustimac Bass Traps x3
6.1 - Pioneer Elite SC-05 | Pio BDP-51FD | Polk: RTi8, CSi5, F/Xi3, CSi3 | HSU Research VTF-2 MK4 | PS Audio: Quintet, Power Port Classic | DCF124BW x3 SC | Pangea: AC-9SE x2, 14SE, 14 PC | AQ Chocolate x2 HDMI | M850SW | Acoustic Panels, GIK Soffit Traps x4
That's a lot of work in anybodies book!