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Post by MartinT on Jun 7, 2016 13:15:49 GMT
I use Spotify and Internet Radio (Radio Paradise) quite a lot, as well as records. It's just that my most often used source is the CD player.
Good as Spotify can be, Jerry, it doesn't hold a candle to CDs for SQ. Therefore if I like an album enough, I will still buy it.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 7, 2016 13:50:47 GMT
Vinyl. I haven't bought a cd in many years and only have a player to very occasionally play my and the mrs's old cd's ... What about Classical Jules, I couldn't cope listening to that with any surface noise, esprcially quiet passages, or don't you mind that? Good question Tim! Actually I'm really picky about all my vinyl purchases, classical, rock or pop ... I only buy in near mint condition and from sellers who have a decent returns policy. Sure it's a hassle having to clean the vinyl and send a few back but I just don't get anywhere near the enjoyment from digital. For classical I tend to buy from a small number of dealers that I know and trust. With rock and pop I'm more willing to take a bit of a punt ...
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Post by Tim on Jun 7, 2016 14:18:22 GMT
Good as Spotify can be, Jerry, it doesn't hold a candle to CDs for SQ. Or as good as FLAC files from a decent FBA system
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Post by MartinT on Jun 7, 2016 14:21:55 GMT
Sure!
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 7, 2016 16:40:22 GMT
Ever one to be a bit different, if were talking about which source do you use most of the time? - well that would be a near equal split between FM Radio and CD. But as the question is which is the prefered source, I would have to vote CD.
To my ears vinyl playback and CD are equally good (or bad as you see fit). CD wins out for convenience and low running costs (I could just about get a decent cartridge for the price I paid for my CD player (a Studer-Revox C221 broadcast standard machine) and we haven't consideed the cost of the arm, TT and phonostage.)
Vinyl has its charms, 'hands-on' interaction: the ceremony of cleaning it and the stylus, getting up to turn it over; lovely album art work; easy to read sleeve notes, and the avoidence of the horrid little booklet that comes with CDs. Oh and the smell of old vinyl!
If I were to list my sources in order of use, it would be:
1 FM Radio 2 CD replay 3 Vinyl replay 4 Playback of 1/4" tape (on a Nagra IV-S reel-to-reel machine) 5 Playback of 1/8" tape cassettes (on a Nakamichi BX-2 machine).
As ChrisB has mentioned, the preferred source is the one on which your chosen taste of music is avaliable. That for me is CD, as I'm not prepared to pay > £25 for a new vinyl copy and yet still put up with less than perfect pressings. I do look in charity shops and at boot sales for good used vinyl, but much of it is rubbish and in very poor condition (and yet the sellers often have the nerve to ask a least £3 for such tatty copies!).
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Post by jandl100 on Jun 7, 2016 17:39:36 GMT
Good as Spotify can be, Jerry, it doesn't hold a candle to CDs for SQ. Therefore if I like an album enough, I will still buy it. Interesting. What do you use to play Spotify? I use the same DAC for Spotify and CDs - maybe that kind of equalises things?
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Post by John on Jun 7, 2016 17:58:40 GMT
Whilst I enjoy Spotify it does not equal my file based system (going through the same equipment)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 18:55:59 GMT
Whilst I enjoy Spotify it does not equal my file based system (going through the same equipment) Same for me, whilst Spotify is good, it's not a patch on the streamed files through my NDX.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 7, 2016 19:05:57 GMT
I play Spotify through the Raspberry Pi 2 with Volumio and the Caiman-II DAC. Very good indeed, but TonyC's mods to my Ayre player took it up a level again.
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Post by pwiles1968 on Jun 9, 2016 20:42:35 GMT
I love treating myself to a Vinyl session but my Mac Mini and iTunes is my Go to Source.
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Guest
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Posts: 347
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Post by Guest on Jun 11, 2016 10:01:41 GMT
I prefer records, because I retain the ability to listen to one album all the way through without 'messing' about. Hate files, they sound so poor, especially muffled process third attempt. CD's are too sharp.
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Post by Tim on Jun 11, 2016 10:07:53 GMT
Get the right file player and they can equal or better records. And I listen to a whole album without getting up
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Post by MartinT on Jun 11, 2016 10:16:20 GMT
muffled process third attempt
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Post by pre65 on Jun 11, 2016 10:18:44 GMT
I prefer records, because I retain the ability to listen to one album all the way through without 'messing' about. Hate files, they sound so poor, especially muffled process third attempt. CD's are too sharp. Oh dear, I fear your CD replay components are either below par, or not in synergy with the rest of the system. How do you play your "files", as I'm surprised you get poor sound. What is "muffled process third attempt" ? Even using Windows media player and the computers built in sound card I used to get very reasonable sound quality.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 11, 2016 10:21:12 GMT
What is "muffled process third attempt" ? He means mp3.
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Post by pre65 on Jun 11, 2016 10:25:40 GMT
What is "muffled process third attempt" ? He means mp3. Well, what's the point of being into "hi-fi" and then using MP3 as a source ?
Unless it's for an i-pad for when you are jogging.
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Post by Stratmangler on Jun 11, 2016 10:32:22 GMT
Well, what's the point of being into "hi-fi" and then using MP3 as a source ? Unless it's for an i-pad for when you are jogging. Dont'cha mean iPod, or iPhone?
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Post by pre65 on Jun 11, 2016 10:37:08 GMT
Well, what's the point of being into "hi-fi" and then using MP3 as a source ? Unless it's for an i-pad for when you are jogging. Dont'cha mean iPod, or iPhone? Thanks Chris, being an "old fart" I've never owned anything Apple so am blissfully unaware of their proper designations.
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Post by Stratmangler on Jun 11, 2016 11:01:02 GMT
Thanks Chris, being an "old fart" I've never owned anything Apple so am blissfully unaware of their proper designations. I've never owned anything Apple either. I tell a lie - I have a pair of their iPhone earphones, and they sound alright. Not brilliant, but they're alright. I like them because you don't put them in your ear canal, as they sit in the folds of your outer ear. And they sound alright.
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Post by speedysteve on Jun 11, 2016 12:47:03 GMT
99% is now flac. CDP is in storage. Record deck gets used very occasionally these days. It still sounds nice though. RCM ensures good clear playback.
The USB -> I2S to Najda is just to good for easy quick use.
I am looking at Roon / Tidal as an even more complete experience over Jriver but it is a bit pricey i think. A pal of mine was using it when i visited and it was very interesting...
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