[qkot]

Does anyone have any experience comparing a BCD-1 with a mac min+BDA-1 combo?

I want to go the digital route, but after listening to the BDA-1 with a poor transport, (sound was quite bad when compared to the BCD-1) I am skeptical that a computer+dac combo can compete with a good quality cd player.

[joey116]

Interesting question qkot, archiving CD's to a computer \ server, are you not at the mercy of the computers built in optical drive? probably a $30 component at best, if not, why do people spend $$$$$ on hi-end transports?

Sorry if I hijacked your thread but we seem to be thinking the same way.

[srb]

Interesting question qkot, archiving CD's to a computer server, are you not at the mercy of the computers built in optical drive? probably a $30 component at best, if not, why do people spend $$$$$ on hi-end transports?

No, you are mostly concerned with the software used for ripping and it's error correction protocol.  The error correction component of the ripping software can extract a bit perfect file to the hard drive.  If the computer has a poorer quality optical drive, the error correction may take a little longer and the computer may work a little harder, but the end result should be the same bit perfect file.
 
A CD transport must perform it's error correction in real time, on the fly.  A good transport will also output the digital stream to a DAC with less jitter (mistiming) in the signal.
 
Steve