[Anonamemouse]

Alan Sircom claims CD and SACD sound better than computer files (and completely ignores the fact that what is on a CD is a computer file as well) and brings LP's back into the equation.

[SoundGame]

Interesting read and perspective.  I'm not going to challenge it because I haven't heard top-tier CD/SACD vs. the best DAC/music file systems.  It's interesting that there would be a preference for CD/SACD but that could be because of synergies between the transport and the integrated DACs in the top-tier players.

I don't believe the CD/SACD market is dead - perhaps for the masses but as a music lover and audiophile, I still continue buying CD's.

[rmurray]

 Must be talking about those dreadful transcribed early cds that were recorded and mixed for lps. The new stuff has nothing to do with analogue recordings.

[gooberdude]

I'll agree with the article. 

I've been a vinyl junkie for the longest time and only recently went all digital...initially with a new mac mini & Tranquility dac.  A few months after the purchase I picked up a TRL modd'd sacd player used for $300, and it trounces the mini+dac set-up sound quality wise & in the sheer size of the soundstage & separation of musicians.  Once i got around to running the sacd thru a dac that gap grew even wider.

I miss the good old days of spinning vinyl & having nearly lifesized musicians in the room.

[redbook]

 Poor cross section with only 24 votes.....nice try though. 

[PRELUDE]

 
Ok.I cannot vote based on personal experiment.
Back in old days I had the PINK FLOYD[dark side of the moon] on vinyl and I made a copy on cassette tape.The table was THORENS TD124 with DENON cartridge.The cassette was TDK-SAX and recorder was the NAKAMICHI 1000.
After cd came in the market I bought the album on cd and my table and all the vinyls were gone so, I could not compare it with vinyl but my tape was much much better then the cd.Almost to the point that I did not want to listen to the cd at all.
I played both for more then 40 or 50 people and asked them that which one they would like to listen to?
Not even one person liked the cd.So I was sure that I am not loosing.
Then after few years, my neighbour went Japan and bought this album on cd and brought it over.And this cd beat the crap on my tape recorded wonderful.As far he would not care about sound quality I asked him if I could pay him however he paid for the cd and buy it from him.Then I even told him he can have my copy for free and gave him a cop of coffee also.He asked me few times that he does not get it that why I am doing this.
End of the story.
I think the better sounding one is the one that recorded right,which is a dream for us.

[JfTM]

Ok.I cannot vote based on personal experiment.
Back in old days I had the PINK FLOYD[dark side of the moon] on vinyl and I made a copy on cassette tape.The table was THORENS TD124 with DENON cartridge.The cassette was TDK-SAX and recorder was the NAKAMICHI 1000.
After cd came in the market I bought the album on cd and my table and all the vinyls were gone so, I could not compare it with vinyl but my tape was much much better then the cd.Almost to the point that I did not want to listen to the cd at all.
I played both for more then 40 or 50 people and asked them that which one they would like to listen to?
Not even one person liked the cd.So I was sure that I am not loosing.
Then after few years, my neighbour went Japan and bought this album on cd and brought it over.And this cd beat the crap on my tape recorded wonderful.As far he would not care about sound quality I asked him if I could pay him however he paid for the cd and buy it from him.Then I even told him he can have my copy for free and gave him a cop of coffee also.He asked me few times that he does not get it that why I am doing this.
End of the story.
I think the better sounding one is the one that recorded right,which is a dream for us.

Agree completely, although I think it is the mixing that is key. Not much can be done with a bad recording/source, but properly mixing the source is key.

[redbook]

   I got the same cd release in 1989 or so and it was no match for my Lp version. It was all the things that gave digital a bad name.( tinny. dry no sound stage...yuk yuk.) A few years ago I bought the "remastered" version and what an improvement overall! I think the LP is still better but once again it was made for analogue. If it was done today, who knows? Either way, "Darkside" is a timeless classic for all time regardless.

[redbook]

 By the way , who is screwing with those votes? They seem to be manipulated by some LP lovers . Let's remove this falsified and biased pole before it causing more pissing contests. The number of votes have changed dramatically over the last few days and looks like bullshit  .

[rmurray]

Bravo. If someone want's to stir the pot keep it on your own stove

[werd]

That editorial is probably driven by the fact that their advertisers still have a lot of cd and sacd inventory that needs to go.

[Diamond Dog]

That editorial is probably driven by the fact that their advertisers still have a lot of cd and sacd inventory that needs to go.

I think that if more people had the chance to experience the level of CD / SACD playback the Sircom refers to, we'd see fewer comments like the one above.
 
Werd, here you say that the motivation behind Alan Sircom's view on the importance of quality source equipment is merely some cynical attempt to help manufacturers shift inventory. But in the " Are You An Audiophile? " thread earlier today you said this:

 "The most important part of an audiophile is experience is the source. Its plays the band, it just makes all musical information happen. The source is boss. Its just that simple. Whatever source you choose is what you will hear amplified through your speakers."

And in the " Is All Wattage Created Equal? " thread, earlier today you said this:

" What do you expect?, they cycle through amps using the same lousy source and some how come to the conclusion that all amps sound the same with no regard that their lousy source is the culprit.

Excellent source will allow good amps to perform and lousy amps to ... well not. If you use a lousy source piece, that piece will play boss and suck down every amps attached to it. Essentially making everything sound the same. "

Seems like an attempt to simultaneously suck and blow, my friend. And, in the immortal words of Rocky the Flying Squirrel: "But that trick never works..." 

Stir that pot....

D.D.

[werd]

I think that if more people had the chance to experience the level of CD / SACD playback the Sircom refers to, we'd see fewer comments like the one above.
 
Werd, here you say that the motivation behind Alan Sircom's view on the importance of quality source equipment is merely some cynical attempt to help manufacturers shift inventory. But in the " Are You An Audiophile? " thread earlier today you said this:

 "The most important part of an audiophile is experience is the source. Its plays the band, it just makes all musical information happen. The source is boss. Its just that simple. Whatever source you choose is what you will hear amplified through your speakers."

And in the " Is All Wattage Created Equal? " thread, earlier today you said this:

" What do you expect?, they cycle through amps using the same lousy source and some how come to the conclusion that all amps sound the same with no regard that their lousy source is the culprit.

Excellent source will allow good amps to perform and lousy amps to ... well not. If you use a lousy source piece, that piece will play boss and suck down every amps attached to it. Essentially making everything sound the same. "

Seems like an attempt to simultaneously suck and blow, my friend. And, in the immortal words of Rocky the Flying Squirrel: "But that trick never works..." 

Stir that pot....

D.D.

CD's are on there way out. Come on read the article. He's throwing around names of big expensive   cd gear while at the same time criticizing file playback. Its a nudge towards this gear thats no doubt collecting dust in some warehouse. Its no big epiphany that the cd gear he is refering is good. We all know that so why is he saying it? He is saying because times are hard and the inventory is there and needs to be moved.

[Diamond Dog]

Come on read the article. He's throwing around names of big expensive   cd gear while at the same time criticizing file playback.

No he's not - that's your interpretation. He's saying that it is not as clearcut as to which playback method is better as some ( perhaps including you ) would have others believe. Especially when you've heard the best of both camps. I know you run a BDP-1 / BDA-1 combo which is a wonderful-sounding pairing.  What's the best CD/SACD played you've ever spent some serious listening time with?

Its a nudge towards this gear thats no doubt collecting dust in some warehouse. Its no big epiphany that the cd gear he is refering is good. We all know that so why is he saying it? He is saying because times are hard and the inventory is there and needs to be moved.

Nah... you know how these manufacturers work as well as anyone - there's no warehouses stuffed with ultra-high-end front ends ( and maybe in one box, the Arc of the Covenant  ) waiting for Alan Sircom to get the hoople-heads motivated enough to snap 'em up. It's built to order in most cases and for a lot of it, there's a waiting list. Give your head a shake - maybe that tin-foil conspiracy cap will come off and free your mind...

Stir that pot...

D.D. 

[werd]

No he's not - that's your interpretation. He's saying that it is not as clearcut as to which playback method is better as some ( perhaps including you ) would have others believe. Especially when you've heard the best of both camps. I know you run a BDP-1 / BDA-1 combo which is a wonderful-sounding pairing.  What's the best CD/SACD played you've ever spent some serious listening time with?

Nah... you know how these manufacturers work as well as anyone - there's no warehouses stuffed with ultra-high-end front ends ( and maybe in one box, the Arc of the Covenant  ) waiting for Alan Sircom to get the hoople-heads motivated enough to snap 'em up. It's built to order in most cases and for a lot of it, there's a waiting list. Give your head a shake - maybe that tin-foil conspiracy cap will come off and free your mind...

Stir that pot...

D.D.

yah ok you win.

[Diamond Dog]

yah ok you win.

And you sir, are a formidable opponent.   

D.D.