[djEmpire]

I always enjoyed the warm, dark and organic sound that vinyl emits when played on a dynamic system. It took me years to get used to the Compact Disc but I eventually (reluctantly) warmed up to it since the vinyl was becoming long in the tooth and difficult to attain. Now, it seems, that the CD is making it's trek into the sunset as well. To make matters worse, there are very few 'walk in' music stores around town to purchase music favourites.

We're left with digital downloads. Some compressed digital files sound like it was recorded in a phone booth and playing out of a Chef Boyadee can. Typically, the poorer the format, the worse it will sound on a high end system. My question to all of you is, what file format is the best to listen to without sounding like ass? And what sort of ripping format files yield the best sound while keeping the integrity intact?

[RipTorn]

Hi DjEmpire,..It took me a very long while to warm up to digital playback . The audio media elites talk of a soon to be revolution in sound ,..which never came ,...about to be released unto the market has been ongoing since the 1980s ,

.I finally purchased my very first digital player from EMM Labs in 2010, to me the Emm labs had a closer sound toward vinyl then others I listened too  , however I feel that analog trait of 3D dimensionality is missing in most digital playback even today .
Today things have changed and I have since sold my Emm labs along with a Accuphase analog tuner which I enjoyed very much over the decades .
I still spin records however due to retiring and down sizing to another home i had to also down size my stereo system ,.
Currently I'm looking into music being played through Bryston BDP 2 , Wyerd4 sound dac 2 le and to play back my cd collection I'm looking into a Bryston BOT 1 ,,.this little compact system of course can be expanded to FM radio listening along with purchasing so called hi res down loads ,.,.

[JLM]

All you say is so true.  I'd even say it extends to modern of speakers (thin, constipated, very spritely) compared to vintage speakers.  So I'd look for your desired voicing via gear, even the room.  Modern DAC's can handle most of the available formats so there's little need to focus on a particular format.  Particular versions of recordings sound better or worse and those versions use a variety of formats, so don't focus on one format versus another.

IMO the limited audiophile market can't support all the current high resolution formats (24/192, 32/284, DSD varieties, and MQA) so I expect a thinning out of the herd (just like SACD and DVDa).  I'd even suggest checking out Schiit and Chord DAC's that use different technologies.  Schiit dismisses DSD/MQA and Chord excels at Redbook (16/44.1, CD quality). 

[djEmpire]

Hi DjEmpire,..It took me a very long while to warm up to digital playback . The audio media elites talk of a soon to be revolution in sound ,..which never came ,...about to be released unto the market has been ongoing since the 1980s ,

.I finally purchased my very first digital player from EMM Labs in 2010, to me the Emm labs had a closer sound toward vinyl then others I listened too  , however I feel that analog trait of 3D dimensionality is missing in most digital playback even today .
Today things have changed and I have since sold my Emm labs along with a Accuphase analog tuner which I enjoyed very much over the decades .
I still spin records however due to retiring and down sizing to another home i had to also down size my stereo system ,.
Currently I'm looking into music being played through Bryston BDP 2 , Wyerd4 sound dac 2 le and to play back my cd collection I'm looking into a Bryston BOT 1 ,,.this little compact system of course can be expanded to FM radio listening along with purchasing so called hi res down loads ,.,.

I agree that it's extremely hard to rival that vinyl recording even if it's being played on a pair of technics 1200 using the old Stanton cartridge. Alas, My ears have paid the price playing in clubs for many years and now suffer from tinnitus. My Bryston model T speakers and Oppo bdp-105 DAC has made the transition to digital enjoyable.

[jseymour]

I have a Schitt Yggy and it also excels at CD level as it does at all PCM rates and depths up to 24/192. 

I completely agree about some modern speakers lacking body.  My Altecs (mid 70s) have a warm tonal quality that I love.  My recently purchased Spatial M3S Turbos are neutral versus the Altecs, but are so much more detailed and fuller range, plus have a full bodied sound.  I love the combination of 15" drivers and the horn compression driver.  I wanted to hear ESS 12" AMT as I have read they have a warm and detailed sound, but there was nowhere close to me to hear one. 

WAJ On Audio (http://wajonaudio.webs.com/) has very interesting comments regarding old vs. modern speakers.

[djEmpire]

All you say is so true.  I'd even say it extends to modern of speakers (thin, constipated, very spritely) compared to vintage speakers.  So I'd look for your desired voicing via gear, even the room.  Modern DAC's can handle most of the available formats so there's little need to focus on a particular format.  Particular versions of recordings sound better or worse and those versions use a variety of formats, so don't focus on one format versus another.

IMO the limited audiophile market can't support all the current high resolution formats (24/192, 32/284, DSD varieties, and MQA) so I expect a thinning out of the herd (just like SACD and DVDa).  I'd even suggest checking out Schiit and Chord DAC's that use different technologies.  Schiit dismisses DSD/MQA and Chord excels at Redbook (16/44.1, CD quality).

Very good advice JLM. IMHO, my current equipment seems up to the task. However, I don't want to be cheated by playing inferior digital music formats on superior gear. CD's are a still a viable format but they're becoming increasingly scarce.  Oh well, at least there's still several milk crates of vintage vinyl.

[JLM]

Streaming and download services are quickly replacing CD's (physical media).  For $20/month Tidal provides access via your account (wherever you access and on whatever device) to 16,000,000+ CD quality albums.  I'd say that makes it the perfect time to move on from vinyl.

[galyons]

Streaming and download services are quickly replacing CD's (physical media).  For $20/month Tidal provides access via your account (wherever you access and on whatever device) to 16,000,000+ CD quality albums.  I'd say that makes it the perfect time to move on from vinyl.

New  & used vinyl is pretty readily available.  IMO and experience, any decent vinyl rig will trounce Tidal.  Tried it for several months.  My broadband feed is 20Mbps, streaming via WiFi or RJ45 to a SB Touch to Audio Note Kits DAC 2.1B.  Tidal was only slightly better than streaming quality internet radio, but nowhere near my streamed CD's.  No comparison with the quality of any of my vinyl rigs. 

Of course, YMMV!

Cheers,
Geary

[RipTorn]

Streaming and download services are quickly replacing CD's (physical media).  For $20/month Tidal provides access via your account (wherever you access and on whatever device) to 16,000,000+ CD quality albums.  I'd say that makes it the perfect time to move on from vinyl.

Yes the convenience of access to music is absolutely mind blowing ,literally the world at your finger tips and not to take advantage is foolish , however every single thread usally titled , ...list your top picks of highest quality down loads, Over the years reading this information virtually every single thread on this top is / was short lived . 

[G Georgopoulos]

wtf is jlm on about, youtube has everything you could desire in digital

I'm staying with vinyl (thanks jlm) 

[timind]

I always enjoyed the warm, dark and organic sound that vinyl emits when played on a dynamic system. It took me years to get used to the Compact Disc but I eventually (reluctantly) warmed up to it since the vinyl was becoming long in the tooth and difficult to attain. Now, it seems, that the CD is making it's trek into the sunset as well. To make matters worse, there are very few 'walk in' music stores around town to purchase music favourites.

I can't address the gripes about streaming or downloads as I don't use them. As for the vinyl though, if you prefer the sound I don't see any reason to abandon it. Sure it's expensive and a pain in the a$$, but that sound...so worth it...to some.

Me? After growing up with vinyl and loving it for 30 or so years I found a cdp which provided superior (to my ears) sound to vinyl. I sold my turntable (mistake) and most of my vinyl after this revelation. Mistake? Well I wouldn't mind spinning some of my lps just for nostalgic thrills.