What’s your favourite source in your system?

[Iceman 16]

Sonically which music source is your favourite in your system (Streamer/ CDP / Turntable)?
In the past few years it was my cdp. BUT a couple of days ago a work mate visited me and brought some of his record collection. We played two albums by Vangelis - El Greco and Juno to Jupiter (box sets). The system is warming up for 2hrs prior to his arrival. I’m expecting the cdp to be superior but I was wrong! My analogue front end trumped or outclassed the cdp on both albums by quite a margin. No contest! The El Greco’s vinyl depth, width and almost tangible umbrella of sound that wrapped us around was amazing that we look at each other and he said ‘this is really good’. The cd version is not bad but the vinyl is just much better in every way. 😁

 

[DUVET]

My system works but not because of an individual component . Back in the day when digital was everything my Wadia 861 se was the dogs danglies but if I choose vinyl I can't just say the turntable as there are 4 component parts as In TT, arm , cart and phono stage . That said to me a good system is balanced and all the sources can live and accommodate each other but the upgrade path is sometimes the real tester as it can elevate or expose weaknesses in your system .

 

[uzzy]

It depends on what I am playing .. for example from my experience all AAD and most ADD CDs sound inferior to the original LPs, so for those albums Turntable is my favourite source.
As for DDD I cannot be arsed with the possible cornflake harmony and faff so my favourite source for them is CD.
I cannot abide streaming (there is just something special about standing in front of a massive LP anc CD rack and running your eyes and fingers across the titles to decide what to play. (My streamer gets used for internet radio to discover new music and when I like it I buy it).

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

1. Turntable
2. CD
3. Radio

 

[JANDL100]

Lea & Perrins.

 

[DiggyGun]

I only have the Linn streamer now.

However, when I had the turntable and CD player, the LP12 (Akurate plus spec) turntable was always better than the Naim CD5 XS CDP.

DG…

 

[Tarzan]

Easy peasy.

. 1. Michell Gyrodec SE/HR PSU/Audionote Arm3v2/Hana ML ( absolutely maxed out with mods.)


2.Pink Triangle Export GTI/SME V/Hana SL. ( This TT has a good few True Point Audio Modifications.)

These are fed into a Definitive Audio modded Art Audio Vinyl One or a Ryan Sound Labs phono stage respectively.


Both T/T's sound glorious and very, very musical. with either phono stage.

The RSL surprised me for a Solid State phono stage has no grit/ grain a real over achiever l feel.

 

[Strider]

For me that's like being asked to choose my favourite child, I only stream music now and as a whole the ensemble sounds superb.

 

[chris_bates1974]

My TT15S1 is massively superior to my Mitchell&Johnson streamer - no surprise there.
It's a long time since I have listened to a CD player - I keep meaning to borrow my daughter's NAD, but seemingly never get round to it!

 

[rabski]

Depends on the actual 'source'. In cases where the mastering is pretty much identical and both the LP and CD version of something are produced to get the best from the medium, then the LP tends to be better.

It's a bit of a gamble though. Sometimes the CD is better, and sometimes the streaming version is. Overall though, LP first.

 

[ziggy]

100% streaming. I used to play both vinyl and CD and both had their pros and cons. I have found that upscaled streams (Mscaler) combines the benefits of both.

 

[Chumpchops]

The internet is my fav source. It’s an amazing digital transport.

 

[Beobloke]

If you really have to ask, my turntable isn’t too bad…

 

[Idlewithnodrive]

Depends on the actual 'source'. In cases where the mastering is pretty much identical and both the LP and CD version of something are produced to get the best from the medium, then the LP tends to be better.

It's a bit of a gamble though. Sometimes the CD is better, and sometimes the streaming version is. Overall though, LP first.

What this man says.

It's as much about the software as the hardware.

 

[pmcuk]

I'm sure my old vinyl sounded better, but it just wasn't practical. Now everything is digital on my Mac Pro. So no choices, and I'm perfectly happy to keep it that way. Ease of use, ability to access everything from my desktop, 100% better ergonomics. I'd never want to own a turntable again. Even the thought of it is repulsive - worn and broken needles, industrial size racks full of LPS........ no, no, no.

 

[John (big)]

My system works but not because of an individual component . Back in the day when digital was everything my Wadia 861 se was the dogs danglies but if I choose vinyl I can't just say the turntable as there are 4 component parts as In TT, arm , cart and phono stage . That said to me a good system is balanced and all the sources can live and accommodate each other but the upgrade path is sometimes the real tester as it can elevate or expose weaknesses in your system .

I agree with DUVET My DC modified Michell badged Transcriptors built Hydraulic Reference Turntable (with 3 oak cone feet), Hadcock 242 silver plus arm (used to develop the cartridge) with XTC counterweight sporting a Cartridgeman Musicmaster cartridge. Modified Croft Vitale phono stage I would include in this pure silver wiring/phono leads & the very heavy paving stone bolted to 2 brick walls in an alcove it sits on as none of the above would work as well as they do.

I love my other sources but the HR does it for me.

 

[Pedro2]

Once I get the opportunity, I’m going to test this out. I recently bought an Audiolab CD transport, and I suspect that feeding the DAC/pre in the Linn Akurate, it will be hard to beat.
I will compare against streaming (Flac) and vinyl (TD160B/AT RigB paratrace).

 

[Gromit]

Streamer (Node 2i/Mojo).

I've got a perfectly good turntable, but it hardly gets any use these days.

 

[Brown Bottle]

I stream almost all the time now but don't get much time to sit down and just listen. I still chose vinyl if it's purely listening pleasure.

Cheers BB

 

[JANDL100]

I've been internet streaming for years, got rid of the vinyl (good riddance; when it was good it was very very good, but when it was bad (which was quite often) it irritated the f##k out of me).

But strangely coincidentally aligning with this new thread, just yesterday I bought a CD player on t'bay, possibly my favourite digital chip (tda1549) and a souped up valve output stage and other mods. Quite excited, should arrive Friday.
I've been coming across quite a few CDs that aren't available streamed in charity shops, usually freebie giveaways from classical music magazines enshrining live performances, some of which are marvellous.

So who knows, maybe the new CD player will entice me away from streaming and get me to delve into my increasingly dusty CD collection?