Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
The CD format is not separate files.
Windows reports 0 byte CDA files as the content of a music CD. You have to "convert" the content of a Red Book CD to either WAV, FLAC or whatever you choose for a computer to recognize them. That's a conversion by any standard.
In any case there is a deeper question. That is if, WAV and FLAC files don't sound the same as the CD, which one sounds closer to the CD and why. They are both supposed to yield bit perfect "conversions"
Well, good point Joe.
However, in my testing of the SQ, only involved comparison between WAV. & FLAC.
I never tried to compare either to the source CD`s, that those two type digital music files were ripped from(I trusted all the people who said it would be an exact copy, if I went WAV. lossless..
I assumed(I know a dangerous word !), that to do so(FAIRLY COMPARE) might be complicated, as, though I own 2 OPPO UHD-203`s(one is in the sunroom that has the Flash drive with all my WAV. music files on it sending it`s output via the S/PDIF coax through a 20 meter very high performance 75 ohm air core coax, and the other OPPO is in my A/V rack, also S/PDIF coax fed, albeit through a 2 meter S/PDIF coax to a S/PDIF 4X1 switch, as is the sunroom`s OPPO.
And my redundant music lap top with the same WAV. music files also feeds that switcher, via a Peach Tree X1 USB to S/PDIF converter, along with my 1987 Mac MCD 7007 CD player, via it`s S/PDIF coax output as well..
The output of my S/PDIF 4X1 switcher feeds my DAC`s S/PDIF input for conversion to analog which feeds my Mac C37 preamp, and on for HQ analog audio distribution into 6 rooms of my house.
I really never thought to try to compare between the original CD & it`s WAV. ripped clone, primarily because, for 5 years the lion`s share of the CD`s that are now WAV. ripped were being played in my Sony 400 disc player 24/7, also outputted via it`s S/PDIF coax to the same 20 meter 75 ohm coax, switcher, DAC, Mac preamp, etc. and if there was any SQ change/difference from when I went over to in house WAV. digital streaming, I`m pretty sure I would have noticed any change in SQ in CD`s that I had been listening to for years on a all day, daily basis through unchanged & very familiar playback audio systems.
And finally, if I were to try to compare CD to WAV. using both identical, in both model and menu setup, but separated OPPO`s, with the one in the A/V rack playing the CD, and the identical WAV. ripped CD music via the flash drive playing via the sunroom OPPO, I would be concerned about the substantially different length of S/PDIF coax feeds, might have some kind of influence on the sound of the longer 20 meter coax...
Even when the A/V rack OPPO, and the Mac CD player are compared, even sounded different, remember all A/V rack player`s/computer are SP/DIF coax fed to the 4X1 switcher and DAC, as the sunroom`s OPPO, is as well.
I`m personally happy with what my ripping file type(WAV.) and it`s resultant SQ is on all of my house`s audio systems.
If you guy/`s wish to experiment,/compare, well then, have at it.
I put off ripping any of my music until the Sony player`s NLA optical block failed over three years ago during hurricane Mathew, and was forced into this ripped music situation !!
Mercy Sakes Alive !! That`s a lot of one finger/one hand typing, and it`s time for another Stella, and a Winston.
Be safe, and happy New Year`s eve, and day, folks.
Kind regards, Billy Ferris
Last edited: