The fact that I couldn’t tell the difference between CDS2 and rip via Core/ NDX2/ XPSDR (though I could without the PS) in a blind test certainly doesn’t mean that you can’t, and in any case we have different kit.
I hope you felt a blind comparison was nevertheless useful.
Also lots of people report than an NDS was a pretty special unit.
Your reply raises several points. Firstly, continuously reiterating “in my opinion” becomes redundant when it is already evident. Secondly, your statement, “If you can’t hear the difference, then good on you,” can be interpreted as conveying a sense of superiority. It is worth noting that I didn’t comment on my preference. I rate my CDS3 player which is the better source in the Naim hierarchy over my 272/555 streamer, which doesn’t mean I would resort to dismissing streamers at a higher level or other people’s experience. However, based on your theory, the 272 should surpass the CDS3. Lastly, when confronted with the realisation that your argument lacks logical consistency, it is natural to resort to expanding the discussion. i.e., FM radio and vinyl.
It’s a non sense. It goes against all the experiences of members here.
From all the threads I could follow since many years, some members consider the Nds/555 dr at the level of Cds3/555dr, some find it better, other a bit inferior. With an audiophile switch the Nds is at the level of the Cd555, with less grip and authority but more soundstage, refinement and details.
The Ndx, Nd5xs 1 and 2, 272 , are all inferior to the CDS, even with only an Xpsdr.
The CD555 is better vs all the streamers, outside of Nd555 and NDS if well optimised.
So you are the only one vs hundreds of members experience to make such a statement that ripped cds are better sounding in every cases vs all cd players.
And also outside of all the audiophile forums existing.
It has to be compressed in order to fit onto stick i stand my ground there is no way is it better than a cd. Why don’t you put your theory to cyrus. I had a cds3 fabulous player
What about uncompressed music on a memory stick? How does that perform?
Complete and utter nonsense.
The RedBook CD standard allows 80 minutes of audio, with a maximum uncompressed data size of about 700MB. Typical CD albums are less, obviously.
Back in the day, at a conference, I remember being given a “state of the art” USB stick which was a mighty 512MB. However, 1GB was common soon after that (early 2000’s) so for almost 20 years it has been possible to store an uncompressed CD rip on a USB stick.
Modern USB sticks can of course hold many 1000s of uncompressed digital albums (1TB flash drives are now available).
Interesting a CD transport in to a good DAC rarely gets mentioned as an option. I know one excellent Heed/nDAC/XPSDR combination. Very simple with great results.
That’s good and then you also have the option to play bit perfect ripped CD’s on USB stick into the nDac,the USB on the rear of the nDac sounds the best.