Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming CD sounds better than ripped and streamed?

Hi all,
I was reading on Darko audio his following comment to a question about CD sound vs streaming:
Lacking a CD player I can’t do a comparison but thought this was an interesting comment to share with you. For the ones who have a 800 series or alike CD player, what are your findings?

Cheers!

For a 808v6 player, no difference between internal CD drive and Sooloos / Roon over ID41.

Playing using an earlier Meridian 208 CD player to the digital in of the 808v6 does not sound as good as the 808v6 internal player, ie the 808v6 internals for both CD playback and steaming via ID41 really do make a difference.
Having said that, other sources via HD621 through to the 808v6 digital input do themselves sound excellent as well.

John

Agreed 100%, my purchase of 808 many years ago and now 2 upgrades later to v6 were and are the best investments I ever made in Meridian, considering the advent of MQA.
Hector

Red book CD vs 16 bit 44k1 files.
800 (not upsampling) --> 861v6 vs. Sooloos or Roon --> ID40 / 861v6 ... zero difference.
800 (upsampling) --> 861v6 vs. vs. Sooloos or Roon --> ID40 / 861v6 ... I prefered the later, however ...

800 (upsampling) vs 800 (not-upsampling) --> 861v6 vs. ... again I prefered the later, I put this down to the apodizing filters in use when the 861 is upsampling.

24 / 96k two channel DVD-A vs. the ripped version of the disc.
800 --> 861v6 vs. Sooloos or Roon --> ID40 / 861v6 ... zero difference.

Summary disc spinning vs streaming the same file ... on good equipment no difference ...

Regards,
Carl

Had a go this afternoon comparing CD playing in the 808v6 vs ripped version of same CD (Exact Audio Copy) played through Roon vs 16/44 FLAC streamed version from Tidal.

In each test, there was a definite difference between the 808v6 and the non CD versions, it wasn't a great difference, but it was noticeable. The CD version always sounded that bit richer and fuller, with more presence - better soundstage? The non CD versions were, to all intents and purposes, the same as each other. but were leaner and tighter, and seemed to be more defined when compared to the CD.

Not a very scientific test, but levels were kept the same, listening condition unchanged etc.

The most important bit was that once you were into a couple of minutes of listening to any of the versions, you could have quite happily listened to it all day, which is what usually happens.

The CDs used were: Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter and Rick Wakeman - Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights bod the Round Table (2016 version).

Until recently, when comparing CDs played on an 808v6 into 8kSE versus streaming via a laptop and USB, I found little difference between the two. However, since changing my focus to streaming and using a NUC with Roon, I have found streaming to be significantly better. I should explain that my NUC is connected to my 808 via USB because the ID41 does not work with my TalkTalk router.

Inevitably, this increase in sound quality has involved spending money on a switch and network filter as well as some LPS. But all this expenditure combined with the cost of the NUC has been very modest compared with the cost of an up-market streamer. I am very pleased with the result.

Hi Asa
"Increase in Sound Quality"
Glad to hear that. Even at 44.1kHz 16Bit MQA
Hector

Forgot to mention that in my case, Roon is on my iMac and serves the ID41 via the home network. The switch that is connected to the 808v6 has an upgraded power supply (though not LPS).

If your ID41 would work with your router, would you expect any change in sound quality compared to using USB?

The simple answer is yes. I would prefer to use the ID41 as I think it offers greater shielding from noise; and USB is inherently noisy.

That is interesting Asa

I have BT router connected to my Ethernet switch LAN which is dedicated to my Audio system. Two PC's (Mac and HP) connected to my LAN but they play no part in Audio reproduction

No such problem here as you describe, glad I have not succumbed to the lower price broadband offer from TalkTalk as it would apparently not compete with the facility I have.

Hector

Unless you are trying to stream via wifi, a switch in series with the TalkTalk 'router' and everything wired into that will keep all traffic out of the 'router' - apart from Wireless access, the TalkTalk 'router' will be totally out of the loop for wired traffic. Its then down to the choice of switch. I would recommend an inexpensive switch from a reputable manufacturer such as Netgear, but sounds like you would want something different - its not going to be any worse than the switch in the TalkTalk 'router'.

I recommend the 8Switch.