Connect CD player, and DAC

[Billb2]

CD Player: Denon DCD-1560 http://www.hifiengine.com/library/denon/dcd-1560.shtml
Dac: Dragonfly http://www.audioquest.com/usb_digital_analog_converter/dragonfly-dac
Also:
Integrated amp: Yamaha CA-1010 http://www.hifiengine.com/library/yamaha/ca-1010.shtml
Motherboard: Asus M5A88x EVO R2.0 http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A99X_EVO/

The CD player has digital outputs, both Optical (toslink?) and coax. I’d like to find a way to use the CD player as a transport. How do I get the digital signal from The CD player’s coax output to the DAC’s USB input? I also have a separate USB power supply for the DAC.

Ideally, I’d like to copy CDs to my computer as lossless files. The motherboard has USB inputs and outputs. But just being able to play CDs through the DAC would be OK.

 

[NutBucket]

Uh, why would you go through all this trouble? Just ripping the CD directly is loss-less. It will be a 1:1 copy of what's on the disc, bit by bit.

 

[Billb2]

Uh, why would you go through all this trouble? Just ripping the CD directly is loss-less. It will be a 1:1 copy of what's on the disc, bit by bit.

So, you're saying that ripping with one of the ASUS CD/DVD drives in my computer will yield the same SQ as ripping with the transport in a high end CD player? I don't think so. And, if that was so, then why do people buy $5k CD transports?

Anyway, that's why I want to try it, to see if it improves SQ.

So, digital BNC out to USB in, how? Just wire it up?

 

[Railgun]

Yeah...it does. And everyone says it. It's the DAC that matters. Has nothing to do with anything else but the DAC.

Why people buy $5k decks are for the DACs, electronic isolation, etc. They don't magically add bits to the disc before the DAC. Jitter is the key when all is said and done.

As for the rip, yes...if you put that through the same DAC, assuming everything between it and the source are similar (in the context of noise), it will sound identical. The bits on the disc are the same as the bits on the rip. This is of course depending on how you rip it, but if it's a proper lossless format...done deal.

 

[vshah]

use http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/ to rip your cds.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah...it does. And everyone says it. It's the DAC that matters. Has nothing to do with anything else but the DAC.

Why people buy $5k decks are for the DACs, electronic isolation, etc. They don't magically add bits to the disc before the DAC. Jitter is the key when all is said and done.

As for the rip, yes...if you put that through the same DAC, assuming everything between it and the source are similar (in the context of noise), it will sound identical. The bits on the disc are the same as the bits on the rip. This is of course depending on how you rip it, but if it's a proper lossless format...done deal.

If you really wanted to eliminate jitter find a CD player/DAC that allows an external frequency reference. Then buy yourself a rubidium frequency reference. Jitter will be reduced by orders of magnitude. But will you be able to hear a difference? I'd bet my paycheck you wouldn't.

 

[Gintaras]

So, you're saying that ripping with one of the ASUS CD/DVD drives in my computer will yield the same SQ as ripping with the transport in a high end CD player? I don't think so. And, if that was so, then why do people buy $5k CD transports?

Anyway, that's why I want to try it, to see if it improves SQ.

So, digital BNC out to USB in, how? Just wire it up?

Spend some time on Hydrogen Audio to get answers to your an OP questions....

Uh, why would you go through all this trouble? Just ripping the CD directly is loss-less. It will be a 1:1 copy of what's on the disc, bit by bit.

+1....
I have ~100 CDs in my collection(rest are LPs - vinyl) and I don't have a CD player, but I listen CDs(.Flac files) @ better quality thru my HiFiMan player and HiFiMan earphones.
To get same sound thru CD player/amp/speakers - I would have to spend prolly a few thousand $$$ more. And my HiFiMan player is just entry level $200 player and $120... earphones. I think, I made a mistake not buying $650 Astell & Kern AK100 @ NY Audio Show a few months ago....

And....on 32G SD card I have not one but maybe 50-60 CDs(approx)

 

[Railgun]

If you really wanted to eliminate jitter find a CD player/DAC that allows an external frequency reference. Then buy yourself a rubidium frequency reference. Jitter will be reduced by orders of magnitude. But will you be able to hear a difference? I'd bet my paycheck you wouldn't.

I'm not taking that bet as I'm in the same camp as you. Just saying that's why people do it.

And agree with the rest. Just didn't get into the explanation.

 

[Billb2]

use http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/ to rip your cds.

Thanks, but I've used that.
I'm looking for something better.

 

[Billb2]

They don't magically add bits to the disc before the DAC./QUOTE]

Oh, I buy that. But what I want to go is not corrupting the bits that ARE there.

 

[weez82]

How would a dac effect the rip? A dac is a digital to analog converter and has nothing to do with ripping. A dac is there for playback.

Thanks, but I've used that.
I'm looking for something better.

Use dbpoweramp, very simple to use. Or make sure you have eac setup correctly. If you want your music to sound better, get better speakers or headphones

 

[Phanuel]

They don't magically add bits to the disc before the DAC.

Oh, I buy that. But what I want to go is not corrupting the bits that ARE there.

If your standard run of the mill $10 CD player in your computer was corrupting the bits on a CD, you wouldn't have a functioning computer in the first place.

 

[NutBucket]

This, all day everyday. Plus, that's the reason for oversampling; "sample" the same bit multiple times to make sure its read correctly.

Plus I'm a big enough nerd that if there was such a thing as a commercially available cd player and DAC with an external reference input I'd try it out with the standards we have at the office. Hmm, maybe I can mod one of my players to accept an external reference....

 

[Railgun]

If your standard run of the mill $10 CD player in your computer was corrupting the bits on a CD, you wouldn't have a functioning computer in the first place.

That must be why Apple got rid of 'em.

 

[Billb2]

This, all day everyday. Plus, that's the reason for oversampling; "sample" the same bit multiple times to make sure its read correctly.

Plus I'm a big enough nerd that if there was such a thing as a commercially available cd player and DAC with an external reference input I'd try it out with the standards we have at the office. Hmm, maybe I can mod one of my players to accept an external reference....

LOL

You need one. http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/product/paganini-master-clock

 

[NutBucket]

That's overpriced audiophile crap. I can use this at the office:

http://www.symmetricom.com/products/frequency-references/active-hydrogen-maser/MHM-2010/

And if you want to reduce jitter that's the most effective way to do it. Anything you're suggesting is a waste of time/effort. Not sure how else to break it to you.

EDIT: If you want better sound start with a better source. Buy SACDs or buy vinyl and sample it at whatever rate you like. Higher rate = more bits = more accurate reproduction.

 

[Billb2]

And if you want to reduce jitter that's the most effective way to do it. Anything you're suggesting is a waste of time/effort. Not sure how else to break it to you.

Jitter is also caused by things other than clock error.

 

[Phanuel]

Vinyl isn't a better source...

And good luck ever detecting jitter with your mark 1 audible sensory organs.

 

[Paul98]

So, you're saying that ripping with one of the ASUS CD/DVD drives in my computer will yield the same SQ as ripping with the transport in a high end CD player? I don't think so. And, if that was so, then why do people buy $5k CD transports?

Anyway, that's why I want to try it, to see if it improves SQ.

So, digital BNC out to USB in, how? Just wire it up?

If you rip it in the drive in your computer you will get an EXACT bit for bit copy. It will be no different than the cd you started with.

 

[NutBucket]

Vinyl isn't a better source...

And good luck ever detecting jitter with your mark 1 audible sensory organs.

It depends on what you mean by better. Its better in that you can sample it at whatever bit rate your hardware supports and theoretically have it sound closer to the source material. Oversampling a digital is pointless.

And I agree OP, the clock source is only one part of the jitter puzzle. That said, I'm also not going to redesign all the circuits and interconnects with perfectly matched impedance.

 

[Phanuel]

Vinyl colors a source if the original source wasn't a vinyl.

But I mean, if you like the coloration that the vinyl pressing did, then sure, rip it at a high sample rate. My dad has ripped all of his extensive vinyl collection by now.

 

[Gintaras]

Vinyl isn't a better source...

Many japanese CD releases of albums from 70's, are recorded from LPs.

And I do know for sure, Trapeze(w/Glenn Hughes) all 3 CDs released in 90's are recorded from LPs - master tapes are gone....

 

[Gintaras]

Thanks, but I've used that.
I'm looking for something better.

looking for something that does not exist...at least yet...

good luck...

 

[Gintaras]

So, you're saying that ripping with one of the ASUS CD/DVD drives in my computer will yield the same SQ as ripping with the transport in a high end CD player? I don't think so. And, if that was so, then why do people buy $5k CD transports?

Anyway, that's why I want to try it, to see if it improves SQ.

Ripping CDs to losseless doesn't improve sound quality. CD or 16bit flac is 1 to 1.
Listening flac's thru audiophile DACs can expose CD mastering/production quality.

On lower end stereo, cd players all CDs sound pretty much same...

When I listen now CDs(flac) on my Hifi Man player with RE-262 earphones, I do hear differences.
It's not because how CDs were ripped. It's how these were mastered/produced.
When I listened to Def Leppard first 2 albums, I couldn't believe, how bad sound was.
And my fellow co-worker(who's also a musician) told me: "it's well known, that early Def Leppard albums production was very bad..

I got some jazz(vocal, pop jazz) albums, sound is unbelievable - when I listen to those, I'm like in a heaven...
But also, recording/producing side...And...if you visit any audiophile stereo equipment store or attend any audiophile show - most equipment are played jazz or classical music albums - LPs or CDs...or recently - Flac files thru DAC's...

 

[Billb2]

Well, thanks all.

Back to the original qustion:
How to connect a BNC digital output jack on a DC player to a USB port on a computer?
Voltage issues, impedance issues, What?