Keyser Söze

So is this happening?

I'll sign up if we can get verification this project will move forward. I'm not signing up to wait another year or two.

Well considering all my SACDs are hybrids from audiophile labels, I voted in favor of SACD.

All this DRM and $18-25 per album bullchit is why I still buy CDs. You can get fairly-priced, good-sounding CDs these days if you look in the right spots.

Oh darn thought we were talking about the song, not the album. For the whole album, I have often heard the MFSL Gold CD is really good. I have also heard the SHM-SACD measures up very well. For what it's worth, the Platinum SHM-CD is still available from CDJapan which are the same masters as the SACDs. CDJapan : Goodbye Yellow Brick Road [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Platinum SHM-CD] [Limited Release] Elton John CD Album

If you like listening to whole albums, keep buying CDs. They are the best deal. But you have to do a little research on the sound quality of a specific release since there are so many crappy remasters around.

Steve Hoffman DCC Gold CD of "Elton John Greatest Hits."

I tend to avoid remasters unless I can find favorable reviews regarding the sound quality. Most tend to be brickwalled sonic disasters. But more often than not, remastering is supposed to be about getting a better transfer from the source.

Use the test & copy functions in EAC and just compare checksums. If the checksums come out the same, then you know the rip is fine.

Aac.

Does it really sound as good as some people are saying? Has anyone done a direct comparison to the FiiO X5? I find it a little difficult to believe that the ESS DAC in the Pono is better than the Burr-Brown in the X5.

I'd suggest the FiiO X5. It does 2x128gb microSD cards. It's down to $350 on Amazon currently so now is a good time to get it. I have heard mixed reviews on the Pono and my best advice would be to wait until they get all the bugs worked out before buying one.

I agree. It would nice to see Sony license some type of USB SACD drive as well as some type of program to rip the DSD layer of the discs. I have many audiophile SACDs that I really wish I could back up to 24/88.2 file but I can't. As for a ripping software, I would rather have some type of free solution that employs the AccurateRip database. I have a feeling if Sony made it, it would cost too much money and the error correction would be about as good as iTunes.

Hello, I am planning on upgrading from my current headphone which is the Audio Technica ATH-M50S. How large of an improvement will I notice listening to FLAC files through my FiiO X3, if I upgrade to either of these headphones? Also, is there any advantage that the HD650 has over the HD600, as the HD600 was what I was planning to get due to a slightly lower price? Thanks, Keyser

Is this a reply to me? Yes, typically the CD's I am buying are used. But often I can find a CD on Amazon new for under $10. I believe a typical album on iTunes is $10. Nothing wrong with buying iTunes tracks. I prefer Amazon MP3, again, because the cost is lower - if I'm going to buy digital downloads over a CD.