Memory card player doesn't make sense

[PBeyer]

Been reading a lot here on memory card players, but question if it will help me to upgrade my digital audio playback in terms of quality. Does it make any sense to build a card player and dump all CD's on memory cards if high quality is the objective. Read carefully: high quality is the objective! Of course very handy to have small devices, portability etc, From a quality perspective, good CD transport and good DAC (I2S connected, buffered, reclocked, etc etc) will yield the same quality. Even if one can obtain the source recording on a memory card. All of this in 44.1KHz domain ofcourse. Just follow the chain of jitter . . . Or did I miss something?

[TheSeekerr]

There is no jitter "introduced" when transferring digital files, only upon playback. So ripping the CD to hard drive and copying to an SD card gives you an SD card with a file indistinguishable from the file on the CD.

At that point, the logic goes like this:

a) I can fit 5+ albums on a 4GB SD card, which is reusable and fairly cheap.
b) Transport is now entirely solid state, no issues with motors, laser tracking, balance, alignment etc.
c) Resulting transport can be tiny compared to a good CD transport as a result of removing the mechanical concerns (no need for hefty precise mechanisms or vibration damping etc)

Since it's often suggested that tweaking mechanical factors affects the sound of a transport (I don't really believe this, once the digital stream is bit perfect, I doubt tweaks which -might- be affecting jitter will make noticable differences), making these factors irrelevant should yield a "more perfect" source.

[Bernhard]

Originally Posted by PBeyer

Does it make any sense to build a card player and dump all CD's on memory cards if high quality is the objective. Read carefully: high quality is the objective! Of course very handy to have small devices, portability etc, From a quality perspective, good CD transport and good DAC (I2S connected, buffered, reclocked, etc etc) will yield the same quality

Good CD transport and clock inside the DAC + recklocking signals is all you need.

What bothers me with memory card players is that they have poor user interfaces, at least the DIY ones.
When I compare to my mobile phone, it shows all the interprets, album titles and track titles, plays random and whatever...
Also a memory card player should have a word clock input if used with an external DAC.
Last but not least, the cards are so small, you can not write anything on them except card number.

[Mooly]

I am surprised these haven't been more popular.
Playback only here,
AMERICAN AUDIO|MEDIA OPERATOR|MEDIA PLAYER 1U RACKMOUNT | CPC From This Range&MER=e-bb45-00001003

Have seen ones that record too, on very reasonably priced but appeared to offer only analogue inputs, no SPDIF etc.

[poynton]

Originally Posted by Mooly

I am surprised these haven't been more popular.
Playback only here,
AMERICAN AUDIO|MEDIA OPERATOR|MEDIA PLAYER 1U RACKMOUNT | CPC From This Range&MER=e-bb45-00001003

Have seen ones that record too, on very reasonably priced but appeared to offer only analogue inputs, no SPDIF etc.

"Idiot Proof" design with mic input.... a modern alternative to the old continuous tape players used for muzak in stores and lifts


I would bet that someone/somewhere sells pre-recorded SD cards of 'lift music'.



Andy


.

[Mooly]

Originally Posted by poynton

'I would bet that someone/somewhere sells pre-recorded SD cards of 'lift music'.
Andy
.

Now there's a marketing opportunity

I would seriously consider a decent "recorder" as I use Minidisc for recording from radio at times and a solid state replacement would be ideal.

[Bas Horneman]

I think of it this way. Reading the actual CD is at least afaik the weakest link. This is solved with solid state or hard drive storage. The problem you are then faced with is the transport of this data. In the end high quality can be had with both systems.

[Mooly]

Originally Posted by Bas Horneman

I think of it this way. Reading the actual CD is at least afaik the weakest link. This is solved with solid state or hard drive storage. The problem you are then faced with is the transport of this data. In the end high quality can be had with both systems.

I agree... very high quality is possible.

I was just looking up Minidisc... has production finished ?
And the price of solid state recorders etc is way over the top... guess it is a niche market though, look at HD-R1
Tascam Division - TEAC Europe GmbH

What we need is someone like Cambridge Audio to come up with a product.

[sandyK]

"I think of it this way. Reading the actual CD is at least afaik the weakest link.-Bas Horneman"


Page Title
The conclusion on p.59 is also of interest,as is the whole of issue 80.
Unfortunately the earlier issues referred to ,no longer seem to be accessible via Google, only by purchasing. I have seen a few of the earlier issues previously.

[cocolino]

Originally Posted by Bernhard

What bothers me with memory card players is that they have poor user interfaces, at least the DIY ones.
When I compare to my mobile phone, it shows all the interprets, album titles and track titles, plays random and whatever...

Exactly!
Even when at sometime it`s possible to fit an entire CD-collection in high quality (lossless) formats on memory, it`s pointless trying to access a few hundret folders with a few thousand files through a 'relatively dumb' user interface and a tiny display.
It seems that all those nice and comfortable user interface features are reserved for Ipod, cellphone, MP3 player or PC users only.
I dont´get it that standalone high quality audio gear and a userfriendly interface don`t appear to be something worthwhile, neither DIY nor commercial.