Question KEF LS50 Meta or Klipsch The Sevens?

[Jasonovich]

That's why I've converted some vinyl to FLAC, so that I can 😉
It will be a while before I ditch all sources in favour of streamer only (if ever).

Streamer/DAC with or without a digital transport is definitely the future.
I hardly purchase physical based media, yes, the occasional SACD.
It's horribly expensive and you need to consider safe storage where they don't oxidise or deteriorate over a course of time.
The 'It's Cool' sales pitch will ensure Vinyl and CD's will be around a while yet.

 

[manicm]

Streamer/DAC with or without a digital transport is definitely the future.
I hardly purchase physical based media, yes, the occasional SACD.
It's horribly expensive and you need to consider safe storage where they don't oxidise or deteriorate over a course of time.
The 'It's Cool' sales pitch will ensure Vinyl and CD's will be around a while yet.

There's a reason why some still collect vinyl and CDs. And I collect the latter. Especially if you're looking for an older and superior master without brickwall compression.

As far as I'm concerned the 'It's Cool' belongs more to vinyl and recently the atrocious cassette revival. But if younger crowds are turning to CDs, as some suggest, then it can only be for sound reasons. If they don't have space for vinyl and can't afford it, then surely they're looking to CD for more than just superficial reasons.

DACs have also become a fad. Choice is not necessarily a good thing. If you go a restaurant and you have to add spices or condiments to taste that conveys a lack of confidence in a chef's skills. The latest is a $170 DAC with both ESS and AKM chips, and you can choose either or both at a flick of a switch. It seems to be a train wreck to me.

I applaud Cambridge in removing the selectable filters from the CXN 100. It shows conviction and belief in what the engineers do and hear.

 

[Jasonovich]

There's a reason why some still collect vinyl and CDs. And I collect the latter. Especially if you're looking for an older and superior master without brickwall compression.

As far as I'm concerned the 'It's Cool' belongs more to vinyl and recently the atrocious cassette revival. But if younger crowds are turning to CDs, as some suggest, then it can only be for sound reasons. If they don't have space for vinyl and can't afford it, then surely they're looking to CD for more than just superficial reasons.

DACs have also become a fad. Choice is not necessarily a good thing. If you go a restaurant and you have to add spices or condiments to taste that conveys a lack of confidence in a chef's skills. The latest is a $170 DAC with both ESS and AKM chips, and you can choose either or both at a flick of a switch. It seems to be a train wreck to me.

I applaud Cambridge in removing the selectable filters from the CXN 100. It shows conviction and belief in what the engineers do and hear.

You make an excellent point. People can attach value to physical media more so than music copied onto a hard drive.

I wouldn't say DACs are a fad, I think most people don't understand the sum of parts. A DAC is useless without the source and yes, DACs mostly reside with people who understand the process and what you need to make it work.

A Streamer/DAC on the other hand is a different beast. You have a device that is complete, plug into the internet and you have all the streaming platforms, plug your flash drive into the USB port and you have direct access to your music library or if you have NAS you can access it by Bluetooth or ethernet. It's no secret many well known brands have invested heavily into streaming and there's too much in it to fail. Well, it's already rooted into the psyche of young people and old 'uns like me! Vinyl and CD's are just other options to play your music.