I've been looking for a new high-end 2 channel system into which I will simply plug my SB, then later a Transporter. I have found that the traditional B&M audiophile crowd has been somewhat ignorant to encoded music based on experience in several stores. Because I'm realistic, I decided to build a bunch of CDs that are essentially playlists re-expanded to CD from high-quality MP3s ripped via EAC/LAME to use as demos instead of taking original CDs around. I still use MP3 over FLAC for device portability, although FLAC is getting better for that.
My thought was that it would most closely mimic what my setup will be by playing this in their high-end CD players as I audition amps and speakers. Without exception when I've explained that I plan to stream music and I break out my CD, the salesperson turns their nose up and act indignant that I would consider doing what I'm saying. Then, without exception again, they play the CD and proceed to comment on how good it sounds. Of course they quickly get their favorite SACD or vinyl to show me that there is more depth, etc. in their source. Most seem to think MP3 or encoded music = iPod...which would be fine if they didn't work in audio for a living?!? And, most of them sell some form of high-end self-contained product which I assume sounds good too. I won't argue their source was better, even though I didn't notice an appreciable difference. But what I don't understand is how they can look the other way on having 12,000 songs at their instant disposal as a trade-off to a nearly non-existent difference in quality. I guess it's a hobby and it's more about the pursuit of perfection than anything based on reality. Or maybe they feel it threatens a revenue stream for source components and cables. It makes me question all of their advice, though. -- thomsens ------------------------------------------------------------------------ thomsens's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1352 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=32232 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
