Burning CD. Logic says...

[Lerxst]

Hi,

I buy lossless CDs online then burn them myself if I can, unless they are rare or foreign or something, in which case I have to a buy a real CD.

I have a Cambridge Audio CXC and one of the big things about this unit is that it JUST does CDs and runs them at super-correct speed etc, bla, bla.

No complaits about the sound the cxc produces. But... I am burning my CDs with a standard PC burner. So, in theory, because my burner is crap I should be getting problems right? The CXC never refuses to play one. Never had a duff one - except once when there were little pops on the songs, which sounded to me like something was wrong digitally - out of sync or whatever, I cannot profess to be an expert in that area. A reburn was the solution.

My DAC is Music Fidelity V90.

So, factory CD or my cheapo burned one - I really cannot hear the difference. Even compared burned copies to "real" ones. Same to my ears.

I don't understand.

Should I go back to a transistor radio because my listening abilities are not worthy of hifi?

Or is there another explanation?

Thanks in advance

Chris

Added later: And...I am using free software - CD Burner XP.

[Pieoftheday]

Hi,

I buy lossless CDs online then burn them myself if I can, unless they are rare or foreign or something, in which case I have to a buy a real CD.

I have a Cambridge Audio CXC and one of the big things about this unit is that it JUST does CDs and runs them at super-correct speed etc, bla, bla.

No complaits about the sound the cxc produces. But... I am burning my CDs with a standard PC burner. So, in theory, because my burner is crap I should be getting problems right? The CXC never refuses to play one. Never had a duff one - except once when there were little pops on the songs, which sounded to me like something was wrong digitally - out of sync or whatever, I cannot profess to be an expert in that area. A reburn was the solution.

My DAC is Music Fidelity V90.

So, factory CD or my cheapo burned one - I really cannot hear the difference. Even compared burned copies to "real" ones. Same to my ears.

I don't understand.

Should I go back to a transistor radio because my listening abilities are not worthy of hifi?

Or is there another explanation?

Thanks in advance

Chris

Added later: And...I am using free software - CD Burner XP.

Can I ask, why buy knock off CDs and re copy them?

[Lerxst]

I don't. I use 7digital mainly. You buy, download a zip, expand to flac and then burn. I can buy individual songs if I want too. So, just the tracks I like. I can preview too.

So, for clarity, I buy the files online, not the CDs

[Pieoftheday]

I don't. I use 7digital mainly. You buy, download a zip, expand to flac and then burn. I can buy individual songs if I want too. So, just the tracks I like. I can preview too.

Ah I getcha, you buy downloads it read as though you bought dodgy CDs ,Personally I like to buy proper CDs,many pre-owned ones are dead cheap, Ive heard good things about the Cambridge audio transport

[struth]

No reason for it not to sound identical as it is and played through same gear. Rip software is pretty much the same

[Lerxst]

Yes, downloads. Haha.

I think I worded things badly.

Grant, If I buy a download, for argument's same Michael Jackson's Greatest hits, burn it with my crappy player. Then a friend comes round with a factory-burned one he bought from a shop, in the box, with the sleeves etc - we can't tell the difference. Same playback gear, different burn - I use a £15 bit of rubbish and the CD factory has some better I presume

Sorry if my brain is not good today. My pills.

[JimC]

You sound disappointed that they both sound the same and................you like the sound.

Sounds like a win win to me, be happy my friend, it's good that they're identical.



Jim.

[struth]

Your disc won't last as long as its burned but you can always do it again. Of course you can do same buying cd and then flac-ing it and burning too should all sound the same

[Lerxst]

Well, I am pleased, of course! lol.

Just don't get why. I would expect true audiophiles to be banging on about their expensive CD burners with speed regulators etc to get the best copy. But you never hear that.

Does no one else download files like this? I'm getting the feeling I am in a minority!

You can buy something in 5 minutes and 10 minutes later it is playing in your house. No waiting around - I love buying stuff like this

[Stratmangler]

Does no one else download files like this? I'm getting the feeling I am in a minority!

First time I've ever heard of it!

You can buy something in 5 minutes and 10 minutes later it is playing in your house. No waiting around - I love buying stuff like this

Many of us miss out the burning to CD bit and get the files playing directly onto a stream rendering device.