Here's the thing you see.
- Ripped files can never beat the original disc. Because of the memory retention issue.
(The rigging process being affected by the memory retention issue is the problem, unless you are prepared to spend something like 30 minutes to rip each song, the time being spend to clean PC operating disk, shut down and restart PC, rip disc once to save obtain metadata, then disconnect lan cable and ripping disc 2nd time to obtain noiseless rip quality and then copying metadata over while saving disc to the pc's harddisk, yes, unless you are prepared to do this, otherwise files ripped from discs will never sound as good as the original cd)
- For the above reasons, it is better to make your comparisons only with downloads.
- Digital files playback via a PC based program will always be compromised. Because of the memory retention issue.
(Unless you are prepared to shut down and restart your PC prior to playing every track, then, maybe it might sound close....)
- playback via a streamer (controlled by external app)
This can be hit or miss. Some apps control retain playback memory. But if you can shut down and restart the app prior to playing every track, yes, maybe you can get it to sound good. There are also some apps that automatically discard previous playback memory prior to playing the next subsequent tracks. Those can sound very very good.
I'm lucky to have found such an app that came with my very very cheap streamer which does memory clearance prior to playing every track. It certainly beats my esoteric-based emm lab TSDX SACD/cd transport in normal circumstances. It is very cheap. Are you prepared to overlook the fact that it is so cheaper to give it a try?
In normal circumstances the TSDX will lose out to the streamer. When I said normal I mean I just press play on the remote or on the player itself. This will not sound good.
To get the TSDX to sound optimal, what I need to do is shut down the player (from the rocker switch at the back, and switch off the power switch at the mains) to trigger the player to cleanse off all previous memory, prior to playing any disc. Then I'll power up the player again, insert the disc to close the tray. Let the player read disc and settle down. Then I'll cue up track 1 to play by pressing the skip forward button and play button in quick succession. This is the tricky part. The esoteric based player's button is not very responsive. If I press both buttons too quickly one after the other, the player will not register the 2nd command and goes instead into pause mode. When you press play, the sound will not be good. If the buttons are pressed too slowly one after another, you would have imprinted memory into the player, so sound is compromised even before the disc commences playing. This is the big problem with esoteric players. The button keying speed has to be "just right"
Now if you have a streamer that is controlled by an external app control which empties out memory prior to playing every track, not only are you getting perfect play everytime, you are also avoiding all the inconvenience issue with disc playback.
The only problem is the price is very cheap. Too cheap for some people to even contemplate.