LETTERS & EMAILS
24 HI-FI WORLD SEPTEMBER 2019 http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
with EAC recommendations and use
dBPoweramp to rip CDs (the ripping
basis of dBPoweramp is built onto the
EAC software) to a NAS. Et voila!
Jean-Christophe JC Xerri
5MBS Recording Team Co-
ordinator
AustraliaHi Jean Christophe. There are many
ways to tackle this problem and your
software suggestions are useful for
PC owners. Whether a PC or Mac
has S/PDIF depends on the model
and input boards (PC). PC sound
cards commonly have S/PDIF; Macs
are losing it. A solution is an adaptor
like Behringer U-Control UCA202 at
just $30 from Amazon.
I recommended a quality CD
player optimised for audio, not a
general purpose external computer
disc drive as you suggest. You can
of course go down this route if you
so wish but you then lose use as
an audiophile CD player and you
also insert yet another cheap, noisy
and un-reliable switch-mode power
supply into the system which is not
a good idea. I am constantly seeing
blown switch-modes, as is Dave Tutt.
Most are dreadfully designed. If you
want cheap you will pay for it.
Cambridge Audio design and
engineer their products in-house to
a very high standard. I have visited
them, seen their lab equipment
(the best) and talk to their chief
engineer, Dominic Baker. They do
not buy in OEM designs as so many
do nowadays. That’s why their CXCis the best option for Gary Marinko
in my view. It’s a genuinely good
audiophile player. NKRIPPING YARNS 2
You replied to Gary Marinko (Perth,
Australia) in the June 2019 edition of
Hi-Fi World. Gary’s CD player had died
and he was looking for advice on a CD
unit to use for ripping his collection. You
seem to have misunderstood Gary’s
letter as you replied that he should look
at the Cambridge CXC CD player or an
Oppo Blu-ray player.
I suspect Gary doesn’t want to buy
a new hi-fi component – he wanted
advice on an external computer CD
drive to connect to his laptop for ripping
purposes.
I myself use the internal CD-Rom
drive that came with my HP Windows
7 PC. If you use the excellent and free
EAC (Exact Audio Copy) software for
ripping then you will soon know if there
is a problem with your rip.
Like many people these days I do
not play my CD collection directly. I
simply stream the flac rips I have made.
I think that use of the EAC software
is more important than the quality of
the CD-ROM drive (any external drive
should suffice for Gary).
Regards
Adam Tate
Herford,
HertfordshireHi Adam. I recommended two good
but inexpensive hi-fi players, not a
computer drive. You can of course
spin a CD in a computer with a drivebut they are becoming rare. I suggest
an external CD player purposed
for audio and from a reputable
company like Cambridge Audio is
the best choice, if not the cheapest.
Otherwise an external disc drive is
an obvious cheap solution. NKHUGO TT2
I recently read your great review for the
Chord Hugo TT2. I currently have one
on order (long waiting list) and wanted
to clarify a point on your review. I would
be connecting the DAC to a power amp
using XLR cables and using the pre amp
on the Chord unit. You state that you
used hi-gain mode on the unit rather
than low-gain. Is this correct and if 'yes'
what are the benefits of using hi-gain
instead of low gain? Also, are there any
risks in using hi-gain due to the high
power output of the TT2?
Thanks in advance.
Matt GoodleyHi Matt. To best utilise the extreme
dynamic range of TT2 means using
its low noise internal amplifiers.
That’s why I used hi-gain. However,
when driving reasonably sensitive
power amplifiers meeting the usual
1V standard low-gain is more
suitable. The hi-gain setting really is
for use as a power amplifier with
either sensitive loudspeakers or
headphones, where high voltage
swing is needed.
The TT2 won’t deliver electrical
power into a high impedance load;
there's nothing to worry about here.
NKChord Electronics Hugo TT2. "What are the benefits of using hi-gain instead of low gain?" asks
Matt Goodley.