Hi-Fi set-up

[Fuzi]

Dear fellas,

I have lots of CD's (that I am not planning on extracting) and lots of FLAC files. I am looking for a player that can read CD's and play digital FLAC files.

Does anybody know if this even exists? I wouldn't be surprised there's no such device, so my next question is:

How do you guys enjoy your FLAC music at home?

[Retronic]

I have a Brennan, that along with a turntable runs through a small amp.  It plays FLAC and CDs but was a few hundred quid.  It rips CDs and converts to whatever you want- I convert all to FLAC but you can load on Mp3s online or via USB stick.  Sounds great with a decent set of speakers.

[nidostar]

I have nothing fancy. I listen to much of my music when sitting at the computer. To the computer I have a CD/DVD writer connected via USB. I have a couple of small LG speakers from a surround sound system connected to a small Fosi Audio amp I picked up on Amazon. The amp has a sub-woofer output which is connected to a 12 inch speaker I took out of an old karaoke system I bought in the Philippines in the early '90s. The speaker is in a cabinet I built.

Downstairs in my lounge under the TV I have an aged but perfectly good Pioneer amp connected to a couple of Wharfedale Glendale speakers with an added subwoofer unit. To that I have connected a Cobblestone Wi-Fi receiver which enables me to stream FLAC and other music files from my hard drive. I also have a DVDplayer and a Blu-Ray player if I wanted to play a CD direct. Though in practice I tend to listen more to music streamed from upstairs as I can control it via an app on my iPhone/iPad without the need to get up from the settee!

It all sounds a bit of a hotchpotch but despite the DIY approach I'm pleased with the quality of sound I get from both the systems. Having grown up when hi-fi was all the rage in the 70's and being a musician I feel I have a fairly discerning ear and wouldn't settle for poor quality sound.

[Fuzi]

Thanks for the inputs

Brennan looks like a good solution

[Retronic]

Takes up hardly any space and the amp is small too. Holds tons of tracks too.

[likedeeler]

[...] I am looking for a player that can read CD's and play digital FLAC files. [...] How do you guys enjoy your FLAC music at home?

When it comes to technical stuff I usually take a modular approach, meaning that a combination of dedicated devices is preferrable to all-in-one devices.

You seem to be wanting the latter, and I advise against that. If you believe that an integrated stereo system for a few hundred euros/pounds/dollars -- containing amplifier, data storage, CD transport and D/A converter -- can actually sound great, there is a bridge I'd like to sell you.

Everybody already has a player that can play CDs as well as FLAC files. It is called "computer". I totally get it why one would wish to use an extra device -- I do, primarily because of fan noise -- but I've never seen an integrated one that wouldn't be a downgrade soundwise. Navigation may be a problem as well with their little displays.

My stereo system has pre-amp, power amp and CD player (NAD Monitor series). Connected to it is a wireless external D/A converter (Audioengine D2) that plays the FLAC stuff coming from the computer and that is capable of processing anything up to 24 bits and 192 kHz resolution.

The modularity of the system lets me exchange any component for a new one if I wish to further improve the set-up. And if something breaks I don't need to replace everything.

The main reason, I think, why CDs have a bad reputation is that regular CD players are just not very good. The difference in sound quality between the usual players for around 500 euros and one for 1500 euros (which would be about the price of my CD player if it was still available new) is quite remarkable. 500-euro players invariably sound mushy, but you'll never know it if you don't make the comparison.

The D2 D/A converter (600 Euros) is about as good as the NAD 5300 CD player.

If I hadn't had the wireless requirement I would have gone for a D/A converter from a Chinese high-end manufacturer. For a similar price they can be even better than the D2.

When my CD player gives up the ghost I will probably replace it with the (vintage) Sony SCD-XA777ES or with a vintage Cyrus Mission player. Or maybe just a CD transport that I plug into the D/A converter.

I hope this does not come across as if I threw a lot of money at music reproduction, because I don't. Everything I have except loudspeakers and the D/A converter was very cheap since I bought it used.

TL;DR >> Consider avoiding integrated hi-fi devices. Get a good D/A converter. Buy used.

[Fuzi]

Thanks, likedeeler for adding these very valid arguments.
I have an extra laptop, and the setup you describe would let me upgrade the "FLAC part of the chain" later, with a dedicated DAC, possibly wireless.