Ripping solution

and i'd like to know what is meant by "the ELF magnetic field". Given that any such field is measurable.... damn, engineering and facts... who'd a thunk it?

Extremely low frequency (ELF) is the term used to refer to fields in the 0 to 300 Hz range. In that frequency range the wavelength is sufficiently long that the magnetic and electric components can be measured independently.

Re bit comparison: Would you expect bit differences between two rips of the same disc using the same drive and software?

If they sound different, there should be a difference in bits...

It's your conjecture that the magnetic field makes a difference to the rip. "Imprint" was your term. 

Its for you to show it is the magnetic field. Saying a rip done in the same drive done elsewhere sounds different and thus it must be some uncategorised unmeasured magnetic field is farcical. It could be many things including the proximity of the banana in the fruit bowl

No. I'm saying that the rip made with the drive placed in the magnetic field of the SN2's transformer sounds different (edgier) to the one made away from that high field. I don't have an ELF field meter handy, but I think it's safe to assume that the magnetic field on the top plate of the SN2 over the txfo is substantially higher than background fields.

I know that it sounds bananas, and I know that if the rips are bit identical they're supposed to sound the same. Yet my ears tell me otherwise.

Jan

If the system is effectively suffering feedback through electromagnetic coupling from the soeaker that would affect audio play as well as ripping -and must be detrimental to sound quality, regardless of whether or not the sound is perceived as good.

I have no problem to accept that the magnetic field affect the ripping process. A metal disk spinning in a magnetic fileld....but bits/timing have to differ if they sound different...

And a cd is polycarbonate with a vacuum deposited metal layer

the whole magnetic field thing is pretty much witchcraft. I have a magnetic field meter and the diffferences between background and any effect from a toroid is minimal at best when even a few inches away

toroids as source of vibration might be a more profitable discussion point. 

Bit identical files can sound different on different runs if *something else entirely unrelated* is changing. There is then a randomness inherent in the system. 

Like gin. Or beer. Or getting out of the comfy seat and walking. Or putting the dog outside. Or....

have bought the Nimby to start ripping my collection

Congratulations! Let us know how you come along with it and what are its strengths and weaknesses. Best, nbpf