CD Rippers

Posted by: Wazza69 on 14 September 2011

Hi Guys,

 

As I am a mac user, so I bought a seperate Shuttle PC to setup as a ripping PC using Dbpoweramp. The only problem I am having is sourcing a suitable high performance CD or DVD ripping drive. Speaking to the Naim guys at the recent summer event, they said the drive was absolutely crucial to the quality of the rips so I am keen to get a good one. Unfortuantly, the previously recommended drives like the Plexor 230a and Plexor Premium aren't available anymore (one used Premium went for £80 on ebay in the weekend!) and the current favourite Teac drive (as used in the RipNAS) is 2.5" only.

 

Has anyone else got any recommendation on drives which are (relatively) easily available?

 

Many thanks

Posted on: 14 September 2011 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi - dbpoweramp uses AccurateRip as a checksum reference. Therefore you are slightly insulated from different drives, as if the rip is not accurate, ie the AccurateRip checksum is different, it will initiate a re-rip with a slightly usually slower strategy until it gives up or the cecksum is right.

dbPoweramp's ripping strategy is here

 

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/secure-ripper.htm

 

If you are ripping a disc that is not in AccurateRip, - there are a few such as very new discs or magazine covers - then it can be set to  rip using at least two different strategies, which takes longer and cross checks them. If both the checksums correlate then you are very probably ok.

 

dBPoweramp on their ripping forum provide a constantly updated list of CD ROM drives that is derived from the AccurateRip checksum queries - and you can see the top performers. Its interesting to note that firmware update on CDROM drives can affect accuracy.

http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/sh...e-Accuracy-List-2011

 

 

So in short if you use AccurateRip the CD rom accuracy is not as crucial, if you rip CDs that are not in the database then you can optimize that ripper to take longer to produce a reliable rip that cross checks with different strategies.

 

Out of the 1000 odd CDs I have ripped. the only accuracy issues I have ever had is when the disk has been phsically damaged with heavy scratching or very occasionally on very long discs the ripper falls back to the backup ripper strategy on the end track - but still gets the CRC check correct.

I use a HL-DT-ST_DVD-RAM_GH10L

 

Simon

 

Posted on: 14 September 2011 by Tog
Most modern drive mechanisms are perfectly adequate for the task and like everything else in the marketing world there is a degree of "retail voodoo" or "fear, uncertainty and doubt" propagated to steer customers towards the products with the highest margins. That said it is usually a sensible idea to avoid car boot sale drives and the very cheapest models.

Dbpoweramp, XLD, Max and ripit will all produce excellent audiophile quality rips on DVD or Blu Ray drives.

Tog
Posted on: 15 September 2011 by Wazza69

Thanks guys, thats really interesting. I might work my way through the list of drives in the Dbpoweramp list to see what is available

 

Cheers

Posted on: 15 September 2011 by Guido Fawkes

There is an independent research paper I read from a guy who set up a number of drives for ripping and compared the results with a very high quality CD transport. You guessed it; he couldn't find any difference in the PCM. There were difference in the offset, but these could be corrected by dBPowerAmp and in his view made no audible difference in any case. 

 

I'd suggest TEAC makes nice solid kit, but Samsung makes excellent drives for around £20. 

 

I just don't think you are going to have problem whatever you choose. I like nicely built things because psychological I feel they will do a better job. 

 

The ripping myths continue, I'm afraid. Playback is the crucial area for a decent sound. 

 

All the best, Guy