I would not call Pink Floyd, pop…
I have at least 100 Classical CDs ripped and have had maybe 2 or 3 CDs that I had to do something special with.
I’ve ripped 500 or so, jazz albums, without errors, with dBPoweramp.
I also find tagging programs do better with jazz than classical.
One horror story was ripping the 30+ recordings I have of Mozart’s Requiem. The tagging results were all over the place - some not recognized, others wrong information and missing information, no standard agreement on how information is presented, etc.
I also have to use kludges. It is far from sufficient to identify the piece and composer. I need to capture the conductor, ensemble, soloists, what edition (Süssmayr? Pánczél Tamás?). One is often forced to do things such as add information to the album title or use other fields in non-standard ways.
As I stated above, I despise the process of ripping and tagging. I readily recognize others have much better success.
I am eager to see how well Octave meets these challenges.
I do. 
Daily reminders of what you don’t need…
I first had a unit called a Zoneripper, a stripped down computer type thing. Pretty rubbish. 25% of rips failed. I then had a very good device that was much the same as the Naim server before the UnitiServe and used the same software as Naim. It had a perpetual subscription to the AMG Pro database. It never failed a rip. That packed up and I now have the Innuos Zen Mk3 that also rips and has access to FreeDB, MusicBrainz, Discogs and GD3. Inbetween I did use dbpoweramp, that now has access to GD3, Discogs, SontaDB, Musicbrainz & freedb, so seems to be the same as Innuos. The few discs I’ve ripped on Innuos have been perfect and there is no having to transfer files as with dbpoweramp on a computer and I did wav rips on Innuos. Plus you need a Windows computer for dBpoweramp and I no longer have one.
Which database do people find to be the most comprehensive and accurate?
I would add that Innuos Zen Mk3 only has a ripper because it would have cost them money to have a new case designed without a slot and the drive is very cheap, so they decided to leave it in, just in case people wanted it, but very few apparently use it. Most people buying an Innuos have already ripped their CDs or won’t bother and just stream online.
I also love dBPowersmp!
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I tag everything manually…not only because I add. further tags…I don’t believe in automatic tagging…best one for this is Songkong possibly which I also use, but mainly for tagging blank files in a basic way.
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+1 on Songkong.
Amir is saying the DS DAC cannot resolve to -120db, calling it “marketing nonsense”.
Let’s see, how did Amir respond to the MQA marketing lie of 384 kHz resolution? First, he worked to perpetuate the lie and to sell the lie to his own forum members. He then tried, and failed, to refute the fact that the MQA claim is a lie. Then he tried to defend and justify the lie by arguing that the true numbers don’t matter, it’s what the customer wants to see that matters (“…will go a long way toward closing the marketing gap with MQA”). When this failed and his members began to realize something was up (MQA$$), he abandoned the thread. Shortly after, the thread was locked, in an attempt to shield the flock, and to salvage what was left of any hint of credibility in their leader.
Why the discrepancy and apparent hypocrisy in Amir’s contradictory positions? $$$? In one instance, he’s against what he calls “marketing nonsense” in another (MQA), he’s advocating, defending and perpetuating it.
For those unaware, attacking and pressuring anti-MQA manufacturers is a known strategy among the MQA backed ($$$) group of affiliates and paid influencers.
Begins with post #384 until the end.
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Amir’s followers may begin to realize that they risk damaging their reputations by associating themselves with him and his site. There have plenty of clear examples of Amir acting dishonestly and disingenuously, so if they chose to continue to ignore it, and continue to participate on his site despite this, then they shouldn’t be surprised when negatives are attributed to them by association.
Floyd Toole, who has visited ASR on occasion, is one example. I’ve come to suspect that Amir and Toole may be working together in a scheme designed to discredit the competition using a measurement only marketing strategy, with the intent of driving customers to the Harman brand. Both are, or have been, affiliated with the Harman Group. Both have promoted the Harman brand. At the very least, Toole is likely just using the site in order to promote his book.
Again, pretending that they (his members) don’t see or understand the person they’re associating themselves with is not possible. There have been too many clear and obvious examples of Amir’s intellectually dishonest and disingenuous nature. Anyone with the slightest bit of sense, honesty and integrity can see it.
How in the world do you guys keep up with all this. 
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JA said the same thing about it not being able to resolve -120db in his measurements too.
I can only agree with you!
Love my DSD!
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Yes. Same here. When I buy a new product it’s based on how it performs. I understand specs are all well and good, but the real test for me is how a new audio product makes me feel, gaining a greater insight and appreciation from my music collection.
Cobbling together a bunch of disparate equipment - that measures accurately, measures to nth degree of someone’s exacting (anal) standards, …means absolutely nothing in the greater scheme to the all important ‘listening’ and ‘enjoyment’ level. As someone who plays music I’ll take immersing in music - getting off on it – over boring measurements any day!
I find that that people who are deeply entrenched in accuracy, how an audio product measures, they tend to spend more time vexing, pontificating, and boring people to death about their audio equipment. I would wager if one listened to their system it would be as bland and boring as the owner of said system!
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I think most people with more than a passing interest in hi-fi are aware that in one camp you have people who consider that the sound characteristic of a system is almost entirely dependent upon the loudspeakers and everything that comes before them should essentially be straight while the gain, and in the other camp you have people who like components like valve amplifiers that are not linear, but shape the sound in a pleasing way, and other components that are subjectively voiced by the designer. You’re not going to reconcile the two and it is just a pointless argument to try and do so. One consequence of the latter approach is that, faced with shaped input, matching of components speakers will become quite important. In a straight wire with gain system, the speakers are entirely agnostic to the brand of source and amplification equipment, because straight wire with gain by definition eliminates idiosyncratic performance of the electronics. For those following the straight wire with gain approach, measurements take precedence over any subjective evaluation. On the contrary, those relying on subjective evaluation are not going to dislike a component when told it has 3% distortion. For my part, I am firmly in the straight wire with gain camp. I have briefly tried valve amplifiers and found the distortion that they produced was deeply unsatisfying, and that period was simply the biggest waste of time and money in my audio experience.
I rest my case!
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…and I love the sound I get from my tube preamp and tube amplifier. My best SACD releases sound nothing short of amazing. I have found that solid state, especially Class D, sounds flat and boring. Although I do have on 80’s vintage Pioneer Class A amp that sounds really good.
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Keep in mind however there have now long been tube/valve amplifiers with an extended flat frequency response.
Tube and solid state have long ago met in the middle between flat and antiseptic v. woolly warm.
P.S. As an example, the latest PS Audio offerings incorporate tubes.
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