Computer output to DAC, which route?

If you are using Windows XP, then dont use iTunes, unless wireless to a AirPort Express or Apple-TV. Then in order to get decent quality you need a glass Toslink cable. Superb quality is possible with a reclocker.

For non-networked playback, such as S/PDIF or USB, iTunes is good with MAC.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

What would you reccomend other than itunes? Windows media player?

No, not WMP. With a PC, either use Foobar2000 0.8.3 or Jriver. These deliver the best sound quality.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Phoenix469,

I am never one to argue with steve he is very knowledgeable.

I run my PC to my main rig as follows. Computer, Ethernet cable to a Roku, SPDIF out to a Musical Fidelity TriVista tube DAC. In this setup I use Itunes as the player. On my vista machine I can hear the difference between my transport, a WAV file and an apple lossless file. There are distinct differences between the three and IMHO the transport is the best. Now when I had an XP machine I could not tell the difference between between my transport and a WAV file. Keep in mind that Itunes was the player on both machines.

For my setup in the office I use a USB DAC. Musical Fidelity XDAC V8 tube output to a MF X-CAN V3 to Sennheiser cans. I use dbpoweramp for ripping FLAC files to an external drive and foobar2000 v0.9.4.3 for play back. IMHO this system rocks. I have Itunes with apple lossless on this machine also on the main drive. I have compared WAV and FLAC in foobar and apple lossless in Itunes briefly and found no difference between the three.

On my vista system I am assuming the operating system is getting in the way with my main rig. I need to do some research. With ethernet out it should not be but with microsoft who knows. There is a conversion from serial to packet IP at the ethernet card so that could be it.

IMHO keep the conversions to different types of protocals to a minimum. Definatly keep the D to A conversion out of the computer. Steve is the DAC expert but it seems to me that with the conversion from USB (universal serial Buss) to analog in the DAC it is one of the better ways to go.

Good luck,

P.S. I use accurate rip with dbpoweramp and have dbpoweramp set in ultra secure mode with my optical drive offset set.

Artizen65,

I'd just like to share my experience with you. I own a Paradisea + DAC and it has a USB connection I can use straight from my PC. I use a Trends UD-10 USB converter from the PC with a modified power supply (that cost more than the unit! hehe) and run glass toslinks from the UD-10 to a MSB Digital Director, which re-clocks it and "de-jitters" the signal, then glass toslinks from the MSB to the Paradisea DAC. This opens the sounstage and just sounds more real. This is the same as using my transport, which took me forever to get to using a PC (sounds better than the transport if I don't run the transport to the MSB before the DAC too). It sounds better than the direct USB to the DAC, so I don't even use the direct USB anymore. This is true to my other DAC as well (MSB, but doesn't have a USB to compare with).

As far as your Vista experience... that is very strange. I can hear a huge difference with Vista being MUCH better sounding on my system. I have only been able to match my transport performance by using Vista and yes, I used ASIO drivers in XP. I use Media Center so I have a remote control and not have to use a mouse to get to my music. Media Center or Windows Media player sound just the same to me in Vista as Foobar. Far from the same as XP.

Just my two cents worth. It took me forever to figure this out, so hopefully it helps. It's amazing what difference glass toslinks and the MSB Digital Director does to the music. It's so clear and comfortable to listen to! I have no motivation to try to upgrade my front end anymore. Oh, and I do love the Vinyl too, just not nearly as convenient as Media Center and a PC! Oh, and the power supply upgrade to the Trends UD-10 was necessary to get it to sound as good as my transport.

Enjoy the tunes!

Ben