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Is computer audio a bust?

In recent months, I have had several audio acquaintances return to CDPs claiming improved SQ versus their highly optimized computer transports (SS drives, external power supplies, etc, etc).

I wanted to poll people on their experiences with computer "transports." What variables have had the most impact on sonics? If you bailed on computers, why?

I personally have always believed that the transport, whether its a plastic disc spinner or computer, is as or more important than the dac itself and thus considerable thought and energy is required.

agear
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
ben2300 
I quite my computer. Started using the Melco N 1 server storage. Love it. bought a $160 Buffalo CD burner, much faster then my mac burner, and simply plug it in to the Melco and burn a CD in about 4 minutes. The Melco does the rest. Very cool so I became a dealer for them. $2K 

Jim
agear OP
1,362 posts
 
I held off upgrading my computer audio til something made it worthwhile. It has. I stream my own flac files from a NAS, but find myself listening to thousands of flac files from Tidal now. NAS or Tidal wireless to Ethernet switch, optical isolators, AQ Ethernet cable to Sonore Microrendu with ROON core on sonic orbiter. To Shiit Yggy DAC to Cary SLP-05 preamp to BAT Rex II Amp to Dali Helicon 400 MKII speakers. I compare this with my vinyl from Music Hall MMF 9.3 TT. The streaming files are REALLY close to the vinyl.
Well good for.  Sounds like a page out of the Minerva playbook which was well documented on WhatsBestForum.  I now use a custom Intel NUC built by Minerva Audio out of Canada which is a competitor of Sonore.  Beautifully fabricated with a top notch switching made by a Japanese medical instrument company.  I run Roon off of my iMac along with HQplayer with DSD 256 up sampling to an ethernet switch, optical isolation, etc.  Sounds very good.  CD spinners are a thing of the past unless you are a geriatric technophobe.  
sunandmusic
27 posts
 
I think AOIP (audio over ethernet) is the biggie here. USB is simply terrible for audio period! I have found at my cost it is the big bottleneck to PC audio. Look at a RedNet 3 and feed it from a decent optimised PC or Mac and you are done. Beats any CDP for sure.
agear OP
1,362 posts
 
I think AOIP (audio over ethernet) is the biggie here. USB is simply terrible for audio period! I have found at my cost it is the big bottleneck to PC audio. Look at a RedNet 3 and feed it from a decent optimised PC or Mac and you are done. Beats any CDP for sure.
I believe that is by and large true.  However, much of the USB receiver implementation in most dacs is poor.  Proper galvanic isolation, separate power supplies, and even a batboy USB cable goes a long way.  Sonny Anderson at Phison has achieve this by and large:  http://www.phisonaudio.dk/home/  A step beyond Vitus, Merging Technologies, etc IMO.

A well designed dac should theoretically be impervious to input issues when properly engineered.  
agear OP
1,362 posts
 
Its Mivera Audio for those interested:  http://www.miveraaudio.com/
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