Is computer audio a bust?

What advantages does WaveLab offer over dBPowerAmp or EAC?

09-07-14: Audiolabyrinth
What's one of the better computer audio software available to rip music to cds for playback through my cd player for my system?, Thankyou gentleman in advance.

Audiolabyrinth, What do you rip and burn to cds? Downloads? So you're creating another level of work and transformation. Interesting!

My music server comes with a TEAC optical drive with Linux program for ripping with many checks for errors. I have found that ripping is much faster when the cds are treated with the Essence of Music cd treatment and clearly sound better also.

I had always been very skeptical about the sound quality of computer-based digital playback. It seemed convenient but not very musical. After hearing a Wavelength Brick driven by a Mac Mini at a show a few years ago, my perspective changed.
I have had a Sony 5400ES, a modwright-modded Sony 9000ES, an Ayre CX-7 and many other highly regarded disc players that retail for up to $3500, but none of them compared to what I heard at this show (where they won the best of show award).

Since then, I purchased the Mac Mini and Wavelength Brick and was loving it. About a year ago I upgraded to the Ayre QB-9. In many ways, it sounded better than the Brick, but something was missing.

A few months ago, I upgraded to the Wavelength Cosecant V3 with their best DAC module - Denominator - and their high speed motherboard. This DAC now plays digital files up to 24/192 and sounds incredible. The Cosecant is probably the most musical and enjoyable component I have ever purchased, and I started buying audiophile gear in 1980. In fact, there are some high resolution discs that in many ways actually sound better via my Mac Mini/Amarra/Cosecant than they do on my vinyl rig (see system).

Computer Audio IS very convenient, but this DAC has the lowest measured jitter of any DAC (according to John Atkinson), and many have found that ripped files played back via computer are reproduced better than $10,000 transports. Another great benefit is that my wife finds it so convenient amd enjoyable, that she listens to music a lot more and does not object to upgrading my gear.

I HIGHLY recommend trying one if these Wavelength DACs with a computer. I never knew digital files could sound so musical.

09-06-14: Mapman
Tortilla is right about the value of using a network to get the data to the player. I agree 100%. It makes what you use as the computer essentially irrelevant in regards to sound quality. As long as there is enough storage and processing power streaming is a trivial task for most any computer made in the last 10 years. I have tried many configurations this way and the sound quality does not vary into same DAC. Whereas sound quality with computer based play software is all over the place. USB implementation is a significant factor as well, but software used to play seems to be the biggest variable I hear to-date.

+1