Is computer audio a bust?

I believe it would be crazy to have a computer set-up with all that is involved to have one on a system

I am curious why you think that? A computer source is quite portable and probably easier to set up than a turntable.

I was not at RMAF'14 but the pictures I have seen seem to show more than a few computer or digital server sources with DACs, and a good number of turntables too. IMO, vinyl will be around for awhile because people still enjoy the presentation, and computer audio is definitely NOT a bust, but rather a better method of achieving the same goal as a compact disc...playing music from digital media.

I suspect its much harder (and likely more expensive as well) to get optimal performance out of a turntable system than it is out of computer audio these days for most. ALso one will likely listen differently and in a less constrained manner with computer audio not bound by content or song order of individual releases, location, etc. You get a lot more versatility with computer audio and sound quality these days when done right (does not cost much) is top notch.

The two advantages of records I see are that good sounding used ones can be had for next to nothing and the large physical format and packaging of 33 1/3 lps as a product you can hold in your hands and enjoy may never be matched again. Also some (like me) might just think that turntables are cool and maybe even fun.

Mitch2, I was only asking, I thought you were there to tell us what was most used,I still believe spinners will be around for along time to come, most world class dacs sound best with transports that you do not use an inferrior cable like usb,I may very well set up a comuter audio, or streamer set up in the second system I will build, however, I will not pay all the money for numerous cables to do it like I have with my main system that has one I/C, one pair of speaker cables, can you imagine how much that would cost? at the end of the day, with computer audio, it may be fun, may sound very good, will never surpass the sound quality of such world class cables that I have on main system, if it could, Man!, I would sell all of it off and buy some cheap $2,000.00 a meter usb cable, and buy lots of them and gladly jump onto the computer audio band wagan for main system, and be able to buy brand new automobile with money left over!

Naturally the 'manufacturers', or those who upgrade them, must go to what's new. Just like they mainly jumped to CD (perfect sound forever) in the early 80's --although any of us with an ear, or decent system, heard the s*****t sound CD replay gave then. That's when I bought my Goldmund; knowing it was already an antique--but my ears have thanked me ever since. Somehow I just cant put low res ahead of CD; after working all these years to get my CD sound to "acceptable". Does anyone remember the sound of the reel to reels? Remember the density? Mmm.

"Does anyone remember the sound of the reel to reels? Remember the density?"

As in 15 ips with 1/2" tape on an Ampex 350, with need for periodic careful head alignment, controlled tape storage, and print through? I do.