2. pc-audio
  3. 1196981730

Zune output vs. CD output

Hey everyone.

I have been putting together a small but nice little bookshelf system in my living room consisting of a pair of paradigm atom v5s, NAD 325bee integrated, MC Z2 speaker wire, M1000i rca interconnects, and I just picked up a 1m audioquest copperhead 1/8" to RCA interconnect.

I was about to invest in a NAD c542 CD player... then I was laying in bed and thought... wait, why? 99% of my music is on MP3, M4P, or lossless FLAC. I hardly have any CDs... and those that I do have were just burned from MP3s.

So I idealized buying a new Zune instead. With this, I can dock it next to my stereo system connected with the copperhead cable. Any new music I get I can just wi-fi it across the house and have it ready to play on the Zune. That sounds much more fitting for me than a CD player.

So, ok, here is the dillema... I want excellent audio. Lets say I had a 1st generation rip into a lossless FLAC or even a 320 constant bit rate MP3 and sent it over to my docked Zune for playback. How would this sound in comparison to actually playing the CD back on a dedicated CD player (most likely the NAD C542)?

BTW, with this test I am assuming a near-perfect CD rip from my Pioneer DVD-RW drive. It is a quality drive... so I am assuming that wouldn't be an issue. Oh ya, and the CD player would be hooked up via MC M1000i cable.

K, I appreciate any feedback. Thanks audiophiles.
djembeplay
djembeplay OP
179 posts
 
Oh... heh, well it appears I made an idiot of myself.

The stereophile reviewer said 'wall wart' referring to the type of power supply in the squeezebox... not 'wall-mart' as I wrote. Lol, I thought he was calling it a cheap power supply by associating it with walmart... I must have been tired.

Anywho... my threat seems to be dead. I think I am settling on a squeezebox... they sound really nice.

I have a couple questions... One, more theoretical one, is how much of a difference would I hear in the jump from a squeezebox (w/o DAC) to one with a DAC or even the 'transporter' on my given system: Nad c325Bee, Paradigm Atoms, all w/ quality interconnects & speaker cable. I mean, it sounds great to me but it considered low-end of hi-fi... so would such an upgrade be worth it?

Also, I saw that there is a USB 'Host' option on the new archos PVP and on the new cowon PVP (as well as a digital coaxial out for the cowon). Can these players be functionally hooked up to a USB DAC?
mrjstark
1,112 posts
 
Djembeplay, don't think that archos will do it for you.
I have own 604 wifi and now 605 wifi. I try it and it sucks when connected to my big system.
Don't know about ZUNE but my guess is that it is the same junk.
I use SONOS and it works or get squeezebox for less.

If you want portability new IPOD - with some modding from ROSE.
djembeplay OP
179 posts
 
Cool, thanks for the input Mrjstark. That is extremely useful to know about the archos. I am assuming that any MP3 player would be the same story in that case.

This re-affirms my recent conclusion to go with the squeezebox.

Have you tried using the 605 host USB with a USB DAC? I'm not sure if this would work or not.

I dont think I am going to actually do this, but just out of curiosity... do you need a soundcard with USB outs to connect to a USB DAC or can you just run the signal out of one of the stock USB ports on a PC somehow? How much is a decent sound card with this capability?

You know... just making sure I am heartily comparing all my options here. It's tough... I'm trying to put together the best system possible given a really tight budget.

K, thanks again for the input.
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