PC-Audio vs. High-end CD Player-GAME OVER

Pschoi, the NWO is not a transport; it is a stand alone universal digital player. No need for DAC or preamp.

So, again, I agree that APL NWO, or other cost-no-object CDPs may still be better than the PC-audio setups,

That's it! Thank you!

but how much difference are we really talking about here?

Here is an experiment for you when time permits;

Get a $30K+ vinyl rig with the new AirTight PC-1 cartridge, buy the Bassface Swing Trio "Plays Gershwin" on vinyl that was recorded direct-to-disc. This LP comes as a bundle with an SACD inside that was recorded direct-to-DSD. So setup the vinyl rig and ANY PC-Audio/DAC combination of your choice, then A-B the two. Let me know if the PC-Audio/DAC surpasses the vinyl rig.

Oh sorry, I forgot, you can't even play SACD on the PC-Audio/DAC combo. :-)

Regards,
Alex

Thank you for pointing out that NWO is a CDP. Someday, I would love to hear one.

But again, you're using a $30K LP setup as a comparison. I never made any claims that a $30K LP (or dedicated CDP for that matter) will surpass the PC + DAC combo. My point is that if you spent the same, let's say, $5,000 on a PC + DAC vs. CDP, which would come out on top? What about $3,000 PC + DAC vs. CDP.

Anyway, when you think about it the CD will be dead if (a big if) the major studios determine that they are no longer making money off them, and if the on-line download market becomes big enough to make pressing CD's no longer worthwhile. And companies like Sony, Samsung, etc. stop making mass-market CDP's (or DVD players). So you can see that huge assumptions have to be made to declare that CD will be dead soon, and it will not matter a tiny bit to the studios whether there is an excellent PC+DAC setup...OR...whether there is a small manufacturer out there that makes fantastic CDPs for a small number of people. Unfortunately, what the audiophile market says will be irrelevant to the demise (or continued existence) of the CD medium.

Like Alex said, there currently is a 30K vinyl rig that will blow all CDs and SACD players away, in full production, and anyone with enough money can buy it. But that doesn't mean Deutsche Gramophone or Decca will come back issuing the new Berlin Phil or Metropolitan Opera recordings on LPs.

Wow, I was considering some Alps gear until I read this thread. ):

Computer and/or network based transports are the future.

Does anyone know a good way to "dump" CD's for some cash? I'm sure ready to do it. It seems Ebay would be a pain in the ass. Is there a CD swapping/trading site or something?

Jc5, you comment about it "killing it" sounds silly, or absurd.