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

Hi All,
I just auditioned the Wavelength Audio Cosecant DAC on a very nice system at the local dealer. It was run through a Hovland 200 preamp , a Plinius amp and Avalon Eidolon Diamond speakers. This is all in a very well treated, good-sounding room.
It was, in a word spectacular. Beautiful tone, excellent bass, imaging soundstaging, etc. What was really amazing was a sense of space, or ambience that was imparted. We then compared the same CD's (Diana Krall, Jennifer warnes, some jazz), on a Levinson CDP. I'm not saying that the levinson is the last word in players, but it was what he had on the shelf.While it sounded good, it was much more bright, and "constricted".
Control was through an Imac using I-tunes, and the CD's had been nurned using Apple Lossless.
I ordered my Crimson on the spot.

David
deshapiro
kana813
956 posts
 
The SD Transporter and SB3 are effected by the PC noise. The ethernet port is connected to the PC's noisy switching power supply.

Both the Transporter and SB3 also use SMPS units to power internal circuits.
splaskin
170 posts
 
Alex,

I am trying to understand what you have written about the noisy switching power supply of a computer. I can't see how the digital information would be modified by a switching power supply.

Once it leaves the computer via an optical USB cable, the DAC would have its own linear power supply to process the information.

By the way, I also suspect that you build and design great CD/SACD players.

Thank You
pschoi
23 posts
 
I believe the arguments are two-tracked:

1. Will the PC/Mac download + DAC system kill the CD?

2. Does the high-end PC/MAC setup kill the high-end CD player?
2.1. Does it kill (or comparable to) the APL NWO?

Now, Alex of APL is making both general remarks about the noisy PC power supply, etc. and specific remarks that NWO is leagues better than anything PC audio has to offer.

I think the general remarks are, as always, theoretical at best. Didn't we think that bits are bits so theoretically all CD players, or transports sound the same in the past? :)

If we get down to specifics, this is where it gets fun. What's to stop people with NWO's (or any other high-end CDPs) from comparing that against the best PC Audio setup? I for one, look forward to listening to what others have to say AFTER doing some comparative (or competitive ;)) listening between the two.
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Now, Alex of APL is making both general remarks about the noisy PC power supply, etc. and specific remarks that NWO is leagues better than anything PC audio has to offer.

Pschoi,

Indeed, no one can stop audiophiles from comparing. I've always welcomed A-B tests and so called "shootouts" so audiophiles can judge for themselves. Last weekend we had another shootout in San Diego between the NWO-3.0GO and a very nice vinyl setup featuring the new AirTight PC-1 reference MC cartridge. It was a very nice and informative experience, as always.

My intention posting here was not bragging about the NWO superiority but to remind many who are interested in PC-Audio that, as good as it is, it is not flawless. So “the best” and “game over” don’t really fit, IMO. I personally don't see the future of High-End audio on HDD. It could be Memory chips, but certainly not HDD. Wi-Fi for High-End audio is out of the question too. This is only my opinion of course.

There is no point arguing here, plus, there are many things I simply can not further elaborate. I give up, so this my last post here. Happy listening!

Regards,
Alex
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Kana813 - the SB3 and Transporter are not affected in any way by the PC or MAC that is driving them. Strictly a data transport mechanism using packets with ethernet protocol.

Steve N.
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