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

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.

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

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.

Splaskin - Alex has a point here. The jitter on the USB interface is very much a function of the computer power, grounding and shielding. Fortunately, there are a couple of excellent chips from TI that reject this jitter quite effectively using digital PLL's, namely the TAS1020 and TUSB3200. If low-jitter clocks are used with these, the results can be quite stellar, beating 99% of transports on the market.

If another chip is selected for the USB interface, the results can be not as good. Some devices use other chips, but then reclock using ASRC (asynchronous Sample Rate Conversion). This can work extremely well too, providing the best resampler chips are used.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacurer

Alex,

Sorry to see you go. But it is interesting that you think memory chips may be in the future after all. I am sure that a big part of your design strengths will equally translate well into PC-based systems. I don't need to remind you that as a manufacturer, your opinions will always be viewed with a certain level of skepticism (I would apply the same to, hypothetically speaking, another manufacturer selling primarily PC-based DACs). Facts of life such as being what they are.