difference beetwen pc audio and hi-end?

.

Never heard a DCS.

There is much debate about the best computer setup. I prefer a Mac since there is good software and they are easy to use but others prefer a PC. Like all things audio there is rarely a best, just different ways.

Go to the websites for Wavelength Audio and Empirical Audio. They have some info on setting up the computer.

also

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/

http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/

The Marantz CD7 recommendation is interesting. It uses a much older 44.1KHz/16 bit DAC that in reality falls somewhat short of 16 bits. Given the availability of 24 bit 192KHz material you are limited in what it can handle. I've also found these DACs to be very forgiving and seductive but compared to modern DACs they just don't have the resolution or high frequency extension of modern DACs. I understand why some like it but it really falls short of the latest implementations.

.

.

Great links - i will read it. Why never heard DCS?

.

Why never heard DCS?

Never been to a dealer or anybody who had one. I've never heard a lot of brands because I've never had the opportunity.

Never driven a Ferrari
Never slept with Bo Derrick

.

Driven a ferrari, own the debussy and slept with Bo. Debussy best of the three! Certainly a lot, lot better then the "Marantz CD7".

PC is much cheaper. I have gotten improvement in sound for $200. utilizing PC that would have cost a minimum of $1000. before I discovered PC. Yesterday I compared the sound from my "playlist" to a Marantz transport feeding a DTI before going into a DAC, and the only difference was volume. After synchronizing a CD on the transport with the computer "playlist", I was able to go back and forth through the duration of the CD. The only difference was volume; I had to turn the volume up on the "playlist". PC DAC was the Musicstreamer II.