Is computer audio a bust?

Hi Bcgator, I enjoyed your post, you are correct, however, I will not take the plunge of computer audio on my main system that I am tring to build, computer audio along with a vinyl set-up would be great for a second system that I will be building, this will have an active pre-amp or likly an intergrated amp, Here is one thing no one on this thread realized, at the cost of the cables I have and that I will be up-grading to, I cannot afford all them cables!, to keep my main system as simple as I can for pure signal transmission, and attempt to get the clearest sound I can afford, the main system will have nothing but an interconnect and speaker cables, and jumper cables on the speakers, these fellas do not know that I agree that I should be up with the times, it would be fun to do a second system consisting of computer audio and a turn table set-up, of course I already have the Tara Labs model The One 1-meter balanced analog interconnect and 6ft speaker cables in the closet to start a second system, I will ask these gentleman for their help with computer audio when the time comes, when the money is available!, right now, this main system is killing me money wise!, I do not have regrets for the cables I have on that system at all, these two systems will be two different anaimals, the main, the Best state of the art that I can afford, the second would be a build to a particular price point consisting of the computer audio these chaps have talked me into, all I was saying all along was that a usb cable and the usb terminations cannot perform to the caliber of the cables I have now on the main system, I would be very happy to get some performance out of alot cheaper cables, the Tara The one is no cheap cable by no means!, It's performance is very musical and I will always love the sound of that model, However, the cost of out-fitting with that cable model will not cause a re-morgage of the house like the cables on the main system!, cheers gentleman.

You don't use USB for audio. You use SPDIF, USB is too polluted. There is no proper way of using USB. It transmits data in packets, not streams.

CErrot,

Bandwidth + good design is the key. The data must be available at the time needed. Then as in all cases, the d2a conversion process must be done well. All within the capabilities of the technology, but only if done right.

Same with any source. How many cheap crappy ceramic cart turntables are out there compared to the good stuff? Same story.

If one simply buys a recent design good quality USB DAC designed for optimal performance, like BEnchmark for example, (need not cost much), you should be in very good shape.

Much easier than getting a good turntable and then having to match everything and set it up properly. Its a relative piece of cake.

I'm with you Mapman, but I think you're beating your head against the wall, unfortunately.

"You don't use USB for audio"

"USB is too polluted"

"There is no proper way of using USB"

Cerrot isn't talking in terms of potential, or possibilities, or advancing technology, or implementations. He talks in absolutes - USB is unusable for audio in his mind. To him, there is no other answer, end of discussion, don't bother with further examination.

We've had this discussion with him in another thread, explaining that I'm getting great audio quality over USB, and to him this is all a fig newton of my imagination. He doesn't care if aliens from 5000 years into the future show up with some nanoo-nanoo technology that makes USB sound like angels caroling in your ears - he'll tell the aliens the same thing, "you aliens need to use SPDIF". The fact that, just for example, the Oppo BDP-105 (which I don't own, but may buy for a 2nd system) is getting rave upon rave reviews, including for its sound quality over USB (it has XMOS chip + asynch USB), has no bearing in Cerrot's thinking. To him, all those reviews are a USB conspiracy, not unlike the Loch Ness conspiracy. The ONLY thing USB should be used for, other than computer mice, is to put some marinara sauce on top and to be enjoyed with a nice Chianti.

And with that, I'm going to go listen to my Coby $10 walkman-clone playing a heat-damaged Debbie Gibson CD through an 89 cent USB cable into a pair of speakers I made from Adidas shoeboxes and drivers pulled from the doors of a '71 Plymouth station wagon. That's not actually my system, but that's the system that Cerrot will tell you is the only system that should consider USB.