Is computer audio a bust?


In recent months, I have had several audio acquaintances return to CDPs claiming improved SQ versus their highly optimized computer transports (SS drives, external power supplies, etc, etc).

I wanted to poll people on their experiences with computer "transports." What variables have had the most impact on sonics? If you bailed on computers, why?

I personally have always believed that the transport, whether its a plastic disc spinner or computer, is as or more important than the dac itself and thus considerable thought and energy is required.

agear
Charles....I find both done right to sound fantastic and I'm not trying to convince anyone one is better but rather that the premise that computer audio is bad....wrong or dead is way off base. Again..computer audio is the way most recording are created and sound fantastic.

Let me put it this way; a recent recording project did for a client, consisting of the group Spyro Gyra was a 26 track recording. If you were afforded the hardware....software....and tracks....would you like to have total control of your mix and afterwards would you burn it to a disc for playback in a cd player or would you save a 2 track file and use this as your playback reference? My guess is the later.....which is how most engineers keep and listen to their 2 track master mixes. Not that it doesn't get burned to a disc but that the file is saved, archived and referenced on a computer and a hard drive. A dedicated computer based system for sure but today, for most people, it is not hard to put together a dedicated computer based system.....and can cost a whole lot less than a sota cd player.

My point about Spyro Gyra was made because...In the not too distant future this might be possible.....at first I can see it starting with the ambient mix....then surround....then limited track mix....and then total mix. The variables that would need to be reconciled is distribution. ..royalies...and artist creative control. The latter is the biggest...but doable.

You might think that it could never happen but it could....copy protection of some sort could be applied...everything could be save in a cloud and payment could be fee for access. Your home hardware could be the restriction point for protection through software loaded on your computer.

Sound crazy...but so was the light
bulb....telephone....radio...and lp. All this can happen..and nd someday will. Sorry to take off an a tangent....but this is along way of saying computer audio ain't dead but rather just beginning.
Pkoegz

You´re right I have to clarify that point.

I used a TEAC UD-501 DAC which has USB connection. One day I decided to connect a V-Link USB to SPDIF converter to the TEAC and, to my ears, I found more openness. But the the real deal was the USB external power supply (a Chinese one that I don´t remember the brand), suddenly I got more illumination.

When I compared the Esoteric-Yamamoto combo over the MacBook Pro plus Teac UD-501 DAC (USB direct or not) the first combo gave me more resolution and body (besides, the Yamamoto bass reproduction bettered the Teac´s).

Again, a transport like the Esoteric beat a transport like a MacBook Pro plus the external parafernalia mentioned.

Hope this helps.

Daniel
Hello Raymonda,
I certainly get your point and I don't believe computers are bad or wrong. I just find in its current state of development they aren't worth the trouble or hassle for me. Grannyring's post above summarized it so well. We do agree, to each their own.
Charles,
09-01-14: Raymonda
I'll say it again.....computer audio is how 99.9999 percent of all music is recorded.....mixed and mastered today. Playing back files on your computer has the potential to be as close to the final mix as possible....

Raymond, philistines like Charlesdad, Jesusa0, Granngyring, and Audiolabyrinth inspired me to start this thread....
Charles...my computer system is the least hassle playback medium I have. It is easier than cds and vinyl. The only thing easier is my tuner.