The quest

Nonoise - Here are a couple of rooms voted best of show at RMAF 2013 that used computers or servers:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=120535.msg1267552#msg1267552

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=120535.msg1267553#msg1267553

Tyson and Jason are the most objective reviewers out there. The play multiple tracks each to compare systems in almost every room.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Someday I'm going to have to make it to an RMAF affair. I have no doubt that PC audio can sound great but there's a learning curve to it and it's in a constant state of evolution, barely out of it's infancy and yet to attain adolescence, where most things are ironed out, standardized (somewhat) and about as foolproof as plopping in a CD and pushing "play".

Laptops are considered a no-no and yet this great sound comes from several laptops that most PC savvy folk wouldn't go near. Consensus is still a ways to go as to which route is best and for those reasons, along with what my own ears heard at the last two Newport Audio Shows, I'll sit it out awhile and polish my system to my own satisfaction. I won't know better until I hear better and like I said, the best digital I've heard was that MSB CDP. Maybe I am tone deaf, but I doubt it. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise

I also agree with Charles. Was a strong vinyl advocate throughout the 90s. Now I primarily play via computer set up as server. Actually not that difficult to set up quality digital system.

WHATEVER FLOATS ONES BOAT REGARDING GOOD SOUND.

Nonoise - there were good computer audio rooms at Newport for the past 2 years also. My own room at Newport in 2013 was rated by Stereophile (JA) as one of the best:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/empirical-audio-vapor-audio

http://www.stereophile.com/content/another-opening-another-show

JA also liked my room in 2012:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/empirical-audio

Steve N.
Empirical Audio