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Hard Disk Playback Systems

Why are more audiophiles not using hard disk playback systems? The category includes full blown systems by Linn, Escient or Revox; stand alone machines from Yamaha or Harmon Kardon and computer based systems such as Apple/MacIntosh running iTunes software. I've been using an Apple system for about a year and while there are a few drawbacks, the positives are overwhelming.

First the negatives:
- it can be expensive. The Linn or Revox turnkey systems are over $15k. The Apple system I've assembled (including multiple hard disks) cost nearly $6,000.
- a computer is noisy. I've had to place the computer tower within a closed cabinet, but it still introduces 4dB of added background noise into the listening room. I don't believe any of the dedicated systems have this problem.
- the initial setup is tedious. If you have a medium to large CD collection (say 500+), then individually "ripping" each CD and typing in title and song info is quite tiresome. However, if your hard disk/computer is hooked up to the internet, then that info can be automatically downloaded.

The positives:
- assuming you stored the music at full redbook spec (16/44.1), then the sound quality is comparable to a high quality CD transport.
- you have virtually instant access to all of your music collection. Additionally, using "playlists" you can organize your music whichever way you like. THIS FEATURE CANNOT BE UNDERVALUED.
- burning compilation CDs is very quick and easy. Simply click and drag whatever songs you want to a new playlist and hit "burn".
- it's networkable. The computer based and high end Linn/Revox systems have the flexibility to distribute a digital signal throughout your house. This can even be done wirelessly. - it's transportable. Say you going to your vacation home, what would you rather drag along, 100 of your favortie CDs, or a couple of 120Gb firewire hard disks with ALL of your music. Apple based hard disk systems also offer the possibility of downloading playlists to their iPod unit for even greater portability.

I'm sure I've probably left out some aspect of using hard disk playback systems, but I think I've highlighted the major points. The bottom line is that since switching over to a hard disk system I'm listening to music more often and because of the easier access I'm listening to music that I would normally not have selected. As far as I can tell, hard disk systems are a major advance in the enjoyment of digital based music.
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rlkern_dallas
14 posts
 
Given some of the inherent limitations listed above what would you folks recommend as an "upper limit" on what would be resonable to spend on a DAC. i.e. it seems silly to buy a Mark Levinson reference DAC to connect to a $200 soundblaster soundcard.
But, I bet many have tried and experienced the difference an audio component DAC can make over letting a receiver (or the soundcard itself) do the analog conversion.
I was just curious what combinations folks have tried and whether there was a noticable difference.
deke
8 posts
 
Dallas,

I think that as long as you've got a soundcard that's pumping out the right bits, I say go crazy. Every audiophile out there does something to his or her transport that improves the sound quality, whether it's some sort of cd cover, magic spray or putting it under three phone books and a bag of sand. In other (their) words, there is no perfect transport. Is your hard drive a perfect transport? Not likely. But I'm sure there are tonnes of things we'll figure out along the way to make it better. For now, all we can do is go with a technology, be it vinyl, CD, or HD, and do your best to overcome its limitations. I'm of the opinion that hard disks are the way to go.

PMI_Guy, you mentioned HDCD. Windows Media Audio 9 decodes it...

Deke

dmitrydr
221 posts
 
How do you, guys, handle emi interference? If you connect sound card using SPDIF, AFAIK it'll be affected by RF noise. Another option is TOSLINK, but it's by itself compromises sound quality.
And, jitter: how do you know your card produces low jitter? I read that $200-$400 "professional" sound cards are not really good about jitter. Just compare quality of the clock on $200 card and in $2000 DAC... Chain as strong as its weakest link is...
deke
8 posts
 
Let me preface this by saying that I can do no better than regurgitate what I've read elsewhere. RF noise, unless it's pretty substantial, shouldn't be a problem. If the signal get through, the signal gets through. (Satellite tv would be a good example; it looks perfect until it goes haywire.) I suppose that your cable could act as a conduit for nasties making their way into the dac, which I would think is another issue altogether.

As for jitter, there are numerous technologies in DACs that lay claim to the ability to reduce or even eliminate jitter, and some quite convincingly.

All in all, I'm beginning to think those that those "purists" who dismiss a HD transport out-of-hand are sounding more and more like luddites every day...(as improvements are made to narrow the gap, of course!)
rlkern_dallas
14 posts
 
To address the issue of jitter it would seem that the external DAC would need a way to sync to the soundcard "clock". Is this done through the SPDIF connection?
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