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Computer audio, I am not convinced yet ......

I am extremely interested in using the computer (Mac or PC) as a source for a digital playback. It seems to be the right direction for modern digital playback, a good alternative to the age old CDP, has endless potential and most convenient. So, I got an EMM DAC2 (retail $10000) with USB input and connected it to an Windows laptop via USB. My preamp, amp, speakers and cables are also of very good quality. Played some track on my system from the PC (used Audacity software, a very good and high quality software for sound processing). In 2 minutes I had to turn it off. It is just mediocre sound compared to playing the same track through a $1000 CDP(Sony SCD XA5400ES). It is almost like listening to an internet-radio through my PC speakers. I was wondering what happened to my first rate sound system ? Later I replaced the Windows PC with a Linux based MacMini, hoping that I will get the result I wanted. But it did not improve much. I did not like the outcome. My listening experience with the computer set up was 4 minutes(2 with PC and 2 with Mac) total. Since then I have gone back to using the same old CDP. I think I blame on the USB interface for this failure. The USB interface has not come up to the state of the art of a modern CD player. I did not try other interfaces purposely. No High-Res, only 16bit/44.1 audio files. I dont listen to SACD. Fire Wire to USB, USB to SPDI/F, Fire wire to HDMI, Firewire to SPDI/F, and almost an infinite combinations of patch up ideas are out there. But I dont like a patch up solution nor do I like to compromise the sound in favor of convenience.

I have heard many audiophile friends changed to computer based playback system many years ago for good and they are happy too. But I am not convinced yet. I am eagerly waiting for computer audio to catch up. I am sure it is in the making but it still has to go quiet a long distance.

Your thoughts are most welcome.
topmostaudio
levy03
442 posts
 
Steve N: you are correct. the number of "samples" i've heard are limited to say the least. i'll also agree that a few PSA users are completely happy using USB. i'm not disputing USB can sound great. my problem is with all the flaming hoops one must jump through to achieve good USB sound. you've done a great job of explaining how important proper implementation is when using USB.....your many posts on the subject explain it thoroughly. my problem lies with the "proper implementation" itself.....and the cost (money and complexity)/reward proposition. i obviously don't get it.

that being said....i'll go back to my original statement... that USB is not needed to achieve great sound. it could be for some??.....it might be for other....but it's not always the case
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
The alternative to usb is a good sound card. If you study the USB porotcal, you will find that it transmits data in packets - not streams. That is the inherent problem. No one on earth can dispute that the usb bus teransmits data in packets. A soundcard, via spdif (or PC via fire wire even) transmits data is a stream. USB IS JITTER! (why would you build a house on sand when you can build it on something firm?)

As for examples of listeners abandaning usb, I follow many forums online and if you pick thrugh to the engineers (take a peak at linkedin - places where guys arent trying to sell stuff) you will see what I mean.

It serves no advantage to me to preach against usb other than to save someone out there time and money and not give up on pc audio after a short time cause it sounds poor). Its just gotten silly. Just try the spdif out of a computer and w/o fumbling arond with drivers, clocks, asychronwastemytinestuff, it will just sound awesome.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Donjr just posted a thread that mentions Sony is introducing a bunch of new hi rez products. Admittedly, I do not understand the lingo or the formats. Perhaps one of our digital techy members can translate what this means. Is this something new, or is the digital landscape still pretty rocky? Thanks

http://www.stereophile.com/content/sony-push-hi-rez-downloads
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,047 posts
 
Bifwynne - the Sony product discussed is basically a CD/SACD player that uses computer files rather than disks. It works with standard CD computer files (16bit/44.1 KHz) as well as higher rez files like 24 bit/96 KH, 24/192KHz like DVD audio used. It also reads SACD files (DSD - 1bit/2.8MHz) and double resolution DSD (1 bit/5.6KHz) files. DSD format is becoming increasingly popular with the hi rez crowd, although there is little currently available in that format. The unit will convert LCPM (like CD, 24/96) to DSD. Some people think the converted DSD sounds better. HI rez LCPM files have become pretty common, but DSD files have not been, partially because it has always been very hard to rip SACDs and because DSD DACs are just becoming available.

In PC audio terms, it performs the tasks of a PC, a PC player (like iTunes, foobar, J River) and a LCPM/DSD DAC.

It might be a good solution for a novice hi rez person, if there is such a thing. For current computer audiophiles, my guess is they will stay with the flexibility of different software players, different DACs, different OSs, etc. You can do the same functions as the new Sony with, as an example, a Windows PC, J River Media Center software and a Mytek DAC. Some people will find the integrated unit useful. The Mytek DAC is $1,800 if I remember correctly, so the $2K price is in line.

Somewhat long winded, but hope that helps.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Thanks Dtc. Still no industry standard --- sad. I hope the techies figure it out before I get so old I lose my hearing. LOL Until then, I'm holding with redbook CD.
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