I've played around with using the airport express and then a TOSlink to a dac (Musical Fidelity) and into the preamp. Preamp is GamuT, amps Electrocompaniet, speakers Harbeth Monitor 30s. I cannot tell the difference between this and a $2,000 cd player. |
"I cannot tell the difference between this and a $2,000 cd player."
That's the question I've been trying to answer. Will a hard drive based system (hard drive, to Waveterminal, to quality DAC) sound as good or better than a quality disc player? |
Too many variables here: is the standalone DAC better than the internal DAC of the CDP? Is the hard drive based system set up properly? Are the sound files on the hard drive ripped properly? Whether and how does the media player/OS re-mix the sound?
From those who did the comparison, as a transport, a properly set up hard drive based system can perform as well as a mega bucks transport. How the whole system sounds at the end depends on many other factors. |
"How the whole system sounds at the end depends on many other factors."
That goes for any set up. Especially when using a stand alone DAC. I just wanted to know if it's possible.
The next question would be, can you do it dollar for dollar, or do you have to spend more $$ to get the same sound? I already have the laptop (iBook), so that's money I don't have to spend. I would just need a hard drive, a Waveterminal and a DAC. For the money I spent on the cd player, it seems like I could get a better sounding DAC. Then it's just a matter of a couple hundred bucks for a hard drive & Waveterminal.
Or am I missing something? |
Dollar for dollar, you can't do better than hard drive based transport.
Don't know much about the Mac world. Perhaps someone can shed some lights on the particulars in the Mac world, such as how to get bit-perfect digital stream out of a Mac.
The only other thing is whether the noise level from your laptop and hard drive can become a factor. |
I would be using iTunes with full size files. I've considered getting a Mac Mini to run everything.
What else do I need to know? |
I was afraid of the word "iTunes". On a WinPC, Foobar2000 gives better sound than iTunes in my opinion.
Again, I don't know much about the Macs. To be safe, you may want to find out how to get bit-perfect digital stream from a Mac before proceeding.
Good luck! |
I have AE's going through a DAC1 to Red Rose Spirit's in my bedroom setup. Amazing, significant upgrade. |
Kenn39 wrote:
I was afraid of the word "iTunes". On a WinPC, Foobar2000 gives better sound than iTunes in my opinion.
This is because iTunes on PC does not bypass Kmixer. With Foobar2000, you can usually find an ASIO plug-in that will do this.
Again, I don't know much about the Macs. To be safe, you may want to find out how to get bit-perfect digital stream from a Mac before proceeding.
iTunes on MAC is perfectly fine. Bit-perfect. You can even upsample.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer/modder |
Hi Steve,
How do you upsample on iTunes using a Powerbook? |
To upsample in iTunes on a Mac (running OSX 10.4.4), go to your applications folder, look in the Utilities subfolder, open up "Audio Midi Setup".
Under Audio Output: format, you can upsample to 96,000 Hz. |
I only see up to 48,000hz on line out. i even tried digital out; no 96000. Any ideas why? |
96kHz is only available on the newer Macs.
I think that the newer Macs have the Crystal CS84xx which is actually the same chip used in a lot of high end DACs. |
I have compared using Airport Express and hooked it up to my Meitner DCC2. All files were Apple Lossless. And yes, the Meitner CDSD-DCC2 is still heads and shoulders above Apple-Airpot Express-DCC2. Not even close.
Having said that I love using playlists for "background listening" such as parties. dinners or when I am working on something so it does have its purposes. The question I have is there a major audio quality difference btwn the wirless solutions....somehow I doubt it...Airport, Sonateer's Bard Audio etc...I am sure Wavelength etc will be better than the wireless solutions but then it simply doesn't work for me as my files are in PC and external hard drive in a different room. My thinking is that if I want to really up the ante on sound quality while retaining the functionality, then either need another notebook + wavelength....or go get a sep hard disk based player such as those offered by Olive and then hook up to the DCC2 and use the latter's DAC. |
I have a headroom total bithead right now, which goes out of the USB of any computer (instantly recognized as a destination for sound out in your preferences) and to some ultimate ears or powered monitors. it's more than okay and a huge improvement over the minijack out for the cans. however, I am looking into the apogee mini-dac, and the wavelength brick, for a more permanent setup with a computer that I might leave in my main system. another thing I tried is the new outlaw rr2150 receiver, which is a strong integrated amp that has a USB input. sounds pretty great for the money |
