External HD Changing the quality of the sound?

Thanks DH - I did understand the purpose of BitPerfect, I just wasn't sure about where I had to install it - but it asks about the location of your music library so maybe that was moot. I bought it and think I've got it going now. I have a little BitPerfect icon upper right on the toolbar and it's green. I used it to launch iTunes and am playing the only music files I've got which are on the external drive. Do I need to do anything more to "enable" it? or otherwise optimize what it is doing? Also, am I correct thinking I can A/B with and without BP by clicking "disable BitPerfect"? Thanks for the quick reply.

Doggiehowser - I am just doing some pre-lim exploration of computer audio...and, in another thread, noted your enthusiasm for a set up that sounds somewhat like mine. Hope you can provide additional insight and guidance here about use of Bitperfect.

If I purchase Bitperfect do I need to install it on my external hard drive where my iTunes music library (and iTunes) resides or will it work properly with iTunes (which is operating from the external hard drive) if BitPerfect is simply downloaded to the MacBook Air hard drive? Hope that is not too ignorant a question.

System is: iTunes & Apple Lossless Files on SeaGate 1TB ext. H/D>>MB Air>> USB out>>M/F V-Link>>M/F DAC>>Pre-amp.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Thanks for the heads up, Steve. For better or worse, the Seagate external HD is USB powered. I am fumbling my way through these early stages and it's an accomplishment that I can actually copy a cd and play it back from the HD. Haven't yet done any critical listening comparing CDP to computer with or without BitPerfect running. Hope to give that a try this evening.

Thanks DH - The V-DAC is pretty barebones...no display of sample rate, no display at all. I can try some other things messing with sample rate in MIDI to see what BitPerfect does, as you suggest. Davide - (if that was for me) no hires files yet.

Spent time the last 2 evenings A/B 'ing CDP vs Apple Lossless version with BitPerfect through DAC. Listened mainly to Peter Gabriel's "So" that I am very familiar with...especially tracks 3, 6 & 9. Have to say I found it VERY hard to tell a difference. Any differences were subtle if not imagined but with CDP sounding a little more "there" (I did try to make sure SPLs were the same). I'll continue to experiment but at this point computer audio makes sense mainly for convenience. Can fit a lot of CDs on a portable 1TB hard drive. Also good for downloading music files that aren't available in physical format. To me, doesn't seem worth the hassle of "ripping" CDs to hard drive for a superior music listening experience. That's not to say others aren't enjoying something improved by doing so. Just that to me, given what I'm willing to invest $ & time-wise to realize an improvement in computer audio - not worth it right now.

Wow - that is some primo, gear you have, DH.