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Is computer audio a bust?

In recent months, I have had several audio acquaintances return to CDPs claiming improved SQ versus their highly optimized computer transports (SS drives, external power supplies, etc, etc).

I wanted to poll people on their experiences with computer "transports." What variables have had the most impact on sonics? If you bailed on computers, why?

I personally have always believed that the transport, whether its a plastic disc spinner or computer, is as or more important than the dac itself and thus considerable thought and energy is required.

agear

Showing 5 responses by wisnon

wisnon
700 posts
 
DSD and DXD alone make Comp Audio worthwhile. Disk are nice when you want the flexibility of just playing a specific album, but hirez/DSD audio files rule.

DSD128 well mastered, played back natively, is unbeatable for me.
wisnon
700 posts
 
Am I missing something here? Can CDPs play DXD or DSD128? If not, then what is the discussion about? If I run natively recorded hirez/DSD thru the right CA gear, then CDPs cant touch that.

For RBCD, we can have a debate, but CDPs are inherently too limited. A CDP Dac may also be compromised unless they run separate chipsets.
wisnon
700 posts
 
Mapman, for me the higher rates like DSD128 and DXD are unbeatable.

Sure well recorded/mastered is key, but all that being equal, the high rate files trounce RBCD. Great RBCD is divine, but there is still better, is my point.
wisnon
700 posts
 
Sorry, but DSD128 trounces any RBCD equivalent out there. And now the trend is to upsample even RBCD to DSD256 and higher and playback on a capable Dac. Q Player is the upsampler/converter of choice at the moment.

Yes, Transport is important, but Dac filters choice is just as important (Check out the timing tech of the Chord Hugo, for example). Dac circuit design and implementation is also key.

CDP is just too limited and if one wants to go there, the AMR CD77 with the vintage TDA chip would be be an obvious choice.
wisnon
700 posts
 
AGear, yes, correct...I only have 15 DSD128 albums BUT they sound so good, i want to hear them from time to time and CDP is useless for that.

Also, it went without saying that the implementation of BOTH would be top notch, otherwise it would not be a fair fight.

As for upsampling, again, I would recommend and did specify a top notch application like HQ Player with adjustable parameters.

Sorry, but its not pleasant to descend for the HiRez bubble to RBCD land and no my collection is at most 80% RBCD. LoL

Native DSD128 rules! Hehehehe
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