MBA project - audiophile computer transport

I think your initial concept is good, but here's the issue: what makes it sound better? The increase in media servers says to me that yes, there is a market for a good machine that export the data "perfectly".

Here are some of my experiences thus far. Lossless itunes sounds better than lossless wmv files--why? I have no idea. My ipod going from a Wadia to a DAC sounds better than a PC with the same files going into the same DAC (SPDIF). In fact the ipod (these are lossless files) sounds just about imperceptible to the CD that was ripped. Going from the computer there is a very noticable loss in fidelity. It's still very good, but not as good. I've also tried a Genesis digital lens between the computer and DAC to see if cleaning up some jitter would improve the results. Sounds a little better that way--still not nearly as good as the CD.

So, for what it's worth, I would like a PC based computer that would play WMV (lossless but compressed) SPDIF out to a hi-res DAC that sound as good as the CD originals. I don't know if this is possible--in thoery it seems like it should be, but I am a far step away from it at the moment.

Steve:

Thanks. I guess my question now is, how do you get a "low jitter bit perfect digital computer source"? In theory the wmv files should be bit-perfect. They are lossless and on digital comparison once uncompressed should be perfect. So that leaves the jitter and as I understand it there are two forms of jitter. That between the "word" and that within the "words". I know the lens is VERY old technology, but I had it and figured--what the heck.

The equipment is pretty good--I'm a vinyl person, so my DAC is not the best. It's a Levinson 360S. The transport that I compare to is the Levinson 37. Actually--it's quite good for redbook.

The difference I currently hear between the CD going into that DAC, and the wmv files going into the same DAC are pretty huge. The wmv files have a tremendous loss of dynamics, both micro and macro. My main purpose for the server is whole house audio--so this is not some great quest of mine, but if I could improve it and get the lossless wmv files to sound as good as the transport without shelling out a bunch of cash--I would certainly do it. Any additional advice is appreciated.

I haven't read the link you put in yet--but I will--so if my answers are there, sorry about this post.

Okay--maybe we are getting somewhere. First, I realize the 360S is not the greatest--but it is consistent for my comparisons. So what is really being compared is the iPod off the Wadia dock, wmv files off an XP computer (yes, please tell me how to bypass the kmixer--this is something I was not aware of--I'm assuming it's in the sounds and I just need to disable those codecs--but I would appreciate the post here--others may benefit from it as well), and the 37 transport. The Wadia dock and the transport clearly best the server. On the server I do have the gain to max--and yes, it sounds like bits are being truncated from lower than max gain, but I can assure you that it is not caused by the volume being set below max.

I do want to stick with wmv files over wav or aiff due to their size. In theory it's lossless, so I should not lose any fidelity if things are done right. I have actually played around with wav files and not found the fidelity to change, so I think the problem is elsewhere.

Another question--would be the SPDIF out. Perhaps a different soundcard with SPDIF? Any suggestions of a reasonable priced one would be appreciated. I can go USB or have plenty of slots to install one in the computer (I assume the later would be better from a transference of data standpoint--but I'm not a computer guru--so I don't really know).