2. pc-audio
  3. 1196013673

Music Server vs. PC vs. Transport vs. ?

I don;t really want to add another rack in my living room. If I do, I may end up sleeping on one of the couches. Ideally, I would like to do the following:

1. Either use a pc or a server to store discs and have them accessable.
2. Have a way for the kids/wife to hook up their ipods
3. Have a way to get digital radio (xm, sirius or even computer streaming, doesn;t matter)
4. Do all of this WITHOUT degrading the sound quality ( i know, the ipod, by definition will do this)

My understanding of most high end DACs is that they do not have USB ports, but that is the ideal port to use to negate jitter. As I was researching this, I got the latest issue of the absolute sound, and they address some of this a bit. My feeling seems to be that one pays a HUGE premium for a server, that both their DACs and PCs DACs suck, and one has to get a USB to AES or other adapter, and still use an external DAC. It also seems that if one is willing to use a lossless system, that the universal opinion is that a hard drive rivals or beats any transports.

So my initial thought would be to get a pc with an ipod dock, run lossless, get an additional adapter say from Wavelength, and use the current dac. That adds at least two pieces, maybe three.

Help?????
Thanks,
Chris

Help??????

Thanks,
Chris
128x128mount_rose_music

Showing 1 response by gonzo1

gonzo1
14 posts
 
I just got a Macbook on Friday for all of the reasons you list above. It will be replacing a Primare CD21 as the transport with my PS Audio DL III which does have USB input.

As far as equaling your current digital setup? That's for you to decide. The convenience and excellent software easily makes it worthwhile. While i got a bit more separation between instruments, I seemed to have lost some bass.

I'm using twin 500G Western Digital hard drives for storage and backup. If I still need to have circular discs for digital I will use my Oppo 980 through the DL III, or even upgrade to a better Universal player. And I will always have a turntable for analog.

This is definitely the future of digital playback. Let the audio manufacturers start branding computers with design and components for audiophiles.
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