Sound Quality: Computer vs. CD Player

Ok, I'll say this now. Using a computer for a transport is NOT advisable for a top-notch kit. Think about it...a CD-ROM drive is generally the cheapest transport the manufacturer can use to spec. Computers throw off HORDES of RF interference. The fan creates high frequency vibrations. The digital signal is carried through FAR more ciruitry than your average transport. I used my computer for a transport as a lark, and it was terrible. Everything closed in, and the noise floor exploded. If this is your only convienient viable alternative, then go for it, but I would advise against it. IMHO, computers make for crummy transports. Cheers!

Onhwy61, what do you use to RIP your CD's onto your hard drive? Or do you just download the full WAV version off of the internet? A friend experiemented with this on his computer (6x100GB hard drives in JOB configuration) and we could never get upper level digital sound quality out of it. We always prefered listening on my Marantz 6000OSE. Never any bite to it (and he was using an MSB Link DAC Platinum for his computer). It just never sounded up to it's potential, and the hard drives cost TONS of money to install and cool. The convienience of it was always overshadowed by how long it took to RIP the disks and/or download. For Parties it's GREAT, but for regular listening, not so good. How did you get yours to sound so great! Cheers!