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Why a digital media player instead of a dedicated computer?

I’ve been trying for some time now to better understand the value of adding a digital media player to one’s system. This is of interest to me because I listen to music entirely from high-resolution digital files. I keep reading glowing reviews of digital players like the Bryston BDP-2 but I must be missing something, because if you have a computer and a good piece of software I fail to see what the media player adds to the equation. But if there is some kind of advantage to be had, I’d like to know!

I currently store all my high-resolution music files on an external hard drive, which I then connect to a dedicated Macbook Pro running Audirvana Plus. The Macbook outputs the files to an external DAC via USB, then on to my preamp and the rest of my system. I’ve been very satisfied with this arrangement, and it can handle almost any type of file I throw at it, from 16/44.4 to DSD 5.6.

Other than being able to control the playback wirelessly, what would be the advantages, if any, of using a digital media player instead of a dedicated laptop? Is there any sonic improvement to be had over my current arrangement? Or is this simply a matter of convenience and not having to tie up a computer in my music system?

Thanks!
zm

Showing 2 responses by kijanki

kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,410 posts
 
I'm not sure why this computer has to be dedicated.  Using computer for other chores might affect USB timing, that is irrelevant if you use asynchronous USB DAC.


kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,410 posts
 
When you use asynchronous USB you don’t transfer music but data. Timing is created inside of USB DAC. For that reason computer speed, amount of RAM or even playback program are unimportant as long as it delivers required resolution and does not do any processing, like upsampling. It is also not important if you run other programs at the same time (it does not have to be dedicated computer). With S/Pdif connection (Toslink or coax) situation is different. Different programs, computer speed or amount of RAM can affect timing that originates in computer resulting in noise added to music.

Electrical noise produced by computer is always unwanted and it should be minimized, by placing computer away form the audio system, plugged to different outlet (another phase if possible). Ideal USB cable would have good shielding and would be missing power wires. Power line filter for the audio can also help.


The main reason to stick with computer, at least to me, is convenience.

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