Which is better: Transport+DAC or PC system+DAC

So you have a excellent system...congratulations, now I can see why you might want more than the dCS Puccini+Uclock (which I used to own).

The dCS Scarlatti's, used prices are great, is a killer upgrade for you. Last year I traded in my Puccini/uclock and for a Scarlatti stack...

I think you will find a transport still the better sound. I've tried it several times and really no contest. Are you into SACD? if so, not sure all your choices above allow it.

What about dCS Vivaldi? It's pricey, but in the context of your system should be considered...

Jfrech and Gregm,

Really I´m not very very interested on SACD, I have logically SACDs, and if you can have both worlds ,why not?

For DAC I´m thinking on MSB Diamond DAC with femtosecond,I think is a little better than the dCS Scarlatti or Vivaldi.

Hi Emigene,

You have a nice system. I would agree with you that the MSB Diamond DAC IV with the Galaxy Femto clock is better sonically than the the DCS Scarlatti digital stack as I have done the head to head comparison. As for the question of a transport versus some type of music server I would suggest the following. If you do go with the MSB Diamond DAC IV then I would recommend that you go with the top line MSB Signature transport and Signature transport power base. Doing this allows you take advantage of MSB's Pro I2s input between the transport and dac as well as the clock sync function between the DAC and transport. This will give you the best possible sound that MSB has to offer. MSB's USB input (if you use a server of some type) is very good but it won't match using their transport and taking advantage of the clock sync). And with the MSB transport you can play redbook CD's plus hi-rez PCM downloads (just burn them to a DVD as .WAV files).

Arnie

FWIW, Elberoth has done a shootout between S/PDIF converters using a dCS DAC and using the dCS transport as his reference (index score 100). He found all converters to underperform the transport, until the arrival of the berkely audio design (BADA) converter, which bested the dCS transport.

Then, in a different shootout he compared the BADA converter into an MSB dac with ist USB input and prefered the USB input (as well as the MSB DAC over the dCS). One could make the inference that the best digital money can buy is USB direct into the MSB Diamond + Femto. All very systems dependent of course and preferences may vary.

In any event, if the difference between a $2K USB converter, USB direct (a $1,6000 option) and a $20K tranport is splitting hairs, the preference for computer based is obviously. Throw in the convenience of having your collection at your fingertips on an iPad and it is a no brainer really.

Just one man's opinion..

Hi Personally, I am into SACD listening. Nearly 100% SACD. Anything else I listen to vinyl. I think SACD is where the dCS shines above all...

I'll get to listen to the dCS Vivaldi soon...by all accounts this is a big step up...

I have heard the MSB set up on 2 occasions...both with Rockport speakers...it is certainly a killer digital front end...one had a pre amp, the other the MSB DAC went straight the amps...

If SACD isn't what you're listening to..the choices do open up a lot...