A good PC based system will easily perform as well, if not better than a standalone player and is most definitely not limited to 44/16 resolution. The DAC you choose, along with the interface between the computer and the DAC will determine the limits - 96/24 is pretty common these days but there are many that go even higher if you have the source material to throw at it. The only downside is that only your SACD player will be able to play your SACD's at the higher resolution you've probably come to enjoy. AFAIK you cannot rip those SACD's at their native resolution (unless there is a product I don't know about).
High Quality DAC versus High Quality CD/SACD
Hi,
I have a high quality playback design cd/sacd/dac. I use it exclusively for cd/sacd. For my bedroom system I thought of using a pc to dac sourced digital system as opposed to a cd/sacd player. I know the convenience and variety value of a pc to dac system.
Assuming, the source material is 44.1/16, is the sound from a pc to dac equivalent to the sound of a high quality stand alone cd player? I assume for high resolution non-sacd material a pc-dac system beats the stand alone cd/sacd player where the choice is only sacd or 44.1/16.
I have a high quality playback design cd/sacd/dac. I use it exclusively for cd/sacd. For my bedroom system I thought of using a pc to dac sourced digital system as opposed to a cd/sacd player. I know the convenience and variety value of a pc to dac system.
Assuming, the source material is 44.1/16, is the sound from a pc to dac equivalent to the sound of a high quality stand alone cd player? I assume for high resolution non-sacd material a pc-dac system beats the stand alone cd/sacd player where the choice is only sacd or 44.1/16.