psst... yep. I actually have a reel to reel! |
My puter audio is a jukebox and I pick the genre(s) and it plays awesome music while I read or just listen for fun. BUT, for critical listening, vinyl, cd or sacd. |
I actually think you are all being a bit unfair. None of you have tried anything other than the USB. And you're knocking me. Unreal. I'm not asking anyone to trash anything and there can be no other analogy. I'm saying, rather than something "universal", why not try something specifically for audio? |
No. I'm saying usb is really bad and the stock is the worse. If you're gonna use it, at least get a dedicated PCIe card. At least use the optimum USB platform. |
Computer audio via USB is an absolute BUST! USB is for connecting peripherials - not for music! |
You don't use USB for audio. You use SPDIF, USB is too polluted. There is no proper way of using USB. It transmits data in packets, not streams. |
Regarding those of you using USB - how many of you understand the 2.0 and 3.0 and how many understand that the stock USB interface on the mobo is horrible and if you are actually SERIOUS of trying to get the most out of usb audio, get a PCIe 3.0 USB card and hear the difference. Maybe then you will understand where I am coming from. Its like putting vegetable oil in your ferrari - why??? get real gas. Once you try the 3.0, now that you are not afraid of opening up your computer-buy an ESI Juli@ soundcard for $149 and you will hear how that blows away the 3.0 - and now you can return the expensive USB/spdif converter & cables. Dont the logical ones out there see how silly the USB thing is? |
when pc audio started everyone was getting poor sound via usb direct from their computers. then they went asynch; then they created the usb/spdif converters. I'm just trying to save you all a few steps. |
Get a sound card. ESI juli@ for $149. Spdif out. All you need, plus a coax cable into your dac. |
Sorry. You need a desktop for a sound card. Just noticed you have a notebook. |
You guys will find that usb is the poorest interface. Glad to see the experiment because the masses were given USB from the beginning and with blinders firmly installed, have never looked past it. The belly button interface - every computer has one. Must be the best way to get sound out of a computer-NOT. Look at what travels along a USB bus - all the pollution Why would I want my music coming put of a USB port? Some guys are at least investing in a USB PCI or PCIe card, which is a thousand times better than the standard usb port. |
Audiolabyrinth, I picked up an Akai GX 625 (probbaly form the 1980's). It is 7 1/2 IPS (not 15) but still have incredible sound. I have been eyeing the new 15 IPS machines, just investing $8,000 - $16,000 for limited library (and $150 - $300 a tape) puts that behind my hopeful turntable upgrade, which I am hoping to do next year. I have purchased some tapes on Ebay but I walked into a used record store last month and walked out with 16 AWESOME tapes in great condition! ($5 each!). I love my vinyl and ...FM. Any analogue source (if done right) gives you warmth and emotion your brain needs to "make up" when listening to digital. Cheers, mate. |
Steve - what you spew is absolutely REDICULOUS. |
Hi Guido, EI do not believe you would not add a "synchro mesh" between a $30,000 CEC transport and a SOTA dac. Again, if you look at other manufacturers (Ralph comes to mind), they are here to teach and educate us. Not to tell us all our issues will be solved if we buy their products. That is solely my issue. |
The synchro mesh is not bit perfect. why would you add that before a $4,000 dac? shoot me! |
ah... Kevin... I have not communicated with you at all. Hi Guido, my issues with Steve go back an old conversatoion where he had advised someone here to add this synchr mesh in their system but Steve neglected to advise it was not bit perfect, which I believe he shuld have. When I had pointed it out, Steve than advised bit perfect just didnt matter. I think having manufacturers and engineers here is an increadible asset BUT if you look at how the others behave, they DON'T use these forums to promote their products. Steves threads always have an "you need my..." . The other guys NEVER say that. Steve decided to not make the unit bit perfect in order to keep the price dwn and he says it is not as important as reducing jitter. All I have said is the better unit would be bit perfect and his leaving it out is not because is is a better design. |
Dont feel bad; I rippedhalf my library in compressed flac before I learned that uncompressed flac sounds better. All moot now with tidal. Computer audio is not a bust with access to all this new music. We have all ventured into PC Audio via different paths. Streaming, PC/MAC servers, music servers... hopefully, all have the proper platform to take advantage of these new music services when they come out and can just listen to them in their native format, rather than reinventing the wheel when something new comes out. I think Tidal just the beginning. |
