2. pc-audio
  3. 173129-78719

It's time to do it! Please, your help....

Hi there, hope all is well.

I've put it off as long as I could! 

I now want/need to add computer audio to my system. Please note, if you haven't guessed already,I am in no way a "computer guy"

My thought is to build a high resolution library from HD tracks or whomever you have had a good experience with.

Streaming is not something I'm interested in at the moment.

I have a Mac Desktop with Sierra 10.12.6  ( the highest upgrade this unit can handle) a MHDT Labs- Steeplechase 2 USB DAC ,a good quality USB cable and I just bought a dedicated  4TB G-DRIVE USB G1 USB 3.0 Hard Drive for storage to get started.

What type of "player" would you recommenced and other advice to get started.

 

Thank you all in advance and Happy Holidays!

Howie G - NYC

 

grossman616
jim204
881 posts
 

I would certainly go with @boomerbillone post and say that USB cables have shot up in quality lately. My recommendation  would be the CAD 11 cable. It is very expensive but has lifted my playback quality to levels I have not heard from streaming before. Yes the old style USB printer wires just will not do anymore.

grossman616 OP
123 posts
 

Thank you all for the help. There seems to be 2 camps out there. One saying the PC route is dreadful and get a server and the others who say a computer with a good DAC is fine. Since I have all the pieces for the PC ( Mac) route I'm going to give that a try first. If the sound is comparable to that of my SACD player then that will hold me for now.

 

Thank you ALL for your helpful insights!

 

All the best in '22

 

Howie G

qjm101
107 posts
 

Been using an off the shelf Dell (which I rip CD’s to as well as stream) to an Arcam DAC for years and and while it may not be the ultimate in sound reproduction, it is certainly not "dreadful". I do not hear the computer noise that many complain about.

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