I've been reading this forum for quite some time now and was wondering about something a few people have said to me.
Basically, the large majority of people here think they can get superb CD (or WAV) playback from a PC with, say, an M-Audio card installed. They also tend to agree that they will match a good quality CD player.
Well I agree that we can get similar DAC's on a soundcard as you would in a STB, but what about the rest of it? A good quality CD player will include features such as:
Dimming features on displays to avoid interference.
Specially designed loading and spindle mechanisms to avoid vibration
Specially designed PSU's to avoid interferance
Now PC's have none of this, with the addition of extra EM interference from the PC components. Are we really saying the a £50 PC CD-rom drive is just as good as a STB drive? Or are we saying that Hi-Fi manufacturers have wasted all this time adding these extra features to improve sound quality?
I think the general gist is that a PC is reading the audio off a CD bit by bit through the IDE cable. Is that what people think is making the difference? If so, I'm sure Hi-Fi company's would have used the same method themselves by now.
I have (maybe foolishly) made a bet that my friends £1400 Roksan CD player will not sound any better than a well built HTPC!
His player has the following spec's:
Super single bit enhanced digital to analogue conversion system.
Gold plated RCA analogue output connectors.
Separate transformer and power supply for the analogue output stage.
ROKSAN patented Laser Light technology for more accurate reading of the laser.
I just want some general comments on this, as I think opinions on this matter have gotten somewhat confused (or maybe its just me
)
Vic
Basically, the large majority of people here think they can get superb CD (or WAV) playback from a PC with, say, an M-Audio card installed. They also tend to agree that they will match a good quality CD player.
Well I agree that we can get similar DAC's on a soundcard as you would in a STB, but what about the rest of it? A good quality CD player will include features such as:
Dimming features on displays to avoid interference.
Specially designed loading and spindle mechanisms to avoid vibration
Specially designed PSU's to avoid interferance
Now PC's have none of this, with the addition of extra EM interference from the PC components. Are we really saying the a £50 PC CD-rom drive is just as good as a STB drive? Or are we saying that Hi-Fi manufacturers have wasted all this time adding these extra features to improve sound quality?
I think the general gist is that a PC is reading the audio off a CD bit by bit through the IDE cable. Is that what people think is making the difference? If so, I'm sure Hi-Fi company's would have used the same method themselves by now.
I have (maybe foolishly) made a bet that my friends £1400 Roksan CD player will not sound any better than a well built HTPC!
His player has the following spec's:
Super single bit enhanced digital to analogue conversion system.
Gold plated RCA analogue output connectors.
Separate transformer and power supply for the analogue output stage.
ROKSAN patented Laser Light technology for more accurate reading of the laser.
I just want some general comments on this, as I think opinions on this matter have gotten somewhat confused (or maybe its just me
Vic