Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Can a computer be a decent audiophile source? - The answer is yes.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Can a computer be a decent audiophile source? - The answer is yes.

post #1 of 230
6/30/07 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
The title pretty much says it all. Can a computer really be a decent audiophile quality source.

If not, why not?
Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 230
6/30/07 at 11:07am
Can comment on computer high end sound cards. But if combined with a good external DAC, a computer can sound pretty amazing ...
Reply
post #3 of 230
6/30/07 at 11:09am
My PC is my audio source via a USB connection to an external DAC/amp and it sounds great.
Reply
post #4 of 230
6/30/07 at 12:35pm
It sure can!
A computer playing lossless files through an external DAC can sound really great. My headphone rig use a computer based source, and I simply love it.
Reply
post #5 of 230
6/30/07 at 6:17pm
The question needs to be reversed: can anything other than a computer match its fidelity and flexibility?

It is already a given that a computer is a BETTER source than any CD-based system (due to the inaccuracy of reading CDs in realtime). Any vinyl, while its limitations may be pleasing to some ears and the care put into creating the version of a recording put on vinyl is sometimes better than that put on CD, is known to have lower fidelity than the digital formats a computer is capable of playing.
Reply
post #6 of 230
6/30/07 at 9:07pm
What Scrith said!!!!
Reply
post #7 of 230
6/30/07 at 11:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fordgtlover View Post
The title pretty much says it all. Can a computer really be a decent audiophile quality source.

If not, why not?
You should read that article :

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/nugent.htm
Reply
post #8 of 230
7/1/07 at 12:17am
probably depends on how you define "audiophile"....

for the "audiophile" who believes that nothing sounds as good as vinyl, can tell the difference between power cords, transports, can "hear" differences that aren't measurable, etc. etc., probably not...

for the "audiophile" who listens to music because he/she enjoys it and doesn't obsess over every little thing that "might conceivably" (no matter how unlikely) interfere with their sound quality, the computer is REAL good...
Reply
post #9 of 230
7/1/07 at 2:00am
I also agree that a computer can be compared to an audiophile transport if connected to a good DAC.
Reply
post #10 of 230
7/1/07 at 2:42am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Petyot View Post
Great article Petyot. Thanks.
Reply
post #11 of 230
7/1/07 at 3:03am
Sure, a computer can be a great source, especially when hooked up to a nice DAC. I feel that it can never match a good CDP though
Reply
post #12 of 230
7/1/07 at 3:34am
No. Not cheaply (aka getting a dac, using bitperfect digital out and calling it done), at least.
Reply
post #13 of 230
7/1/07 at 4:02am
A computer will never match a good audiophile source. Unless you write "MERIDIAN" across it in big shiny letters, then it can.
Reply
post #14 of 230
7/1/07 at 4:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redo View Post
Sure, a computer can be a great source, especially when hooked up to a nice DAC. I feel that it can never match a good CDP though
What does a good CDP do that a computer can't or doesn't do?
Reply
post #15 of 230
7/1/07 at 4:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Petyot View Post
Great article.
Thanks for sharing the link.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Computer Audio
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Can a computer be a decent audiophile source? - The answer is yes.