[Elephas]

I've been primarily a computer-as-source user for the past few years. I find the convenience, speed and other benefits of a computer source very compelling. I own a lot of Redbook CDs which I've been buying since 1984; I think I have over 6000. Ironically, the more CDs one has, the more a computer-as-source makes sense. Imagine trying to find a CD. Would you even be able to remember what CDs you have? How can you store them for easy access? I put most of my CDs in plastic boxes stacked in a storage room.

But what about sound quality? Can a computer-as-source system compete with a standalone CD player in terms of sound quality? Many of you have already reached your own conclusions. I thought my computer source sounded very good, but without a direct comparison I couldn't know for sure. Now I intend to find out. Note that the computer sources I use include external DACs.

In the red corner, presenting the Accuphase DP-500. A Redbook only CD player with both digital inputs and outputs, it can be used as transport or as a DAC unit.

In the blue corner, a DAC duo comprised of a Chord DAC64 MkII and Lavry DA10. They each have AES/EBU, coax and optical inputs. Both have balanced outputs and the Chord also has unbalanced output. These two DACs are fed primarily by the digital output of an RME HDSP 9632 sound card. An Apple Airport Express or the Accuphase's digital outputs may also be used for comparison purposes. The main playback software is foobar 0.9.4.3 ASIO running on a dedicated WinVista machine. I sometimes use the Secret Rabbit Code Resampler to resample to 176.4 kHz with the Chord DAC64. I'm including the DA10 in the comparison because more people are familiar with it.

Just for fun, I've included a poll for you to choose which playback system you think sounds better. The poll will close before I begin to post impressions.

 

[swt61]

Ooh fun! I voted for the Accuphase, but that Chord/CPU combo may well surprise me.

 

[xenithon]

I wonder how much of an improvement there would be with one of the "higher-end" USB interfaces such as the Empirical Audio Offramp Turbo, which would then feed a digital signal to that painfully beautiful Chord DAC.

 

[tbonner1]

If you use somthing like a Visiondaw you will get better sound than most pedestrian home computer.

I would go for the Accuphase.

 

[agile_one]

I think what this really comes down to is which dac sounds best. Or to be scientific about it, which dac sounds best to the intrepid Elephas.

As a huge fan of the Accuphase digital sound, I voted for the Accuphase 500, but I am glad Elephas is also using the Accuphase as a transport to the other dacs. The basic point I'm making is that the computer as transport vs Accuphase 500 as transport may be a draw, and that the overall sound quality should be most affected by the respective dacs.

Good work, Elephas - can't wait to see your conclusions.

 

[vcoheda]

i used a computer rig for a while. moved to stand alone. using the same dac, the latter sounded better to me.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

What I've read over the last couple of years implies that a PC doesn't make a particularly great transport. A good analogy being that it's a bit like using a cheap DVD player with poor jitter.
As such, I'd expect a good dedicated CD player to better a PC/DAC combo, regardless of how good the DAC is. I genuinely believe that the digital source has a big impact upon what the DAC will finally produce as an analogue signal.

 

[Elephas]

The RME HDSP 9632 sound card has AES/EBU, coax and toslink outputs. I usually use the AES/EBU output with the Chord DAC. I've connected the coax and toslink outputs to the DP-500's coax and toslink inputs. I'll use the same cables to switch between the DP-500, DAC64 and DA10. This should be a straight comparison of their respective DACs using the RME as transport.

I've been interested in Empirical Audio and also Wavelength products for some time. If the RME-as-transport configuration loses badly to the DP-500 transport, I might have to consider a new way to move digital data out of the computer.

The DP-500 is playing continuously and should be burned-in for at least 80 hours by the time the poll closes. Just in case some burn-in makes a difference.

I'm listening to the RME > toslink > DP-500 right now. It's killing me, not being able to post impressions yet.

 

[krmathis]

The Accuphase DP-500 might take the lead.
But I am a very pleased computer as source user myself, so won't be surprised if the computer rig keep up with it.

 

[jinp6301]

I'm actually looking to buy the Accuphase Dp-500! I wonder how it stands up!

 

[jp11801]

I would vote computer rig but with a better dac like the wavelenght

 

[Elephas]

Wow, the poll has closed tied at 8 to 8. This result is rather prescient, based on the inconclusive results of my listening so far.

The good news for myself, based on the past year of using a PC and the Chord as my primary source, is that I wasn't listening to a bad quality source all along. The sound quality of the RME sound card to an external DAC is very good. The sound using the RME's toslink output with the Accuphase's digital input is not much different from playing the same song on CD with the DP-500. Similarly, the RME > Chord is not much different-sounding than Accuphase > Chord, using the CDP as transport for the Chord.

So far, I think the RME>DP-500 is warmer and smoother than the RME>DAC64 and slightly less detailed. The Chord's vocals are a bit more forward-sounding and it has a larger soundstage and more air. I don't have two sets of the exact same type of interconnects, so there might be some differences there. I do have two of the same model of power cable, so two DACs can use the same power cord at the same time.

Both the DP-500 and DAC64 are very refined, more so than the Lavry DA10. Both are very detailed and yet smooth and liquid at the same time. The DA10 has good details and clarity, but it has a grainier and less smooth-flowing sound that can seem more artificial and less three dimensional.

There are many configurations available, including the five pairs of analog outputs of the Accuphase, Chord and DA10, the various transport and DAC combinations and different cabling options. Volume matching is an issue.

The Raptor's dual RCA inputs are very useful, as well as the HeadAmp KGSS's RCA and XLR inputs. Direct A/B comparisons are interesting with the Chord buffer's 4 second delay. It's a godsend for someone whose short-term audible memory is as short as mine.

 

[chesebert]

I would think most $2-4 DAC/CDP sound more alike than different, meaning someone will find something to like about one over all others. I reckon until you hit north of $10k there is just not enough difference to warrant an upgrade, unless 'upgrade' means side step to a different sound.

 

[lini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephas /img/forum/go_quote.gif (...) I don't have two sets of the exact same type of interconnects, so there might be some differences there. (...)

So why don't you just rotate the ics?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[slwiser]

After a more careful reading of the last impressions I see that you have performed the cross comparison.

Make sure that you cross compare as well. Feed the CD player into both your outboard DACs as well as directly from the CD player itself into your amp. I think I can heard differences between my Oppo feeding my Lavry compared with my Computer via M-Audio USB Audiophile. So based on this I think the best would be feeding the CD player digitally into your DAC64 but that was not a choice you gave us. Since my choice was not part of the selection I think the CD Player wins by a hair over the DAC64.

Do you have a LR-1 from Mapletree? I have ordered a four input and three output custom unit for my setup.