[Mercuttio]

So I've got a EMU 0404, and I'm playing everything in Apple Lossless from my Hard drive to my PPA amp through sheilded RCAs. If I was to get a dedicated CD player at around $300 to $500 (NAD, Marantz, etc) what kind of improvements could I expect?

 

[xantus]

it'll use less power

cd player will always be quieter than a computer. if you have open phones it's actually a nice improvement... but then you have to start soundproofing your room, wishing you had a button to make all outside activity stop so you can have silence

maybe not true sonic improvements, but notable points at least. it's hard to appreciate true black silence when there's always some motor noise from the computer in the background.

my cd player sleeps next to me in my bed, I can't say that the computer would make a nice bedfellow in comparison, always snoring!

 

[grandenigma1]

at that price level I dont think you would notice that much of an improvement. The only big change would be the ability to put you setup where ever you want (ie next to you in bed) ... I actually just went from a cdp to a dedicated PC rig since I do almost all of my listening while at my computer...

if you do decide to go that route I would consider the Onix XCD-88 with opa627 op amp mod... It will best many players that cost much more.

 

[SDA]

What xantus said. I don't think there'd be any other real improvements between those two unless something was wrong with the way your music was ripped.