johnjen
Headphoneus Supremus
My thoughts, conjecture and observations, so take them with boulder sized helping of salt…
Spinning CD's is or can provide a simpler path from source to the dac for sure and if simplicity were the 'key' to optimal SQ then I doubt AOIP would be as attractive as it is.
And I do adhere to the notion that a less complicated signal path 'should' make for 'Better' SQ.
And I also note that SPDIF being a (less expensive to implement) derivative of the AES standard, should also be superior to USB.
Indeed my own experiences confirm this, for me on my system.
Just as AES is 'Better' than its cousin once removed, SPDIF.
And given the steady increase in resolution of the gear we now have available to us all, it is all that much easier (in some cases) to hear differences between gear from yesteryear and today.
BUT…
We can only use the components that are designed and made available, and so some will push these boundaries just to see what happens.
Like better PSU's (LPS's), better s/w processes (mega burrito), better metallurgy (cables, connectors), better power (regenerators, dedicated branch circuits), and a host of other tweaks.
And when I find that the overall SQ takes a step up in ways that I define as 'Better', the rationalizations that I use(d) all come into question, again.
IOW, AOIP IS way more complicated than any other means of delivering the digital audio stream to the dac, no question about it.
And it still requires the SPDIF/AES added on top as well.
And these improvements also improve the gear from yesteryear (dacs like Theta, Sonic Frontiers, PWD's etc.) as well.
So when my ears are hearing my music as if anew, again, I do take notice and follow these new bread crumb trails to see where they might lead.
Which means my predilection to keep the path from the source to my ears as simple as possible will be scrutinized and explored to the degree that I am able.
Does this mean it is 'BETTER' for everyone, all the time, under any and every circumstance?
Of course not.
But when all of these tweaks, both major and minor, are allowed a full measure of examination and are determined to actually be 'Better', this causes my previous biases and assumptions to be brought up for re-evaluation, again.
IOW these many tweaks and experiments I have performed are continually making me question my assumptions and subsequently I become reacquainted with my biases as well.
And if the motivation to achieve SQ improvements weren't as compelling as it was and continues to become, well my life certainly would be less complicated for sure.
But then this is my HOBBY and applying means, methods and tech that others have explored, to my system, is one of my delights, as I figure it is for others as well.
And living on the bleeding edge does have its consequences for sure (sorry about your wallet…) and so I figure if there is a way to deliver 'Better', especially if it is more affordable etc., I'll be jumping down that rabbit hole right along with others, just because I/we can.
Interesting Times In Audio Indeed!
JJ
Spinning CD's is or can provide a simpler path from source to the dac for sure and if simplicity were the 'key' to optimal SQ then I doubt AOIP would be as attractive as it is.
And I do adhere to the notion that a less complicated signal path 'should' make for 'Better' SQ.
And I also note that SPDIF being a (less expensive to implement) derivative of the AES standard, should also be superior to USB.
Indeed my own experiences confirm this, for me on my system.
Just as AES is 'Better' than its cousin once removed, SPDIF.
And given the steady increase in resolution of the gear we now have available to us all, it is all that much easier (in some cases) to hear differences between gear from yesteryear and today.
BUT…
We can only use the components that are designed and made available, and so some will push these boundaries just to see what happens.
Like better PSU's (LPS's), better s/w processes (mega burrito), better metallurgy (cables, connectors), better power (regenerators, dedicated branch circuits), and a host of other tweaks.
And when I find that the overall SQ takes a step up in ways that I define as 'Better', the rationalizations that I use(d) all come into question, again.
IOW, AOIP IS way more complicated than any other means of delivering the digital audio stream to the dac, no question about it.
And it still requires the SPDIF/AES added on top as well.
And these improvements also improve the gear from yesteryear (dacs like Theta, Sonic Frontiers, PWD's etc.) as well.
So when my ears are hearing my music as if anew, again, I do take notice and follow these new bread crumb trails to see where they might lead.
Which means my predilection to keep the path from the source to my ears as simple as possible will be scrutinized and explored to the degree that I am able.
Does this mean it is 'BETTER' for everyone, all the time, under any and every circumstance?
Of course not.
But when all of these tweaks, both major and minor, are allowed a full measure of examination and are determined to actually be 'Better', this causes my previous biases and assumptions to be brought up for re-evaluation, again.
IOW these many tweaks and experiments I have performed are continually making me question my assumptions and subsequently I become reacquainted with my biases as well.
And if the motivation to achieve SQ improvements weren't as compelling as it was and continues to become, well my life certainly would be less complicated for sure.
But then this is my HOBBY and applying means, methods and tech that others have explored, to my system, is one of my delights, as I figure it is for others as well.
And living on the bleeding edge does have its consequences for sure (sorry about your wallet…) and so I figure if there is a way to deliver 'Better', especially if it is more affordable etc., I'll be jumping down that rabbit hole right along with others, just because I/we can.
Interesting Times In Audio Indeed!
JJ
