Computer Audio Asylum Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

---

[ Follow Ups ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Computer Audio Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Got my toes wet in PC audio. Now What?

Posted by hartwerger (A) on March 20, 2006 at 08:54:55

My wife picked up a new Airport Express w/ Airtunes. I actually wasn't all that interested in the AE as I haven't really decided what direction to go with my digital system or even go in any direction at all. We had an old Monster mini to RCA cable laying around for some ancient project. Hooked up the AE to my preamp and played a ripped disc through iTunes wirelessly. I was completely amazed. I don't know why I was amazed, but I was. It sounded pretty darn good. We did some A/B testing with my Tjoeb CD player w/ Upsampler and although the Tjoeb won, it was a close call. The Tjoeb had better resolution, but the AE had better and more tuneful bass (never realized how bass shy the Tjoeb is). We did not use an outboard DAC with the AE; this was just a stock AE. Now, the Tjoeb costs, what, about $700. Plus the Upsampler for around $300. Throw in their Direkt power cord for about $75 and, well, you get the picture that we're into around a $1,000 player compared to the AE for $129 with a $15 Monster cable. Again, although both my wife and I agreed that the Tjoeb held an edge over the AE, it was nowhere near an $850 edge (if one can even make such a comparison). I was so impressed with not just the quality of the sound reproduction from the AE, but also that it was musical, actually felt involving. Throw in the ease of use by being able to select the playlist through iTunes and now I'm thinking that maybe I PC audio isn't so difficult to implement after all. The question is "now what"? If I go with an outboard DAC, which one (limited to a <$500 range)? The AE does not offer an audio USB connection so I'm limited to either the mini to RCA connection or a mini to Toslink connection. I thought about the SqueezeBox, but since we already have the AE, it doesn't seem to make any sense to chose the SB (and besides, after mods, I'm well out of my $500 price range). Are there other ideas or considerations that I should know about before exploring the PC audio world further? What options are out there that I should ponder (as well as any DAC recommendations you kind folks may have)? Any thoughts, ideas, and just plain old idle banter is appreciated.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---