GuyDebord;257896 Wrote: > This wouldnt be much of an issue if the D/A conversion and clocking was > done outboard, but if you only use a regular computer and soundcard > combo (as you plan to), all the critical phases of digital conversion > will be affected by the poor (in audio terms) assemblage of the > computer. All professional studios that I know utilize OUTBOARD clocks, > buffers, regulators and converters with specific built qualities for > their purpose, cabling, pro racks, expensive grounding and vibration > isolation systems, etc.
Guy Debord, I don't know if you read the article in December 07 issue of The Absolute Sound. It was on using a custom built PC as source, written by Karl Schuster, who is the President of Empirical Design, maker of hi-fi interconnects and speaker cables that won many awards. He used the Echo Gina3G card, which allows the D/A conversion, clocking to be done outboard through an external chassis even while it connects to the computer via small internal PCI card. http://echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/Gina3G/index.php Schuster writes in the TAS article that this electro-mechanical isolation resulted in gains across the board: "improved linearity and extension at the frequency extremes; a more nuanced rendering of instrumental timbres; startlingly superior reproduction of the decay of notes into a more enveloping ambient space; and a more holographic sense of dimensionality and body." The article also goes into some detail on how to optimize the PC to bypass Windows XP's kernel mode, etc etc... He finally concludes that the sound through this custom PC config rivalled or surpassed the playback of CD players costing thousands of dollars; he mentions Goldmund, Linn, Ayre, Marantz and Rega. He also seems to have done AB tests on his skeptical friends, who came away impressed. I don't think it's an empty boast, as he has no reason to be partial to PC as source. In fact, he should be a proponent of optical sources, as he makes most of his $ on interconnects. His credentials, too, are impeccable. He was the U.S. Customer Svc Director of Goldmund, and founded a company called Metaphor Acoustic Designs with loudspeaker designer Gerry Boyd, before launching his Empirical Design company, making innovative cables & interconnects. He seems well qualified to comment. Robert Harley, too, agrees that Karl Schuster's solution of rolling your own custom PC server with no S/PDIF interface is an ideal solution, if done right, that it delivers better sound than optical disc, for sure. Everyone has his own opinions on this matter. But I think there's enough proof out there that PC server, if built to ideal specs, is more than a worthy pursuit. And I don't think audiophile builders like NewBuyer would really go for the "regular" cheap PC cases & components that are loud, improperly built. That would be putting it too reductively. I don't know much about PC servers, but even I know just enough to take care, study, & research with zeal so that it wouldn't be a blemish in my audio system. I'll be using Zalman's TNN 300 noiseless case which would eliminate all fans, and would run virtually silent. It costs a bit above $500 (used to go for $700-800 just 2 years ago), but it seems ideal for an audiophile server. I'd have 2TB in the system, and I'm also going to optimize the system using some of the methods I ferreted out here and there, and will finally try the Echo Gina3G; I'll also try out Lynx L22 card later to do AB test. This PC will link directly to either the Plinius 8150 or Pathos Classic. http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=176&code=020 I'm not married to the PC server solution, as I've decided to save up and set up a different system in my study with Leben CS600, with a typical CD player & perhaps a Transporter. This 2nd system will be months down the line, but I'll get a chance to really test the two systems objectively, in my home. I don't think we lose either way. Just very excited... P.S. - NewBuyer, if you can, can you email me? [EMAIL PROTECTED]; I'd like to run some components by you for my system, for your input. If you're busy enough, don't worry about it. -- selfdivider ------------------------------------------------------------------------ selfdivider's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14941 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42020 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
