What is the missing element?


My pc audio setup currently is as follows

PC (Lossless audio through Jriver) > V-link (first model) > Rega Dac > Jolida JD1501 > KEF LS50s

The Rega was probably the first component I bought that completely transformed the sound of my system. The difference it made was simply huge.

I then added the v-link to support higher resolution audio through the s/pdif connection. Again, the sound noticeably improved. The soundstage was bigger, and the music just sounded fuller. Without the v-link the music sounds quite a bit smaller through the usb input.

The Kefs were the next big leap forward for my system. I simply cant believe how big a sound these tiny little speakers put out.

Now, originally most of my listening was through the setup listed above. However, the addition of a thorens TD-160 has gotten me into vinyl in a big way and now I really don't like the sound of digital. By comparison it sounds like congested chaos, has a rough texture (especially noticeable in voices)and overall is just very brash sounding. I simply can not stand it at loud volumes. Nothing like the polite orderly smoothness I hear on vinyl which constantly has me turning up the volume.

I had all but completely switched to listening to music on my turntable while the rega was relegated to streaming pandora or youtube as background music and always at low volumes. Then, some time spent with a naim cd player reminded me just how good a digital source can sound. So my question is how can I bridge the gap? I have been reading a lot about jitter and I am wondering if that is holding the rega back. I've read that the v-link measures at right around 400ps while other digital transports like the audiophilleo measure well below 100ps. Would replacing the v-link with an audiophilleo or another s/pdif converter give me the sound I am looking for? Is the problem with the nature of computer audio itself and I should just be looking for a good CD player? I am slowly driving myself crazy over this.
128x128megido
Only Firewire, Ethernet and USB were options. USB makes perfect sense.

But, SPDIF & high end sound cards WERE available. Why do you not advise that all agreed engineers wanted an idiot proof solution that did not require opening the computer?

Firewire was better, as that is what the proaudio world embraced (of the 3 you mentioned, only because ethernet was a little behind the times, then). USB was CHEAPER to implement. This is why everyone things USB is the way to go - it was cheaper and easier for the engineers to implement.
Technical talk is enlightening but sound quality is the final determiner of what is the superior signal route. Ears trump theory.
I'd love to be able to hear and compare Steve's best USB based effort vs Cerrot's best sound card implementation side by side.
Charles,
Should be easy enough to do since the sound card is only $140.
Everyone remembers the sound of the lynx card and thinks that was and is the sound card standard. It isn't for two reasons. First is no one could configure the drivers properly as it was usually used on the wrong platform and, secondly, dacs are much better today (and so is driver interface to OS architecture) so even the dreaded. lifeless ol lynx will sound better in a stripped windows environment today than it did 6 years ago.
Logic just seems to define to me to take as less steps as possible, and usb ain't it. Its also silly to believe a $200 usb converter does the same job as a $2,000 one. And even crazier to believe you need one.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
Charles - you can get the Off-Ramp 5 as well (as the Dynamo power supply to power it) for 30 days, money-back, less shipping. It will crush any PCI card.

Does the PCI card have money-back guarantee?

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Cerrot,

"My arguments don't hold water? But, yet, you have been unable to dispute me."

Don't take this the wrong way, but are you trying to win an argument or get better sound? To me it looks like you are trying to win an argument.