I use a lowly M-Audio Transit and yes, Toslink. Happy so far.
High End User Interface for PC Audio
In the future, I am sure high end manufactuers will give us the same tweaky, visual and tactile happiness that we enjoy with exotic digital and analogue source devices.
In the meantime, however, one of the things that really disappoints me about PC audio is the cheesey, plasticky feel of surfing through iTunes on a computer, with my Tympanis, ARC and Mark Levinson eyeing me suspiciously from the background.
Indeed, there are times when I almost feel guilty, as if I were pouring cheap wine into a beautiful glass.
So I am wondering: using technology available TODAY, what would you use to upgrade the look and the feel of a hard drive based system, using UNCOMPRESSED files, delivered to the DAC of your choice?
A metal keyboard? laser mouse?
A sexy, HD capable monitor sitting on a coffee table to surf through your digital library?
Wireless technology to increase the - wow this is cool -factor for PC based audio?
Apple Mac G5? (Not a good answer IMO.)
Airport type wireless device? Or USB based device?
Thank you for your ideas.
In the meantime, however, one of the things that really disappoints me about PC audio is the cheesey, plasticky feel of surfing through iTunes on a computer, with my Tympanis, ARC and Mark Levinson eyeing me suspiciously from the background.
Indeed, there are times when I almost feel guilty, as if I were pouring cheap wine into a beautiful glass.
So I am wondering: using technology available TODAY, what would you use to upgrade the look and the feel of a hard drive based system, using UNCOMPRESSED files, delivered to the DAC of your choice?
A metal keyboard? laser mouse?
A sexy, HD capable monitor sitting on a coffee table to surf through your digital library?
Wireless technology to increase the - wow this is cool -factor for PC based audio?
Apple Mac G5? (Not a good answer IMO.)
Airport type wireless device? Or USB based device?
Thank you for your ideas.
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- 36 posts total
We all have different tastes in decor, but I've had the iMac G5, with Front Row software, for 2 months. It works well and is a gorgeous piece of design, IMHO. It fits in as well as a computer can in my audio room, but if you're really into having it all look like audio gear, a lot of server-type systems are hitting the market. See, for example, the McIntosh review (the audio co., not the comptuer) on 6moons. I've got my iMac plugged into a Wavelength brick, and am in hog heaven. If I get ambitious, I may post a review. -- David |
Got my wireless link working last night, so now I'm using a Viewsonic Airpanel: http://www.viewsonic.com/products/mobilewireless/wirelessmonitors/airsyncv210wirelessdisplay/ (basically a 10" touchscreen remote desktop for a networked PC) and a hidden small form factor PC (doesn't matter how it looks if you can't see it) to run iTunes. The SFF PC is fanless with a quiet spinpoint drive--inaudible. Its hooked to the dCS gear with a waveterminal... Great fun. |
Like Kenn39 I use the M-Audio Transit ($80). It is connected to a Benchmark Media DAC1 with a two meter glass fiber toslink cable. The rest of my system is a Bryston 14BSST and Von Schweikert VR-HSE speakers. My player is Foobar 2000 running at 44.1 khz with the ASIO (exe) driver. I'm extremely pleased with this setup. |
Several things make the stock Transit only fair - powered from the PC, Optical output and power/signal noise. If you like the stock Transit, you will love the Off-Ramp Turbo or Freeway which are based on Transit with a coax, AES or I2S output, improved clocks and external power (even battery). These have 1/100 of the jitter. |
- 36 posts total