Trounced, David pc-audio vs Goliath cd-transport (David TKOed)

[aswp]

I was curious how a basic pc-audio setup (mine) compares to a high end cd-transport (not mine). The comparison track was Jazz At the Pawnshop Track #3 High Life.

 

My source was Tidal @ hifi lossless and master setting, and 24/192 tracks from HDtracks, running on a Lenovo Yoga 900S laptop on battery, with an old wireworld usb cable connecting to a W4S ulink feeding a Zanden Model 5000 dac via W4S coax cable. The Goliath opponent was a Zanden Model 2000 CD Transport (US$28k in 2005) feeding the DAC via Zanden's I2S cable.

 

Yes, I compared a $300 W4S Ulink to a $28K CD Transport. And the results were distinctly unbiblical. Goliath completely trounced, and trampled on poor David. Imagine Samwell Tarly fighting the night king equipped with a toilet roll.

 

Comparing the same song on HDCD vs Tidal, is like comparing low bitrate mp3 to 24/192 files. The difference was apparent from the first second of playback. 

 

Not wanting to capitulate, I bought the hires 24/192 album at HDTracks (unfortunately the W4S uLink doesn't do DSD). It wasn't quite as embarassing as Samwell Tarly vs the Night King but the difference was immediately apparent. What was different? Every metric was different. Transient, decay on pianos, depth, dynamic range, speed, everything.

 

2 weeks from now I will again challenge the Zanden Model 2000 with my Mutec MC-3+ USB. That unfortunately is the extent of my pc setup, I do not have a proper sotm-like setup.

 

----

 

The above equipment feeds an Audionote Kondo (yes an audionote kondo!) M1000MkII preamp and Audionote Kondo Ongaku power amp (yes, the legendary ongaku!), to a set of Cessaro Beta II speakers.

 

I meant to post this in the general audio forum. I can't find the button to delete the post. Can a moderator kindly move this thread to the general audio forum. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

[aswp]

Thanks for the informative reply.

 

I thought running the laptop on battery would clean up the signal, but from what you mention, it seems that the pc itself is introducing the noise.

 

I don't understand how locally ripped files can sound better than HDTracks files. Can you clarify how this is possible. It's akin to saying, be careful, my excel report might not balance out because you've downloaded the file over email and some bits might be corrupted.

 

It's fascinating how, when it comes to audio, digital isn't digital.

 

I will read up on those articles. Thanks.

[aswp]

On 4/26/2019 at 6:55 AM, Nenon said:

 

If you are comparing a CD playing from a transport to the same music playing from a computer, it would be a good idea to reduce the variables by playing the same data (ripped from the same CD) rather than downloading the album from HDTracks and assuming it is the exact same recording, mastering, release, etc. 

 

I don't believe that every source HDTracks sells as 192/24 is a native 192/24 recording. And I do believe they use an upsampling process. And I have also heard the opposite - an HDTracks track that sounds better than my CD rip.

 

People also report that playing the same file from different media (i.e. SSD, HDD, NAS, USB, etc.) sounds different. I also find that to be true and most likely it is the interference of the storage device with your computer while reading / writing. For example, SSD drives are quite noisy devices, and people don't like to play their files from SSD (they generate noise while extracting the file). I use a software player that loads the track in RAM while playing, and that helps.

 

Thank you for the fascinating reply. PC based audio is more complex than I originally envisioned.