Computer Audiophile is for people looking to take the next step in their high quality music listening experience and to discuss everything audiophile related in the forums. The main focus is on Hi-Fi audio equipment that produces audiophile quality sound from a computer / music server. Previously using a computer in an audiophile grade system was unheard of. Now, Macs and PCs are quickly supplementing standalone transports, CD players and large collections of physical media. In the near future purchasing physical media, other than vinyl and reel-to-reel tape, will be a thing of the past and computer based systems will be replacing instead of supplementing the physical media based components. Many audiophiles see this as the end of high quality music reproduction. Fortunately the opposite is true.
One year ago today, November 20, 2007, I started Computer Audiophile. On that first day the site had zero visitors. The total number of visitors during the first week was zero. Nine days after the site launched the visitors started to arrive. All three of them! One year later Computer Audiophile is viewed in 165 countries around the world and the number of readers continues to grow dramatically every week. Some great components have been reviewed over the last year and some not so great components have been sent packing back to the manufacturer. But reviews are only a small percentage of the site's information. Thanks to all the readers the Computer Audiophile forums are a very enjoyable place full of great information, very intelligent people, and an atmosphere like no other.
In Home Entertainment Magazine's December 2008 issue Peter Roth writes Computer Audio 101: Revving Up A New Spin For CD Playback. In the article Peter covers some basics for those very new to the game. He also marches up the high-end ladder quite a ways with the Weiss Minerva and the Wavelength Audio Cosecant. Having talked to Peter about the article several months ago I was hoping he would give CA a nod in the article and he sure did. Roth says, "After picking the brains of several industry gurus and surveying on-point forums e.g. ComputerAudiophile.com and AudioAsylum.com..." It's great to see the site mentioned in print.
I think it's time to catch up a little bit on what's happening here at Computer Audiophile. Everyday I'm on the phone and emailing several people around the world about high-end computer based audio. Some of the discussions have to remain private until an official press release but the other stuff I'm going to start sharing with everyone when appropriate. Much more to come in this area. This week I received the Sonic Studio 304 / Amarra system (see photo) and picked up the Bel Canto USB Link (see photos) at Bel Canto headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. I also setup my fabulous sounding and cheap music server that I'll be sharing with everyone very soon. I've had the formula in my head for a while, but I wanted to listen to the system a bit more before I told the world that it works excellent. Also in the Computer Audiophile news, CA's first birthday, Apple's Remote application 1.1.1 update, and some equipment reviews waiting to be published.
Since the day I published the Reference Music Server article and briefly mentioned a custom cable I use to connect my Lynx AES16e card to my DAC I have received several inquiries about this cable. It's really no surprise that audiophiles want a better cable than what's currently available. Especially when the only cable available to consumers is a breakout cable with eight AES/EBU wires. For single wire applications this breakout cable leaves an extra eight cables hanging from the back of the computer (7 AES & 1 BNC). This doesn't sit well with many audiophiles. Fortunately there is progress being made and Lynx AES16/e card users will be very happy in the near future.
The Trends Audio UD-10.1 USB audio converter is a really good product that allows audiophiles to get into the music server game for next to nothing. This USB audio converter can take a USB input signal from a PC or Mac and output bit perfect coax, optical, or AES digital audio. Whether you have an existing external DAC or an AV receiver with an open digital input, the Trends Audio UD-10.1 can bridge the gap between your computer and the rest of your system. At less than $170 you can't go wrong with one of these converters.
Many audiophiles are very familiar with the Focal brand and its legendary Utopia series loudspeakers. Now it's time to introduce everyone to the new Focal XS Multimedia Sound System. Don't be fooled by the iPod integration that has permeated everything from running shoes to bathroom accessories. This is not your father's desktop audio solution. Focal designed a very nice looking 2.1 desktop system with great features and sound quality to match. iPod sync and playback, internal USB DAC, and an analog input are all part of the new Focal XS Multimedia Sound System.
Music downloads have been around for a while now. Apple has sold over one billion songs through its iTunes store. Amazon has recently joined the party by offering songs at twice the bit rate of typical iTunes downloads. Some of the traditional record labels are also vying for the remaining pennies of your disposable income by offering 320kbps DRM-Free downloads. These options combined offer most of the popular artists one would find in a local record store, but none of them are aimed at the audiophile community. Fortunately the best is yet to come for audiophiles seeking everything from 16 bit / 44.1 kHz material all the way to 24 bit / 192 kHz and everything in between. Let's take a look at some of the download sites Computer Audiophile readers will enjoy.
The Bryston BDA-1 external DAC has been one of the most highly anticipated products of 2008. I have received countless emails asking who, what, when, where, and why all related to the BDA-1. Many audiophiles have withheld DAC purchases for several months until the release and review(s) of the BDA-1. Fortunately those patient audiophiles will be very happy they waited for this DAC. Everything about the BDA-1 is first class. Computer Audiophile is honored to publish the very first official review, anywhere in the world, of the new Bryston BDA-1 external DAC.
Few audiophiles are aware of a lurking danger that may be very costly. I've know about this danger for several months now, but was re-energized to write about it over the weekend. I was listening to the Raconteurs through the new Bryston BDA-1 DAC at a pretty high volume. My music server was booted to Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit. I stopped playback for a second, made a few changes to the Windows audio settings and hit play. As soon as I hit play a very loud tone blasted through my speakers and sent Chloe, one of the Computer Audiophile cats, running away very puffed up. I jumped up to turn down the volume on my preamp. My heart was racing and I couldn't stop saying to myself, "What the heck just happened?"
