bostonaudi

You're right, sweeping statements should be avoided. I have a Rotel 1072 HDCD player, which has served me well. My USB source is a DragonFly fed directly into my Klyne preamp. I am new to the USB computer playback scene, was hoping the HD Tracks files would blow my socks off. Some downloads from HD Tracks have sounded very nice indeed, just not the Yes 24/92 tracks I downloaded. There are some additional details I am hearing, but the overall presentation isn't as good as the HDCD. The original Japanese HDCD's were nicely done, the CD's are basically mini-LP's, every detail was re-created including original booklet inserts. The 3.5mm to dual RCA cable I am using from the DragonFly to the Klyne admittedly isn't so good, going to try an upgrade there as it's going against a high end FMS cable being used with the Rotel. What I am trying to discover is if high end sound is truly possible through USB, or is a dedicated sound card required. I am using a small netbook with the dragonfly, I'd love to turn it into a music server for my 2-ch stereo.

My guess is you're going to get better sound with the remastered discs played through a good dedicated player rather than downloading and played through a USB D/A.

A little late to the party on this thread, but wanted to throw out some general comments on Yes via HDTracks, I've downloaded Relayer, TFTO, and GFTO. IMO none sound anywhere near as good as the Japanese HDCD releases of a few years back. At least not in the conditions I'm playing them (for the HDTracks I'm going through a DragonFly via 24/94, HDCD via a modest Rotel player). Other sample's I've downloaded from HDTracks sound very nice. In the digital domain I don't think you can do better than these HDCD's. They can still be found on eBay occasionally. The HDCD's are nearly as good as the British pressings on LP. As reference I have an extremely rare 14" acetate of Close to the Edge - I've heard God.