Andrei

Thanks Archimago - a good read. To take another angle on this, I say: - We already have good formats; PCM in its various guises, DSD (SACD or Diff etc), Vinyl (some great developments on the way in laser cutting), Tape. - We need another format like a hole in the head. - Even if MQA was better then all the money invested in purchasing the same music in the new format would not come close to investing in better speakers ... or amplification ...

Thanks for update

I agree they are 'baby steps'. I myself did not hear a difference in USB cables - it may well be there objectively / measureably but I am not going to get hung up about it. I use two: (1) Oyaide Continental silver (between PC and W4S Recovery reclocker), and (2) Wyred4Sound USB between reclocker and DAC.

The short answer is No Music. Most Jazz, but especially hers, and Country & Western has practically zero harmonic interest. Melodically it all the same too. Krall has a particular ability to induce boredom. If you are in a queue in the supermarket, you put up with that, but when you seen the individual in the front taking 5 minutes to find a twenty cent coupon in her bag you immediately start to tear you hair out.

You obviously have not heard Diana Krall - there is no system that can make her sound good.

Ah well, my 20 cents worth: There are other variables in the chain that goes all the way from performance to listening. The same music is mastered differently for vinyl compared to digital so this difference will come out in the finished product. Maybe better for vinyl, maybe better for redbook or hi-rez. The playback equipment is different (in type and probably in quality). (1) Turntable, Arm, Cartridge, Phono Stage; vs (2) PC, DAC. So the difference in material of source can never be exactly compared. A $20 k vinyl rig is likely going to sound better than a $2 k digital rig. So it is still difficult to say a "vinyl rig" is better / worse than a "digital rig". My experience, which I will offer, does not prove anything but still is a single voice. It is this: Where I have the same music digitally (DVDA, SACD, CE, Hi-rez, DSD) or vinyl more often I prefer the vinyl - maybe 2:1. In reality I play: (1) Vinyl 10%, (2) Oppo 105 (SACD, DVDA) 5%, (3) PC 85%. BUT when listening with friends the vinyl rig comes out, not the digital.

How patronising. Get to the point man.

This is for the non computer-savvy guy. There are are many other options availabel

I guess the higher the specs of the PC the less likely it is you will hear a difference. (That being but one variable).

Slinkylinks are extremely accurate, as you might expect with good silver and good plugs. When I trialled them there was more to be heard in the high frequencies. The downside is that there is not enough gauge of wire. So unless you are running a low power amp and have a short distance between amp and speakers, I would not recommend them. On the other hand I can unreservedly recommend their interconnects.